Operation Cedar facts for kids
Project Cedar, also known as Operation Cedar, was a special project during World War II. Its main goal was to send short-range airplanes from the United States to the USSR (Soviet Union). These planes traveled through a place called Abadan, Iran, which is located in the Persian Gulf. The full name "Civilian Emergency Defence Aid to Russia" explains that it was about helping Russia with defense during an emergency.
How Project Cedar Worked
This project started even before the United States officially joined World War II. A special base was set up on Abadan Island in March 1942. Large oil tankers, which were returning from delivering oil to the United States, would carry parts of airplanes. These planes included types like the Bell P-39, Curtiss P-40, and Douglas A-20.
Once the parts arrived in Abadan, they were put together to build the complete airplanes. After assembly, these aircraft were then flown to the USSR. The 82nd Air Depot Group played a big part in making sure Project Cedar ran smoothly. On the Soviet side, a person named Leonid Ivanovich Zorin was in charge of the project.
Related Efforts
There was another secret operation similar to Project Cedar called Project 19. This project was set up in Gura, Eritrea. Its purpose was to repair aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF).
See also
