NOTE: This Text Version attempts to reflect the addition of handwritten comments or deletions of typewritten material. Such changes are noted in RED type. Some of the notations, however, are not legible as they appear in the printed book - and when such a word or words cannot be identified they are indicated in this document with "###" symbols.

 
DRAFT
December 25, 1941.
 
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
Subject:  Utilization of U.S. Forces in Australia
 
1.    U. S. combat troops, now in Australia and expected there at approximate dates indicated:
  1. Now Present:
    18 fighter planes
    52 dive bombers
    Elements of 2 regiments of 75mm. artillery (strat 20 guns of the 48 guns on show boat ## left from Samoa ##). No ammunition available until about January 8, when 5000 rds [changed from "small amount"] will arrive at Brisbane
     
  2. expected soon
    (1)    55 fighter planes and crews (about Jan. 8)
    (2)    To begin arriving in theater  on or about Jan. 3 [changed from "2 or 3;"] three heavy bombers per day until; a total of eighty are assembled. These planes [changed from "bombers"] are now directed to report to General MacArthur for orders upon arrival at Bangalore.[deleted "and to proceed from there as he may direct"] For the present there is an adequate number of 500 lb. bombs available in northern Australia. Also 260 at Port Moresby and ### at ###. One hundred and [deleted "two" added something illegible] 1000 pound[deleted "s"] bombs have arrived at Brisbane.

-1-

Incl #3

(3)   55 fighters, and crews about Jan. 16
(4)   70 fighter planes and crews about Jan. 18. (It is possible that capacity of ship will be ## to be [changed from "is only" 40 planes.)
(5)   A [deleted "complete"]pursuit group, ### (80 planes) [this sentence also contains a handwritten sentence that was to be added in - but then lined through for deletion - it is not legible]will leave San Diego on the Kitty Hawk about Jan. 10. Additional ships will be necessary for the personnel.
    Note: Dates at which there can arrive in Australia necessary ground crews and maintenance facilities for all the planes listed in the first three shipments are still uncertain. But, including the pilots sent from Philippine Islands to Australia, and with maximum help from Australian sources, all planes can temporarily operate usefully [changed from "operate usefully temporarily] pending the arrival of necessary maintenance units. The U.S. Air Corps has already allocated and directed to the West Coast a grand total of 333 pursuit [changed from fighter] planes for shipment to Australia, including those already arrived or enroute. The above represents the maximum capacity of ships now available.
 
    2. All American forces in Australia are to be commanded by Major General George H. Brett, (now enroute from ChungKing) under the direction of General MacArthur.

 
    3. [paragraph #3 is lined through]The United States and British Chief of Staff jointly recommend:
       
 
a. That immediate request be made upon Australian, British and Dutch authorities to render maximum assistance to the U.S. Commander in Australia in the preparation of his [changed from "General Brett in preparing and maintaining U.S."]air elements for combat, and with the establishment and #### of the #### [changed from "in selecting and securing bases"] with a [changed from "the particular"] view to the immediate entry [changed from "of facilitating the"] of these air forces into action.
 
-2-

        b. [This paragraph was lined through] That General Brett's command be temporarily designated as a separate U. S. Force, and that all U. S. personnel and material arriving in that region be directed to report to him for orders.
 
        c. That British and American Commanders be directed to exert maximum effort to insure the early entry of the U. S. Air Force into action, particularly for the support of Singapore.
 
    4. [paragraph #4 is lined through and 5 is written in]The Current U. S. Air Corps objective [deleted "in airpower"] in the southwestern Pacific, exclusive of China and Russia, is:
[deleted "(Memo, from General Arnold to Chief of Staff, December 20.)"]
 
2 Heavy Groups -- 80 planes
        2 Medium Groups -- 114 planes (-- may be sent)
[deleted "3 Light Groups -- 171 planes"]
6 Pursuit Groups -- 480 planes.
 
        This strength can [changed from "will"] be attained as rapidly as shipping facilities permit.
 
-3-

   
NOTE: The last 2 pages of this draft are completely handwritten. What follows is the "best-faith" attempt at transcribing the handwriting.
 
2. All [something illegible - lined through] U.S. forces in Australia are to be commanded by Maj General Geo H. Brett. General Brett has been under orders to take his instructions from Gen. McArthur. However, the situation in the Philippines apparently ["is so ###" - all lined through] has ["are" - line through] changed to an extent that makes it improbable that pursuit plane reinforcements can be forwarded to General McArthur. Therefore the following instructions were sent General Brett at ChungKing December 24th:
quote X

 
    3. [Paragraph mark] It is intended that his status with regard to subordination to General McArthur will be settled in ## light of the situation in the Philippines at the time of his arrival in Australia.
 
 

    OCS/18136-171
 
 
December 24, 1941.

BRIG. GEN. JOHN MAGRUDER,
U. S. MILITARY MISSION,
CHUNGKING, CHINA.

CODE RADIOGRAM
FOR BRETT       
 
PROCEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO
TO ASSURE COMMAND OF U.S. ARMY INTEREST IN THAT REGION stop REPORT ARRIVAL AND FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY WITH A PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATION OF ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN VIEW OF SITUATION IN PHILIPPINE AT THAT TIME    end
 
MARSHALL
 
 
-PD Message Center
Time out: 24 December, 1941
                4:34 P.M.
   
                                                         
 
 

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