Endnotes for Chapter V

1 Notes of this conference of 14 November 1938 were prepared by the Chief of the Air Corps who submitted one of the two copies made to the Chief of Staff with a covering memorandum dated 15 November 1938. The memorandum and the notes arc filed in the front of the first volume of Minutes of the General Council, OPD files. A second copy of the notes is in CofS file Emergency, bndr 3.

2 President Roosevelt himself referred to his message of 28 January 1938 as the "beginning of a vast program of rearmament," but it should be noted that he was then chiefly concerned with naval armaments, upon which there had been a considerable start in 1934, largely exceeding the "make-work" Army grants of that year, and that he requested only about $17,000,000 to correct a few of the numerous Army deficiencies. For the message and the President's note relating to it see The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt (New York: Macmillan, 1941) 1938 Volume, pp. 68-71.

3 These figures applied of course to planes with newly designed features such as special armor. The AAF Statistical Digest of December 1945 (p. 135) shows on hand in October 1940 a total of 87 heavy bombers, 483 mediums, 154 lights, and 581 fighters. For a brief discussion of the prewar development of the Air Forces see Legislation Relating to the A. A. F. Materiel Program, 1939-1944 (Army Air Forces Historical Studies: No. 22, Nov 44), archives of Air Historical Office. For a discussion of industrial capacity see especially Memo, CofAC for CofS, 21 Oct 38, in AG 580 (10-19-38), "Increase of the Air Corps by Aircraft. Correspondence from 10-19-38 July 14, 1939 Relative to Two Year Program for the Development of an Army Air Corps of Airplanes." For the WPD appraisal of 1940 see Memo, ACofS WPD for CofS, 25 Sep 40, WPD 4321-11.

4 This was a letter signed by Mr. Johnson, addressed to the Secretary of the National Research Council, 2 April 1938, asking for investigation and report on diesel engines, rocket and jet propulsion, de-icing, beryllium alloys, and static elimination. In response a preliminary report was made to the Chief of the Air Corps on 27-28 December 1938 by a group of eminent scientists and industrialists; it was a step toward large wartime achievements by this scientific collaboration. SW 651A.

5 The document referred to was sent to the White House on 29 September 1938, the very day on which began the fateful Munich conference. There had been still earlier memoranda from Mr. Johnson, giving estimates of the materiel needed, and noting the necessity of ordering weapons long before troops could be assembled. The 29 September document summarized the cost of weapons, also of a start in industrial preparedness (supplying civilian factories with gauges, jigs, and special machinery), also of a start in the accumulation of strategic raw materials. Copies of these papers are in the personal files of Maj. Gen. James H. Burns (ret).
Other information about munitions shortages and efforts to remedy the situation is in the budget estimate files for the period (AG III ), in various ordnance files, and in files relating to the Air Expansion Program. See especially: (I) Memo, CofOrd for ACofS, 20 Oct 38, sub: Deficiencies in Ordnance Equipment. (2) Follow-up Memo, CofOrd for ACofS G-4, 21 Oct 38, Deficiencies in Ordnance for the Protective Mobilization Plan. (3) Supporting and related papers filed with copies of the previously mentioned two documents in Ordnance Study File 69, War Plans and Requirements office files. (4) Related papers in AG 580 (10-19-38) Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

6 The development of the plans and the division of responsibility for action on various phases of them are illustrated by documents in AG 381.4 (5-14-37) . . . War Reserves, Critical Items . . . and in files relating to appropriation estimates made during 1938.

7 Interv with Gen Burns, 1947

8 Annual Report of the Secretary of War, 1938 (Washington, 1938), pp. 26-27.

9 Ibid., P. 34. For further information about the role of Assistant Secretary Johnson see Troyer Anderson, History of the Office of the Under Secretary . . ., MS in Hist Div, SSUSA; and William Frye, Marshall: Citizen Soldier (Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1947). PP. 246-55.

10 See n. 5.

11 In these years the strength and organization of the Air Forces were undergoing almost constant scrutiny. On 2 November 1937 the Chief of the Air Corps submitted a Five-Year Airplane Replacement Program that formed a basis for staff discussion and planning during the ensuing months. See papers filed in WPD 3807, especially Memo, ACofS G-4 for CofS, 22 Jan 38, sub: Five-Year Program for the Air Corps, WPD 3807-21. See also AG III Woodring Program.

12 This statement is based upon the recollections of General Burns as stated to the writer in 1947.

13 See newspaper accounts of the President's press conference of 14 October 1938. See also: FDR Public Papers and Addresses, 1938 Volume, pages 546-48, 601; confidential letter of 11 July 1938 from the Ambassador in Berlin, Hugh Wilson, to the President. The Ambassador was emphatic in his discussion of the German air potential. This letter was shown to the Secretary of War, but not until 2 September 1938. SW, 608. See also Memorandum of Assistant Secretary of War for Chief of Staff, 14 October 1938, drafted by Colonel Burns, discussing war requirements for aircraft as contrasted with actual resources. 'this memorandum estimated a 5,000-plane deficiency which might cost $400,000,000 to remedy. It probably reached the White House. SW, 622.

14 Interv with Gen Burns, 1947.

15 Ibid.

16 The President did not directly commit himself to a specific program but he did not deny rumors and speculation of an expansion as great as four times the Baker Board objective of 2,320; and there is reason to assume the press speculation was based on advice from well-informed officials. For newspaper and periodical reporting and comment on the new emphasis on national defense see Associated Press Washington dispatch, 5 Nov 38; The New York Times, 14, 15, 27, 28 and 30 Oct 38 and 14, 15, 16, 20, and 23 Nov 38; New Republic, 32: 24-25 (22 Aug 38) and 32: 11 (19 Dec 38).

17 This theory was expressed by General Burns in an interview with the writer in 1947. There is no doubt that subsequent to 1938 it was a firm part of War Department policy. The President and his advisers may have been influenced to some extent by the activities and ideas of military purchase missions from Great Britain, France, and China in mid-1938. See Edward R. Stettinius, Lend-Lease: Weapon /or Victory (New York: Macmillan, 1944), PP- 13-19.

18 The New York Times, 27 Jan 39, P. 5, col. 8.

19 Ltr, Gen Arnold to Maj Gen H. J. Malony, 31 Mar 49, Hist Div files.

20 The New York Times, 28 Jan 39, P.1, col. 8.

21 Ibid., 29 Jan 39, Pt. 1, p. 1, col. 6.

22 Ibid., Pt. IV, p. 4, col. 8. See Chapter X for further reference to this episode.

23 Memo, CofOrd for DCofS G-4, 20 Oct 38, sub: Deficiencies in Ordnance Equipment, Ordnance Study Folder No. 69, War Plans and Requirements office files.

24 Memo, CofOrd for ACofS G-4, 21 Oct 38, sub: Deficiencies in Ordnance Equipment for the Protective Mobilization Plan, Ordnance Study Folder No. 69, War Plans and Requirements office files.

25 Memo, CofAC for SW, 19 Oct 38, sub: Increase of the Air Corps by 4,000 Aircraft, AG 580. (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

26 Memo, CofAC for SW, 22 Oct 38, no sub, AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

27 Memo, CofS for Asst SW, 25 Oct 38, sub: Modification of Totals of the Special Budget Figures to Include 2,500 Planes Instead of 1,000 Planes, 25 Oct 38, copy in AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

28 No document has been found that shows precisely when and how this limitation was set, but figures and phrases used in various documents cited above (AG 580) show that it was a practical matter.

29 See particularly the documents referred to in memos cited by notes 23 and 24.

30 This point of view is stated emphatically in documents referred to in a "memo for the Chief of Staff to use in conference with Secretary of Treasury and Mr. Bell of Budget"; and an attached aide-mémoire, 20 October 1938, used in a conference with the Secretary of the Treasury. Copies of the last two documents, assembled with other papers by the Deputy Chief of Staff, arc in AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

31 It was evidently in this period that there occurred the White House incident that William Frye recounts in Marshall: Citizen Soldier, pp. 249-51. His recital represents General Marshall as vigorously arguing against the President at a conference on the latter 's 10,000-plane program.

32 Ltr, ASW, ASN, and Deputy Administrator of WPA to the President, 28 Oct 38, sub: Strength of Army Air Forces, AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

33 Memo, CofAC for ASW, 10 Nov 38, sub: Strength of Army Air Force, AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

34 The discussion of this conference is based on the notes cited in n. 1.

35 This was the tenor of his conference of 14 November (discussed above), and of his speech of January 12. FDR Public Papers and Addresses, 1939 Volume, PP. 70-74. Writing in 1941 the President said of earlier rearmament efforts: "First attention was paid to airplanes, because the war in Europe and in Asia had shown the primary importance of air equipment." FDR Public Papers and Addresses, 1940 Volume, P. 206.

36 For the policy of the President in early 1940 see FDR Public Papers and Addresses, 1940 Volume, PP. 104-08, and 202. For views of Secretary Woodring sec: (1) His note on Memo, ACofS G-4 for CofS, 9 Mar 40, sub: Sale of Surplus Ordnance Materiel to Foreign Governments, G-4/31684. (2) Notes of meeting held in CofS office, 19 Mar 40, CofS file Emergency, bndr 3. For the working out of a policy on release of airplanes and airplane equipment see: (1) The above; (2) Notes of conferences held 20, 23, and 25 Mar 40, CofS file Emergency, bndr 3; (3) Papers in G-4/31687.

37 FDR Public Papers and Addresses, 1940 Volume, p. 202. Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau two months later, 18 July 1940, sought to make the President's directive applicable to airplane engines as well, despite Mr. Stimson's warning that unless the United States had access to engines originally ordered by France "there will be practically no deliveries of combat airplanes, beyond those now on order to the army prior to Oct. 1, 1941"; a few days later representatives of the various interests concerned met and arrived at an agreement on allocation of aircraft production, including engines. See (1) original Ltr (marginal note: "Superseded by Conference Tuesday"), SW to Secy Treasury, 15 Jul 40; (2) original Ltr, Secy Treasury to SW, 18 Jul 40; and (3) original Memo, CofAC for CofS, 23 Jul 40, sub: Allocation of Aircraft Production. All in CofS file Emergency, bndr 3.

38 Memo, Actg SW for CofS, 15 Nov 38, no sub, AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

39 Ibid.

40 Statement of DCofS to AC'sofS, 17 Nov 38, sub: Supplementary Estimates, FY 1940, AG 580 (10-19-38), increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

41 AC Office Memo No. 10 38, 17 Nov 38, sub: Additional Officers for Special Duty, AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

42 In addition to document cited in n. 24 and 28 sec Memo, CofS for Col Watson (White House), 19 Nov 38, sub: Status of Certain Critical Arms and Material, AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . . Penciled note indicates that this was delivered personally by the Chief of Staff.

43 Unused Memo, ACofS WPD for CofS, 25 Nov 38, sub: Augmentation of the Regular Army and the National Guard to Provide the Additional Forces Considered Essential, with revisions, WPD 3674-10. It is evident from notations that General Marshall gave these matters his personal attention. Copies of these papers and related papers are in AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

44 SLC Min, 14 Nov 38, Office files of SGS. The Latin American nations' concern over their own security was voiced at discussions in Montevideo and Buenos Aires and in the Lima Conference Declarations of December 1938.

45 Unused Memo, ACofS WPD for CofS, 25 Nov 38. See n. 43 above.

46 Memo, CofS, prepared by WPD, for ASW, 17 Dec 38, sub: Two Year Army Augmentation Plan, WPD 3674-10 and AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . . Correspondence . . . .

47 Ibid.

48 This account is based upon information supplied the writer in an interview with General Burns in 1947.

49 Ibid.

50 Ibid.

51 Ibid. See also Frye, op. cit., pp. 254-55.

52 These and related communications are in AG 580 (12-14-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . .; and AG 580 (12-14-38), Legislation for Proposed Expansion Program. They led to Senate Bill 842, fixing the 6,000-planc total.

53 On 1 December 1938 the Acting Secretary of War summarized the three-point program which he understood the President approved, and itemized a short-lived $1,832,000,000 addition to the 1940 budget request. Of this $1,289,000,000 was for a two-year air program producing 10,000 planes: $421,000,000 was to meet PMP needs; and $122,000,000 was to accelerate industrial preparedness. In addition, the Acting Secretary pointed out that the Chief of Staff believed there should be an increase in strength of the ground forces to the extent of 58,000 men for the Regular Army and 35,000 for the National Guard, at a two year cost of 5272,000,000. Memo, Actg SW for the President, t Dec 38, no sub, AG 580 (10-19-38), Increase of the Air Corps . . . Correspondence . . . .

54 (1) Penciled Memo for Col L. [Loughry] signed M.F.H. [Harmon] re Air Corps Program, 26 Jan 39, and (2) Accompanying Memo, ACofS G-4 [Tyner] for CofS, 26 Jan 39, both found in AG 580 (10-19-38) Bulky, Increase of the Air Corps.

55 53 U. S. Stat 642; and House Appropriations Committee, Second Deficiency Appropriation Bill for 1939 Hearings before the Subcommittee . . . (Washington, 1939), pp. 434-84.

56 The pilot-training programs are discussed in Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 7, Legislation Relating to the AAF Training Program, 1939-1945 (revised 1946), Archives of Air Historical Office. Long before the goal of 1939 could be reached it was superseded by the 7,000-pilot program of June 1940.

57 The soundness of tactical doctrine as taught in the Army's schools before and in the early stages of the war is evidenced by the fact that it was applied, almost without change, to battlefield practice in 1944-45 with marked success. It was expounded in detail in the field manuals.

58 The paucity of officers itself limited the number who could be assigned to foreign duty as observers. See Ordnance History MS, Vol. 1, Ch. 2, Origin and Growth to 1919, p. 18, for discussion of the point that specially assigned ordnance officers, for example, would have made more searching reports on ordnance item- than a military attaché of general qualifications could provide.

page created 12 December 2002

Return to the Table of Contents