#3-556
Memorandum for General Stratemeyer
March 18, 1943 Washington, D.C.
Secret
Dr. Soong saw me yesterday and brought from the Generalissimo a request to increase Chennault's fighter squadrons of American units sufficiently to permit him both to guard his airfields and at the same time to carry out certain strafing missions.
As I recall Arnold's agreement in China the increase in fighter planes went to the Chinese Air Force and not to the U.S. Air Force.1 However, let me have the number of fighter squadrons in the 10th Air Force and how they are to be employed.
As I understand the whole matter the real issue is what can be maintained in China rather than how many planes we can give them. What I don't understand is whether or not we would consider transferring fighter squadrons from the 10th Air Force to Chennault's Air Force if adequate fields and gasoline, etc., could be found.2
G. C. M.
Document Copy Text Source: Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs (RG 165), Records of the Office of the Chief of Staff (OCS), 381 China, National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.
Document Format: Typed memorandum signed.
1. See Papers of George Catlett Marshall, #3-551 [3: 584–86].
2. Major General George E. Stratemeyer, chief of the air staff, replied that Chennault's command included four of the Tenth Air Force's six fighter squadrons. Chennault had 90 fighter planes for his use in China, while 146 were in India and 67 aircraft were en route to the Tenth Air Force. Stilwell determined allocation of fighter squadrons between the Tenth Air Force in India and the Fourteenth Air Force in China; Stratemeyer however expected Stilwell to permit the squadrons now in China to operate under Chennault's Fourteenth Air Force. The Tenth's two squadrons in India provided protection for the air transport bases in India and Burma and provided support to British ground forces in northern Burma.
"The contemplated development of a complete Fighter group of the Chinese Air Force, referred to by you," wrote Stratemeyer, "should make possible an increase of Fighter strafing operations from Chinese bases.” If and when the increased cargo lift from India to China made possible an increase in the strength of the Fourteenth Air Force, Stilwell might then be able to activate an additional squadron for Chennault's command. The two squadrons now in India were "fully employed on an essential mission." (Stratemeyer Memorandum for General Marshall, March 20, 1943, NA/RG 165 [OCS, 381 China].)
On March 23 General Arnold wrote to Marshall that additional fighter squadrons could be furnished Chennault once he had adequate facilities. "I have told Channault that as rapidly as he can build up Chinese units the fighter planes are available. . . . In the meantime, it would be inviting destruction of planes by the Japanese Air Forces to put any more fighter planes in China.” Arnold noted that Chennault "believed that the Chinese fighting units led by American commanders would be almost as efficient as his American fighters. Of this I have some doubt, but I am willing to give him a chance to make good." (Arnold Memorandum for General Marshall, March 23, 1943, ibid.)
Recommended Citation: The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, ed. Larry I. Bland and Sharon Ritenour Stevens (Lexington, Va.: The George C. Marshall Foundation, 1981– ). Electronic version based on The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, vol. 3, “The Right Man for the Job,” December 7, 1941-May 31, 1943 (Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991), pp. 592–593.