I .. 4 1)17 ~" fOJ! U. ~ .. H.n7 ...... - dation ,,au '_V\t attt ...

·,to 'be ottloera" MIl of \be ftleDtJ-

1l'St," _ aid to !Il JOur Weooa 01 l' Aq'ClRe

._-'

READ UART 'RS YXIBO o 10 af t e Co. nding Gener-

a 23~, c/o Pastm ster an Fran.ol~co, Call ornia

5 April 194 ~

Oluatf:{oa t10n oanoel1ed 1)y - .. - .

.DOD D1U~!tlVE Bo ..... 5200 •. 9~ et.f'ect1ve 22 Nov._. as

General of the Army H. H. Arnold, Headquarters, Twentieth Air Force, Penta~OD ilding, WashlJ)gton 2.5.,' •. 0.

Dear General Arnold;

Yaur letter 0 21 a.rcb, has just arrived. ppy nd

,relieved to knew- that you are back mn'tlhe job 8, n , I have given your letter the widest distribution d all personnel are pI s d that you have notioe~ their work. .

I have een endeavorin to' keep maxillUJll pressure on th Japanese Empire bY,l.ncreasing the sortie rate and boa 10 'do 'The sortie

rate or planning purposes was' 500 per MO.Dth per: wine" Last month

the 73d, the only Wing with its fu 1.com·leQlent 0 1-80 irplanes, fIe,.. 1~331 so~ies,. On their last missien t. e 73d c rrie.d 20,000 1150 of om'hs per a1rpl ne., I - eltl..ev6 ,,9 stretched QeW' llCk little- too fran this mission e lost·· ship on the take':"o r an t s ov~r-":.11 lose r te went up; however J relieve th· t seleqted arsORS, un AT nor-mal conditions, can carry this, load on our 10. altitude m ss'one: rom S6.~pan and Tinian. The .314th t G .pi ha~ out 3 0 mil s moe to travel ut eelectedcrews -have alr.eE;dy carr-Led 17 ~OOO 1 s ,

Weather'c9ntinues to be our worst opera.tional enemy. During my lrst ai weeks here _e had one visual shot at t ret. T is W 8 prl rily the Teason I lowered the al titu e for our in.cend! r' tt eta.

Our attempts to bomb precision targets at night have failed beoause we do not bave the proper tools for the job. oa ardiera bave not been a le to syncbro~lz~ on tbe target ith the flares and si('l'ht we have. t have ordered some British type tarat markeT' nares and

reflex op 10 "s1' ht 0 en these arrive, I elieve we oan estray pr

oi.l!Sion tarpets atni ht from 5,000 to 7,000 teet altitude • leanwhile, I am. goln I to try lowering tbe altitude of our daylieht attacks to get under the weether 0 If neoes88.l7, we w1.11 po olear down to the deole

if we can get the proper ~geso This will, undOUbtedly, r sult in 8

hlph r COil t loss rate ut it will.be partly 0 fset.. re(luoetl

operational J.0158 Tate, dUB to tbe reduotion 1n alt1tude. Sincl9 tbe

C01'D.mand ~as ee~ 1ft operatiOn) W9 have lost4?:. irplanl'ls t in'.!'.' to p'et

t r et 3 7 from hlC'h altitude. e oan ,affQrd to' ncr e eo our loss at!'"

,_r it insure 'tt' destruction Q' ' the t rr a:tls. .

. ~

One of my particular worries . t, th pre. 'ent i.1? 1 t '3 supply 8i'~uat1on. Past planning- has he en on. a 'sorlie" rat 0 500 per ~-ngt "hi.o'h. we have increee d. EVen with thIs J"at~ pf ?peration J A~ r 'orps

supplies "ould ,be tight, eaV$ on hand enou.gh ,i1).oandi 1"i '" for one

.19S1Qn with enou h for ~nother to be deliver d this aonth. "rhos two alS8iQns will be rUQ ,maar tb,e be'st J?oes1ble ,ea~her 00l). ltlons ",1 th n the liext three wee.e. Tbe. R.E. boa s.1tuatloD 1s'a1$0 bad} 60.e are to be' shipped in frOiD 'So'Qtb ~ac1:tl0 at,Qcks but, 1: they do not arrive we may beou;t of El •• b1 1 flay, The' depot is riot t\mQtloning s tistactorl1y rom 01Jr vlew;poUlt'. All;' of these: proolema have bean brought

to the attention of' the proper lH,laple bl1t aCtion has been slow. .

. ,~ , '

. III spite of aU our difficulties, I "hope to sboll'an increase

effioiency a a:in this. month. .

Respectfully y~s,

La J GeDer~l. u. S. COlD1l8n ing.

• • ~ .. • ~ II .:. • .;, .. : ."

'","r'~"""",uARTERS. TWENTIETH AIR FO.

OFF,ICE OF THE,COMMANDING GENERAL WASHINGTON Z5. O. C"

----

Pv ~1;t O:, ... t"y f

Twentieth Air Force

-BEG 9--l944.-------~------

(.JC:lte)' (r~it~als)

Major General Curtis E. Lemay

Commanding General, XX Bomber Comma~ .1'1 DEC 1944

A.P.O. 493, c/o Postmaster DO;B~1fioat1on canoelled by ,

New York, New York IRECTlVE No. 5200.9 effeot!

' va 28 Nov. 58

Dear Curt:

~ want to thank you for your letter of the 29th of November and the attaohed report oy Mr. Shookley. As you s.ay in the letter, the report and the accompanying oharts helped answer aome of the questions that are constantly in my min.d.

I follow the work of the XX Bomber Command in far greater detail than you probab~ think, so I have already deduced most of the points covered in this report. As I told you before you went out to India, the B-29 project is important to me because I am convinced that it is vital to the future of the Army Air Forces.

I think progress has been made and that you have contributed materially to this. It should be clear to us all, however, that we have not even started yet. We will bave problems of logistics, of materiel, of organization, and we will always continue to have problems of one kind or another. Nene of them, however, are insurmountable and we must not let ourselves use them as an excuse for doing anything less than the best possible under the circumstances. The report you sent me proves that you have the right attitude in this matter.

I have just learned that on the Singapore attack 41% of TOur bombs were wi.thin 1000 feet of the br.1efed aiming point. I donlt have to tell you that I am impressed with this progress. You will recall that the best of the B-171s and B-24's have been doing about that well recently. We should not, however, consider their work

as establishing ~ standard. I think we can do better bombing with the B-29 than ha's been done by any aircraft up to this time and I expect you to be the one to prove this.

By now you should have been able to make substantial progress in the m.odification of your engines. This isn't going to eliminate all of your operational losses, but it is going to help considerably. In the last six weeks here in the U.5. we have lost better than 3 unmodified airplanes to ever,y one of the modified type lost. Full

.,

benefit or your maintenance and. training programs should beref'lec"ted til lOur operations now that you wonlt have so many interruptions just because engin.esstoprunning.

Again let me say that I appreciated your letter. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

,

H. H. ARNOLD General, U. S.Army Commanding

\

Dea:r,Oeneral .&molet.

. .

~ ~u very muoh tor YOUI', P" •• ~Ol1 of ~p~cl~"tilon ofc.rIq .ttorte l1D08 ~ .1'rlnl in tli1. tha .. ter. I .... ~"' .NOu that I _,!all oorltinu~ tQ e~n4 all.my ettortl 0 giv 'yG4, 1;b8 ~'lll ta l'OU d •• ire

, and expeo",. ' '." " ' , '. I .

, .. , ..

I :bave ·Dot':-be.n ~t1.r1.eC1 with the bomt; lo~. 'tie baft oarr3...d' in the put, arid have bad *,",.1'10t Jay belt stall ot,f1oerl Working on' thft' problam.· tq... l8.rge extent our bomb 1;0&4 1.' .11m1 tad bY' gro.. take-

ott" loach !hl.~. in'"but'll intlueno.d by oparatiug teohlltque, ·ruDIa~. , 'high tZ'e9 air ts.r&ture,~ p~t' avafl&ble:. ~ tab-ott i. & 'ftr)'

.. riod 'problem .. itb.the B,,*a9, and 1. the high point of 'allY .t11gb_.

All orewli. in d.1t.(Ju,,~ .. r'mi •• lon .. ~itLbly _lk abOu't tbeir take.- off al;ld not about flak, l1ghter., 'or otb8r ~namy oppoaition. ""n variial power 10 •• from one' e.nginea;hnoat lnvar1a,bly l'Slu'lta ~ '" orlAh from wh10h

there &re very tw ,urv:lvor. '._' , . .

' .

~ . '

. ' .

Although the general experienO. level Qt Gombat orna Of th1a COWN11tl 18 h1g~, 1Jhe ir e.perlea.o •. tr1th the 8-29 prior Ul arrl ... 1 in thll ba 'ber ..... 1&41,. ·laoking • MlnY 0"'" bad ,.ver d.ropped a bomb trom tt. B-29 aDd -n tfSW had "flown it in tar "tion. 1nOof4-y arrival. 1n till. fblatar. e-ftor. tQ C)onduot & o·ool"dlna'bed 'Ort.lni.n& pro ram have regularly ~.n 111terrup by the ne.oe ... 1 tj ~b augment tlVJ lo&l.tlo~l IUppqrt of oOJDba~ opera t1ww from -eue Fo~rQ, Bal ••• \ Up to I OoWber 19". thlr~~tlft ptr oent ot GILlr '00_1 8-89 fl~ time .... ,oonaw.ci iil oar SeQ operatiolW to· the Che.ac_ Ana. INriDg the tiNt ten daY' in OO'bober •• ppr~tateI7 .1"- ... 11 huDin4 B-19 tly1zrg. hOUri we ... l-eqt.llrecl, ,., PrGYla •• utt101e·tl:b a_oka'to oopd\101I ur .. - oent opera111oJW again" l;OI'llQI". Aalcle trom tt. ex.ell.at ezper1 ••• cained by oombat ore_ in ~oonom1oal e:ag1De ope~t1on in Ohr-*-huap tl7inc. tbli. 0&1"60 operatlOJW pno~10&11y .11a1na1H the po .. lbll1ty ot ooD1uo_l~ tbl ~O.'B"'Y 'rain1hg wlUoh 1. 'V1_1 i;o tbl etlioi.at oo~uo1a

at ooabkt opera1do~. JiIOwner,' .. haTe ... QOlJl;>le'" _biDe prograa in eft.oil and. will bit &b~. ·110 dRO. more' ~ to " now that ... an ,....lyiq .or. logistloal lupport trOll 1ibIt !bea~r. Pl10. bay. am.n a 00D81.

btprOftMDb in t1JiDi prol101.noy. An ualJ81. 01 aI.lioD .. IS.

1Dl1oates 1Jla~ OUF ooalai; 0 ..... ha_ DOW' ".heel .. UD1toftl1ty ill .ra131 _ohDlque wh10h will pel'll1~ .t&ndar41s1D1 ~ tuel ..... rn. tor all au.~~

ru 1 reaern 1.a proble!l1 ..,hio h 1:$8 not ~ t 11y

101vea. a. there 11 no raethod .~ determining the amoUl11lo.t fuel. available in flight or.re 1nUlg aI~r land1!13. Pre. n'b fuel quantity aug •• are praotio.lly \1 •• 1 •• , _, Although 'light In;me.r. logl provide a tail'

•• ot fuel oOn8wnption, .. , ob-.1ned fro Orou1e ContrelObarta,

any·vat1a1::l0 ,ln the o~ratUt .tf101e~y of eugu.. ollU1Ot be deterained. AS a . re.-qll'li "ha reporM of tn.l", :1n1~ upon the return. from. a mission are n.Qt d.epe.D4able. w. have E!BtliLb11.b,ed advuoed 8.marg.noy Ii lei. in Ch1na. .htah are availabl for any plaIl8 1n trouble and th1 will allow u. tQ f!l11m1'Q1l'bi) the ,exce •• lve :rehrve needed for three engine ope 't1on~ R~.r, aoou.rate, tuel. Ilu.antity gauge. or flow ~"ber. are essential bafore it 'rill "be lare tio reduo4\f t.be oalculated fuel reae vel

muoh below tOO. pre,ent,. 1'1 r .... e pre1'eT*,ble •• they will aleo

give all 1hdioation of th8aO~l power ba.1:ng obta1DDd from the eng1ne ••

. r

.,

Ta.ke"'Qff' with grols'load.over bere n,.ve been limited byatllo.pher10 oond1 ion , rum18.Y '1,JrtaC18, ..,. a1 ti1 tude. ,. a c~r1'QD,a take-off we1ght of· 112,000 poundll tHm our C~~ 'bide. and 13',000 pounda from lthangpur, lDd 1 f.. requir'(J: appra&1mately the lame 41.1aDoe

.a a. ~-o.tf a.~ ,140,'000 pound. doe. a-t :S .. ~1,z:a, raM,,-. WIler temperate

o onditi 0 • '

b priW1rY ditt~aultr With OUr' rwswaya in O.hlna hal been the ft~ "1"&08 .hi-oh 1,. or f1naly 8round lbe.tone'.' ,!_, are vel'7 dUlt., or 4,.. and oan bolt be 4e.orlbed •• ', ~.low" :for taIa!»-ott.. .. are nOW' .pplJ1nc an Mph4Llt urtao trea.nt .blah ... 111 blprove tbf abOYe coD:l1tloni. By the let ot Decembe~ we will· have & warm. u:pap"ft, and a .Vip .~ty by three tnoulaild f •• t at one end 'ot ~. ~ at each ot our t1elda. A aWl&r ,apron and .trlp ."b the oPP081te end of the NJM&yt will btl oompltecl b¥ 1he lIt ,ot Jauuary. By the 1st or F.bruary. an 81gb", too1l

.>wide strip, the en'01re length ,of .the, runnY", will be ooaple_d.

. .

, '

In .\UJIIIB_ry. tm pr11¥)~ple i'ao"fJar"a wh10h have ,-.c\ftraely .tt.ot8cl O\Ir range and bomb a.paot t'y are b&ir.\g (lorreated. It 1. reuo_bl. to &l8\me tha.t we are n.ow 1n .. po81tlon t.o o .. plt&11t,9 on pa.texper1eDC.. !hi., together 1th thaadvent of cooler weather am tlul oon18aplatad. 1U1Nft ohange. in augiDIJ Qool1lJg, ,tihould. perm1t ... ubatantlal 1Dore .... in 'bomb load over those 'oarried en th$ Inl"ttaloperat101ll ot th1a C.ownend.

, .

!he 9-29 a1rp~ 1. oapable ot .. ooDalderable h1g_r perto~ than tbe R-3350 engine DOW ~1_IIGd . 111parm.1t, •• tb8 ~1aua roaa oper t1ac we . t 11 11..111"_4 by the p r available tor take-ott &D4 011.0. Unt11 more power 1. available, ... ' Gannot 1\1117oapt_lis. OD tba oa~bllitie. 01 the airplane"

Molt ot OUI" dlttloult1e. o.n_r a.roua1 11m enciDe. 1110. Jq .nt 1

I have n .averal .tep. tba"i I though ....... -.ry 'to 0,,1; 40wa 0\11' ....... ,.

tlo:cal lo •• e. and I believe loan hol4 them to • N&8o_bJ.. t1p.ft. OIl 1&. t £nahan alloD..!wi 110 10..... On ~ thrH 1'0,... ala.l

thre , all def1tJ.1tely meohanio.al tailures. 0Qe was r turning en thre e ina., 'but fall d to .how 11ip. !hie ~rew bailed ou~ am has not ",t returne4, but I, sure that be either 108t another .ngiDl or the 0118 ~t 'ft' out v1bratild to pieoe. due to inability to fea.ther. the •• cond

itbar explod 4 or C&Ia9 apart 1n the air, ai:qoe. &'uQtbar hip .toroecl

to abort beo .. u.. he ran '1uw a pi.oe Q.t 1 t in the _up. ~ third oaU(;ht fire 1 o1ro11q; the field with. 4 acl engine.. '!be pilot .ta~d w1~h

1t un"bil lit loat oontrol and. _de a jump at '200 .feet. '

am doing all I oan hy ortw .QIeo1;:lon, tr'~~lng and edUoation .11miI*w th1a tY'P'"oQ1d.8nt, 1:u,1) they oannot be el1a1:aa.te4 "ntirely until the en"ne i 1lx1proved~ I I\IIl hopi!)g' that aome or tba modUlo.tiona du to Z'e&o.h us .oon will help.

I have reported: thi'ouah nonal ol'annelil thatroub'Ja, _ are baving wi tih

b t ather meolan1aJll an4 hope WI g t. _ aot10n .oen. OIl th1a air-

platw inability to feather almo&'b/al~ya re~ul~ in the loal of the .hip.

I am very JIlUOh OOnd.rDed '.'bout" ·1118 ' ttoot of the we .. -bher on our operationa Gut of th~ Che~ Area thu ~ter·. I,don't lcloIr wbatbaryou ~ familial' .1 tb ,tlw situation or not. I havo imlo .. cl· .. ltudy I had _de by the .ather people on thia :Area and. it pro.eut, & very bleak picture • .. you <san lee trom the .tud)". it, .. &l'8 to 1:l9D1h dur1ng tlw m1ddl. of 1m day, when tar.Eat can41t1ona .i.11, p.robahly be be4t. 118 J111WiI -.ke tab-o.tt. alli laD3:1nta dur1Dg tb& ' or., ~riocl at tm bu... 1'1» 10e proble .. will not be '0 bad tor b, let-down, but _y been tts 011llb out, W;1th .. b&JaTily loaded ship. In atld.1t10n to th huDlred or 'Q .hip. I ldll have QO~

baokout 0 tor an 1~txv._nt .pproaoh, .4.1'.0 .. ruDI • large volWDlt of

tratt10 lnto tbs al"ea. 'rankly, I haven't a oomplew 'olUtlon .. 1Jh1a prob1em yet. At, bo .• t," ..... fJ:Jtpeqt .ODMJ 101 ••• th1. winter dUi 10 ...

YOUI' .ug •• ti0118 and :'~'lIIlD8n1;a on our work are ftry _loem. heNJ tbe7'

. hearten not only 'but tho e~t1r. O~.

'~ f '\

Major General Curtis E. LeMay Commanding General, XXI Bomber Command

APO 234, c/o Postmast~r ~

San Fr81cisco, California Classif1cation oancelled l5y - ---- - _ DOD DIRECTIVE No. 5200.9 af~ectlve 28 Nov. 5a

......... ,.\ooG.o.~

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON

6 JUL 1945

Dear Curt:

Recent intelligence from Germany emphasizes the interest the Japs have had in aircraft developments along the lines of the Me 163 and 262.

Present evidence indicates the probability of the early appearance of a rocket type interceptor, patterned along the lines

of the Me 163. Its appearance in some numbers is undoubtedly delayed by their difficulties in produc.ing adequate rocket fue·l. It is improbable that the Me 262 turbo-jet type aircraft 'Will appear as early, wi th difficulties the Jap has had in developing a satisfactory jet

uni t. Nevertheless, Y·1e know he is worting energetically along these lines in a desperate attempt to stave off defeat from the air .•

I consider it imperative that we examine constantly evidence coming to hand for confirmation of Jap progress in the rocket and jet field •. I urge that your photo reconnaissance people and your P/W interrogators, indeed, all aour-cee of intelligence, be alert for aircraft of unusual design, lengthening of, lengthened or paved runways. It is to be noted that blast marks and tell-tale signs such as the aforementioned gave us our first clues in Germany.

We have the Nip where we want him and constant vigilance will prevent his having a chance to exploit anything he may have learned from the Hun.

Sincerely,

• H. ARN~QLD

Commanding General, ~mw Air Forces

l)r • ""s'" ."

. /~:-.. ' .• ~2·'>· .• j

·,

MESSAGE REFERS TO:

PRIORliY

AAF POA

INCOMING MESSAGE

CLASSIFICATION

., r - •• - PRECEDENCE

UNClASS1FIEDo

RGE V ~~ARM NR 182

. ROi..l" C ;)ivi GENA I R

WASHtNGTOr~, D.C. 152108Z AUG. ,145 .

TO : CO USASTAF' AFAC 1468

~OR LEUAY fROM ARNOLD.

THE PAR YOU PLAYED IN DEVELOPING AND COMt .. 1ANOING THE 21ST '~i ACTION:

BOMBE.R CO~f~tAnD REPRESENTS ONE OF THE OtJTSTAND I NG PERSONAL cIs

\

A HEV:f:.JlENTS OF THIS WAR. YOU ANO THE: MEN UNDER YOUR COMMAND

HAS INDEED MADE CLEAR ro ns ~·JORLD THE FULL MEANING OF STRATEGIC INFO DO~OARDMENT • YOUR I~AGINATION, RESOURCEFULNESS AND INITIATIVE CO

HAVE REflECTED ORED I T ON THE ENT rRE ARMY A JR FORCES. tiE ARE LOG

NTENS:LY PROUO OF m~f\T YOU HAVE DONE.

• .

TOR: 152~ 32Z

o ,~.. ,_ ';I~

.. III .... ; • ~... ~

. ~ «-: '.

"'-~'-- ,'.

HEADQU RTERS,1WENTIETH AIR FORGIE OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENEIRAJ[.I

,

WASHIN~TON 25, D. c.

<b-b ... .r

"'.I; ~ ~O.~

"'.tJ;a> 0.., 0

40 ~O

• ,$,"& 1.J. "i.Q &Q"

~S ~

,

$~ &0

l:r

l>-e

~e ~

As one of my first acts on returning to Washington aft:r~ absence of several weeks, I want to commend you and your Command o'fl the superb operations you have conducted during the last month. I have followed closely the progress of the XXI Bomber Command and I want you and your people to understand fully my admiration for your fine work.

Major General Curtis E. LeMay, U. S. Army Commanding General, XXI Bomber Command

A. P. O. 234, c/o Postmaster

San Francisco, California

My dear Curt:

Air operations are colorful, and consequently the actual operation is normally the only phase of a Co~nandls work which receives public recognition. Your recent incendiary missions were brilliantly planned and executed, but I appreciate that behind these successful missions there are thousands of men who do not participate actively as combat crews. The individual abilities of all of these men, welded into a well organized

and ably led team, account for the success of the XXI Bomber Command.

I ask that you convey to all members of your Command, this expression of my admiration and appreciation.

I am convinced that Japan is going through a critical period, the seriousness of which will be greatly increased at the time that Germany capitulates. This fact imposes a great responsibility on the Army Air Forces, since we alone are able to make the Japanese homeland constantly aware of the price she will pay in this futile struggle. I am not unmindful of the importance of training, maintenance, and other problems -- in fact,

I urge you to coJttinue to recognize tha.t these fundamentals are essential but I want you to put the maximum weight of effective bombs on Japanese targets, consistent with sound operating practice.

A study of the effect of the Tokyo attack of March 10 and knowledge of the fact that by July 1 you will have nearly a thousand B-29's under your control, leads one to conclusions which are impressive even to old hands at bombardment operations. Under reasonably favorable conditions

you should then have the ability to destroy whole industrial cities should that be required. The entire subject of incendiary attacks is, as you

know, being carefully analyzed here. It is apparent that attacks similar

•

t·

•

to that against Tokyo have a most significant effect on industrial production, but further study is being made so that we may give you additional guidance.

Sincerely

You and your Command have done an outstanding job. There is more and harder work to do. I know that I can count on the XXI Bomber Command to meet the challenge of the future.

My warmest personal regards to you, Kissner, O'Donnell, Davies, and Power.

• ARNOLD General of the Army Commanding

- - ~

ADDtII Eaa REPLY TO

COMMANDING GENERAL. ARMY AIR FORCES

WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

ATTENTION:

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON

ajar General Curtis E. LeMay Commanding General

Bomber CGmmand

A.P.O. 4 3~ i/o Postmaster New York~ New York

Dear LeMay:

Of all the successes of the .A.AF during the past year~ none have been more gratifying to me than those of the

- Bomber Command.

In the few months since you have-begun operations, apart from the distinction of being the first heavy bombers to hit the Japanese Islands~ you have effectively bombed enemy industria1and military installations on the Asiatic mainland.

For your Command par-td cu.Lar-Ly, the year 1945 will offer greater opportunities to bring the war home to Japan. I know you will take the fullest advantage of them,,· In your efforts, my best wishes go with you and to every member of your Command.

Sincerely,

Commanding General, Army ir Forces

D-.r Ourtl

r

" ,: I ~t to t!lank' Y'()~ ,for Y'~~ letter 'of' the 29thot November

• and tbe attached report b11Ar. Shockley. As you say in the letter, the report and the ac.colllP&ll3';1.ng charta helped ana ... r 80llle at the

que.tiona tb&t ar~ constant.17 in my mind. '

, " j 1 t

,

, ". I f'o11~ the work of' the XX Bombe:r pommand in tar great.r ci4!tts,ll't!'mn you probably'think, eo I bave already deaUQed 1IOst or the poi~te ~oTe~ in this repo,rt. .e I toL! lOU before fOU went out to India, ,the B-29 p;,;o,Ject it 1.mportant to Dle because I &II co~vinoced that it is ,vital to the future ot the .ll'1llT Air roro ... ,I think progre-t!& has been' made .and that ,.ou have contributed materially to this. It .bouldhe' clear to us all, howner, ,that we have not even s tarled 1et. W. will have problema Qt log1Btlcs I ,ot materiel, o'forprUlatloD, ,and 'we wUlalwq8 continue to hay. problems ot one ldnd or another. lone ot t~elD:' however, are in- 8urmoWltabl."nd we DlUIt not let ouree1v •• use thea as an flXcuae tor doing ~~ lep8,tHan the beet' possible UDder ,tbe circUlIstances. 'the report; you •• nt me prov •• ' that 10U bave the right attitude in this matter.

, I have jUst l.,.rn~ '~bat on the,Sin.gaPQre attaot /J.~ ot JOur

be.be were within lOOQ feet of the briefed aiming po~t. I don't have to tell rou that I 'am.lm.p1;e88ed with' thi. progr~I.. Iou will ~ecall tn.t the be8t ot the B-a7'_ 'and B-24'8 bave been ,doing about that yell. recently. 'e _houd not', however~ couider their work

al establishing a ~taDdard. . t th1nk we can do better boIlb1Dg with the 8-29 than has been d()ne bl an, aircraft up to tbu tS- aDd I expect yo.u to be the one to proYe,th1 ••

, .

By DQ. you .hoUl~ han been able to, sake .ubetantial progren il'l the modification of yoUr eng1n .... Thie 1811't go1Dc to elf.blat all ot1our operational loa.es, but it 1. loiDg to .help oou14erabla. In the 1&8t six weeta bere in the U.S. we haYe leat better than, 1 urunod.ifled alrplaJLee to n.rr one of th. 1IOd1t1ed t)'P8 lost. h11

· ....

GOOd- luck

ottiae of the OODlmlUlcl1ng General »0 493

2'9 November 1944

General Henry H. Arnold. OODIIMDd1ng Gellera,l U. s. 4rm.y 41r Poreea. W.ahington. D. C.

Dear General Arnold,

I am. enoloa1ng a report prepared. by )Ir. W. B. Shook1ey ot the Secretary ot .ar' a -olt10.. I am aunt' it .111 be ot particular interest to you beoau.e it anlwera queS1ilona that I know are oonstantly ill your m.1nd regarding yr:iq.r· oo.bat unita.

I bave alwaya known the value ot tra,1n1.D.g. but :t hav. never before had.' the. qppClrtun1-by of taklqaD outfit in oOllbat and aoaparil1c "heir .tt1o 1euoy before and after illaugu.ratlnga tralnUac program.. Qb&rt "'D" .hon that •• are now tan times mbA .ftioient t.ban .... were In· August. It 1. tru. that I have taken other steps to woreaa. our etfioienoy beside. 'inaugurating a tra1D1:ag progr&Jil. how ..... !',. 'bhey were taken on 1:JJY arrival nere, aepte.ber 18t. !he iDoreas. ip. our bombing aoouraoy and inorea.e in 10&4 oarrying oapaoity do~. not .tar", until the last ot Qoto~r •• ft.]" our tralDin,; had. taken hold.

As yOu oan aee by our 10 •• OUFve., Ope.ratl.onal lo •• e. oODt1nue to be on. ot our _j or headaoh... I..a,uotlon in hUmp 10 ••••• 1 believe. 1. due mO.'bly to gen .• rally b.tter .tlyina wea13her ill that region. 'he weath.r in Chlua ba., grown wars.', . aDd. in" &4- dltl~, 'We have be.n toro_ to take ott at night in order ~o boab in daylight. tni. ha. 1ncre.s.d our operational loa.... In .pit. of the d1tt1oultl ...... are opera~1Qg under. 1 .hope ~o Dav. &

sharp r.duotion in operational lo.s •• al aOOB aa we are oa.pl.t.l,. equipped with modifIed alrplane ••

·the entire COlDJand wa. very plea.ed. -"0 reoeiv. your .xp .... - lion o~ •• t1.tactiOn in our work.

OURTIS I. LelIA'.

JIaj (q!" a.n. ral. U. a • . Co_-iDe·

~l\iR-'i'E)RIs WASHINGTON

17 November 1944

Class1fioation c oeilUu J DOD DIRECTIYm No. 5200.9, ex

Ma or Gener 1 Curt' ~ E. LeMay Commanding G ner 1, XX Bomber Command A.P.O. No. 493, c/o Postmaster

New Yo k, New York

Dear Curt:

•

I was very muo inte eated in the chart you enclosed in your

letter of 6 November 1944. The progr ss you have been making in adding to your bomb load is most ratifyinp'. You will recall that at the time t at you f1 st took command of the XX, one of my greatest concerns was the ct that the B-29 d not yet demonstrated its ability to

carry a reason bly arge weight of bombs. We h venit completely whipped this to my satisfaction yet, but I am p eased with the improvement. I have seen your bomb strike and PRU hobos of Okayama and Omura but as yet th Rangoon and Sin pore pictures have not arrived. Large sca e blow-u s have been made of the former and I have roudly displayed them whenever opportunity arose. I onlt recall any ictures of the European Theater which surpass those of Okayama for concentration of bombs an

th dama e resulting therefrom.

As for the center section aircraft with full coolin modifications, you should a.ve received fUll details on 0 plan about the time that our letter was written. We are ~v ng you every airplane of this ty e that we c n get ah01d of. It is true tb t t e 313th is delayed some-

h t over th orig nB. de oyment pI n, but this was a decision of the 1st 0 Se tember necessitated by the fact t at b ses w d not be ready, as by t e fact that unit equi ment aircraft could not be made

vaila Ie as origina y anned. This sho elea any doubt in your

ind a.bout B-291s \II itin in th U.S. with nothing to do.

The fine work your eop e have been doing is providin a standard for the other B-29 units. We are passinR to Hansell everythine of interest from the XX Bomber Command, and he" in a recent letter here, tated th t he would have to push his people ratty hard to stay in the same leag e with your Command.

Keep up the good work.

General, U. rrrry

Commanding

ADORES. REf'L,Y TO ,

_'" - - COMMANDING GENERAL. ARMY AIR FORCES

WASHINGTON 2~. D. C.

•

Your record of operations has also been most gratifying. I expected you to do a good job in your formations, in your bombing,

and in the other phases of your work with which you have had great experience. For this reason, I have been most impressed by such things as the fine job you did at Formosa after we had directed a change in your operation, and in your special operation against Sin apore. Operating under the difficult conditions that exist in India and China and the ability to operate effectively on little more than 24 hours notice indicate that your organization is functioning well. It just happens that both of these operations were a result_.of Navy requests.

I have just received a .letter from Admiral King in which he expresses his appreciation for the fine work that you did at Singapore and indicates that he too is impressed with your ability to do a job. I wish that you would pass on to your peop e the fact that I am pleased with wh t they are doing.

....

ATTENTI0N:

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON

NOV 1 3 1944

. . . cr L sfficat10n canoelled by

MaJor General Cur-t Ls E.LeMay lJCI).D~ No. 5200.9 .. effective- 28 .09. s8'

Commanding General, XX Bomber Comrnan •

A.P.O. 493, c/o Postmaster

New York, New York

Dear LeMay:

I appreciate very much your very informative letter of the 19th of October. Such letters are of great assistance'to me in keeping up with the work. that you are doing.. They supplement the routine exchange of messages by furnishing the necessary background material.

~ have told you in messages of my great satisfaction with the work that you are doing. I want to emphasize that fact to you and

to the_ members of your Command. My greatest concern at the time you went to India was, as you well know, the problem o.f maintenance and mechanical difficulties we were then experiencing with the airpl ne •

.[e thought we had. the answer in our modifications and we are now convinced that is true, but it was your task to operate the airplanes

you had and they were not the latest models. I think the number of airplanes that you were able to keep in operating condition was impressive. I appreciate the difficulties that you must have encountered a d know full well this problem must have been solved largely by the determination of you and your maintenance people.

As you have been told by teleconference, we are sending you 60 !tilly-modified airplanes this month and are following up with more in December. I realize that this is not 'going to be enough to fully meet your requirements, but together with the modifications which can be accomplished in the Theater, this will certainly greatl expedite equipping you with this improved type of B-29 .. Your F-13's will also be sent out this month. This represents the best that can be done at this time but any improvement in production will be reflected in increased flow of airplanes to you until you are completely equipped with the new type.

One of our major interests continues to be to get you out of I

China. I cannot at this time tell you where you will go or when your

bases will be ready. In any event, you will have to operate under your present conditions for a matter of months. I want to assure you, how-

ever, that this matter is being pressed. In this connection, it is our

plan now to augment the :xx Bomber Command by one or two wings when you operate from your new bases, the 'number depending on the location.

I had the pleasure of meeting rows. LeMay last night in Cleveland.

She appeared to be in good health and good spirits and asked me to send you her love.

Again let me tell you that you'rlRve the full confidence of me and the staff here.' I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,

General, U. S. Army Commanding

II I ve enclosed e eelf'-explanato17 nC!. ahowe

e B we ave de in ina ea81 the bomb load carr1ed

.0-20. I be leve 'Ie C n increase the load carr1ed 01117 &1" tl above t' prosent leva nt 1 e can get y. ore bar •• - power for tnkco • 'ore orsepower 111 onable . 8 to t17 at hi ross o_gbts a. conae uently allow greater bomb loada.

T have ':'n .. e C d , n ad tion to the tankers, elgbtJ'

o old-t alrp-anoa toot havo semi-permanent bcab

t 1natea or t . n er section ta B that the nanz-

a pare eq 1pped lth.."" va alread7 sent be.ok b tel.con exac t fIe s on t e bomb arrylng onps.c 1 ty of these two tJ'pe

sb1p. _ ~ ~ no 'J S 1/ th the oenter section tank will, OD

at o:f UI' as ons, carry twioe the bomb load. on the

S or saion", at 0ztrSllYJ ra a{ the oenter section ms.p.

carried 4000 1 ., tho othel'S 2000 be. on the Ranaoon 10 10n, a sort one, thecenterseot101l shipe oarrlad

20 000 1 s , , th 0 ps 12,000 lbe. Thus, if' our old

p c:Juldba replaa d -.Lth a ps a u:1pped ith oentev eect-oh tawas we could at once 1ncr.ase oUI' bomb 11ft bJ

r; .-if .:; j-<J.

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te due

orea. bomb 10

G ve ce airplane. with the oooling

oonor t an I 0 D mod t re

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I have 6lp'ad~,~e 1Hu'~' r.qu •• ,ti 1)y t$1800n, but bave

reoe1ved tlOa.oswel' as le,t" ','"

, , 'h~pe" ~ou ' ve .,.on: ~,b8 p1ot\1r.e. at aka,....'. QlUUl~,

e. ' con and S aPQ". and that 7()U are as pleaCledas em ltb t~ lllc ease 1n our b~lj1 a.~OlU'll()7. We.aJ't) t1nallJ be,.tt1tl ng to oollect div1cteods ol1"Q\Ir lnvestmegt. ,rne1dentallJ', the' :mor .. leof too c e"a', is tlV:i'~ 1:)es~ I bave' ever aeen 1n (Jplte

of 811gine troubles. ,One '01" t~e Group. at the last, mi..sion C~l tlque put 'th61r J,oad. b~rfl1.r.1 WhO had' plast8~ the' ttu'set ~ thest88 alXl ohet)red the a s off the !foof. you 1 1 g1Ye .us toe nirp1anes we wi 1 ,surely' 'OUt them to

'good 'e. '.' , "

, . Inoidentally, we could u,se _'s' ~8e whe~ there '1 .. plentJ

of' ga8011~. l ho~ you (}~~ find us a ne ' bO~ 100,1.

.. ....-.. -....".... :r.o... " ...... ~

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WASHINGTON

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September 29, 1944

Maj or General Curtis LeMay Headquarters XX Bomber Command APO 493, c/o Postmaster

New York, N. Y.

ela lf1oat1on oancelled by

DOD DlBECflB 0 •. 6200.9~ etteot1ve 28 1ov.5U

Dear LeMay:

By this time there has been enough detailed information to get a pretty clear picture of your last operatd.on, and it looks to me as if your efforts are beginning to be rewarded. I was very glad.

to note that there were no operational losses on the mission - that in itself is a major victory. It shaNs the results of careful attention to detail and of a better knowledge on the part of the mechanics.

The next point of note is the fact that you carry on each airplane eight 500 lb. bombs. There has always been some c:bubt as

to the exact weight they could carry when taking off from their bases and it was generally accepted that it was difficult to carry more than 2000 lb.

I do not know as yet 1Ib.at damage -was done to the target, nor do I know whether you have been able to secure photographs which will indicate the damage. Naturally, I am very much interested in receiv-

ing such report from you. - ,

.... ~ -;:,.. - ,

This letter is just to let you know thij,Y )r~:-.back here at home have at least a part picture of the hard work you' have done since you arrived there, and the efforts you have made to whip your 0utfit into shape to secure ever better results. - hen one is 'far away from home there is always thetendE!Ucy to think his efforts are not appreciated; that he and his men are really and t~uly the forgotten men. I want

to assure you that such is not the case.

Please extend to your Command for me the congratulations of their Commanding General for the excellent work they are doing under the most trying circumstances. All of us here at home realize the obstacles with which ~~ey are faced on every side and for that reason their endeavors are doubly appreciated.

Best of luck.

Sincerely,

H. H. ARNOLD, General, U. s. Army Commanding General, A.rrlry' Air Forces.

~.

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HEADQU

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WASHINGTON

22 September 1944.

Major General Curtis LeMay Headquarters XX Bomber Command APO 493, c/o ostmaster

New York, New York

ClasSif1cation canoelled u.v

DOD lUBIC1'~VE No. 5200.9, .effeotive 28 lJov.5

Dear LeAay:

I want to express again my appreciation for the fine work that you have done with the XX Bomber Command since your arrival in the theater. I realize that the task assigned to you is a most difficult one and that you are confronted vdth ma~ problems still unsolved.

H .. H .. ARNOLD, General, U. S. Army, Commanding General, Twentieth Air Force.

One of the questions which has been of deep concern to me is the limited weight of bombs that we have been able to carry in the B-29s and drop on Japan. F'rom the begirming, our concept of the B-29 was an airplane that would carry very heavy bomb' loads for very long range. e have .attained some of the distances but we have not as yet obtained the bomb loads which originally wer'e envisaged for the B-29.

I think you will agree there has always been a tendency to plan missions so that the weakest pilot will be assured of a safe gasoline reserve on return to base. ~rith the B-29 this tendency must be eliminated completely. Pilots that are weak must either be replaced or trained to a point where they can obtain the max.imum from. their airplane. I wish you would drive home to your crews and commanders the necessity for carrying maximum weight of bombs on all missions and with the fact that every bomb that is carried on each B-29 will contribute to the over-all air effort against Japan.

With respect to fields in the forward area you should take every step wi thin reason to improve and strengthen runways so that greater gross weights may be carried.

I am personally pushing modifications back here to improve the engine and airplane. I believe you have been sent a list of all proposed modifications and as these become available you will receive them.

It is my desire that you give the bomb load problem a great deal of thought and that you utilize every means available to you to increase to the maximum the bomb load carried on each mission. Do not hesitate to submit recommendations or ideas that you may have for the improvement of the airplane or any suggestions

on action which can be taken here to increase the weight of bombs dropped on Japan.

-- -- - --------. ---~-----

bCIUA,R'T"ER'S TWENTIETH AIR OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL

WASHINGTON IS, D. C.

Major' General Curtis E. LeMay Commanding General

Twentieth Bomber Command

APO 493

c/o Postmaster New York

Dear LeMay:

I note with extreme interest the record of the Superfortress "General H. H. Arnold Special, II as described in the Weekly Air Intelligence DigestJ Vol 1, No 11, issued by your Headq"U8.rters.

As you know, the Boeing fichita workers are keenly interested in this airplane, and I am passing on your report, after making

the necessary security deletions, to Mr. J. E. Schaefer, Vice President of Boeing, for publication in the Boeing plant newspa.per.

~e story will be a fine morale builder and production stimula.tor for the company.

Sincerely.

H. ARNOLD General" U. S. Army Oommanding General, Army Air Forces

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c_CJ:I, Ohief of Staff, USASTAF

& ~o APe *234, 0/0 Postmaste.r.

J:; ~ San Francisco, California

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REPLY REFER TO:

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WASHINGTON

24 August 1945

Dear Curt,

I have on my desk before me a directive to take the terminal physical examination preparatory to getting orders for release from active duty, which orders, when issued, should be effective around 'Labor Day. At the moment, since my work for USASTAF ended on the 20th, I have been busy doing a job for Fred Anderson, Larry Norsted, Hoyt Vandenberg and the others- who. like myself, are interested in the creation of an Air Force Association to keep the interest of former members of the Air Forces in the future of the Air.Force.

At the moment this is very hush-hush but I am having a big meeting next Mondav and promised to work the rest of the week on that matter. That is how I have been spending my time in the int erim.

I am to see General Arnold probably tomorrow, at which time

I am going to give him straight from the shoulder certain of my thoughts based upon my own experience in the past almost four years of work for the Air Forces, and I am not going to pull any punches

in what I have to say. M.ost of the story you have heard heretofore. Tuesday I am having dinner with Ruth and Ira Eaker as a sort of farewell to Washington gesture.

After Labor D8¥ I can always be reached at 630 Fifth Avenue, New York City, where I hope that in the time to come our paths will cress frequently and our friendship be refreshed.

As one of the extremely few men whom I have come to know well, solely through Army activities, and as one of the extremely few per Bans for whom I lave the highest regard, I want you to know how very much indeed I treasure our times together. I hope they will come again in the future. I donlt have to tell you that at any .b Lme , in any way that I Can be of any service, you have only to let me know. 1 look forward with greatest anticipation to our post war meetings.

My very kindest regards and best wishes, and hopes for you for the best of all good fortune.

slncere;tr(

A. ROSENBLATT

•

_ .. ,

JllADQUABDB8 muTED STATBS ARMYSTRAfEGIC AIR JOIlOBS

!PO '234

17 August 1945

Colonel Sol A. Rosenblatt, Headquarters, Army .Air 'Ol"08S, l'entagon Building, Washington, 25, D. c.

Dear SolI

I suppose you are very anxioUS now that the war 1. o¥er to at back to your busi.ne8S~ However, many friBade in the Air Force Will be sorry to see you go. For my Olm part, I 111 'be eternalJ:y gra.teful for tbe he p you have given me.

Wi thout it, we would st.ill be fi~h~ing the Jams_

t am not 'too pleased with the ;new job sin.ce I don't tMnk I am partioolarly well qUalified for it. I did not want to go home until the job.as finished so I welcomed it as a.means of staying on. Now that the war is over ,and the 1-29 has tulfilled. all oUr hopes, I am ready to oome home and get acquainted with the rami yagain.

I am looking forward to seeing you then.

Sinoerely,

CUR;TIS E. LeMA.Y J Major Gene . ,U. S. 1. J Ch:1.ef' of Star •

·_,.,.....-

IN REPLY REFER TO:

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• ~ - • III

H~ADQU

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CES

WASHINGTON

7 August 1945

Major General Curtis E. LeMay Chief of Staff, Hq. USASTPcF APO No. 234, c/o Postmaster San Francisco~ California

Dear Curt:

I just got the news yeste:rday tha.t USABTAF (Rear), vlhi.ch Ls the successor to the Twentieth Air Force Headquarters here, is e.xpeeted to be Vi"8.shed up on 1 September and thereafter everything .i5 to go into regular channels. I had lunch with Larry yesterday and it is clear that my work w.i11 be finished when that occurs and I expect then to return to civilian life.

I hope you know that for all time to come I consider you a very real, dear and cher.ished friend and I hope that 'When all this mess

is over we 'till continue to be in toue h as I can always be reached in my office at 630 Fifth Avenue in New York.

There is a slight chance that General Va.nderbergma.y have to come out in your· direction. He told me that he would want me to come with him on the trip but that would depend entirely of course on General A._rnold am I don't know how the General feels. Other than that it looks like we will be me.sting after the w~r.

Some of these changes have really bothered me a great deal and I

am not at all sure that I like them. I knew before it happened and before you were telephoned to about the plan for your becoming Chief of Staff

but I would much prefer that you were going to stay to get your third

star and keep your command, Probably from the standpoint of your best interest in the Air Force what has happened is fo·r the best, but it is a

hit presumptuous for me to try to judge the move. As I said before, however, you Imow that wf?atever you do I know you will ex.cel in and. that appli.es to your present job as it did to what went before.

I send you my very kindest personal regards and best wishes and if there is anything that you want before Septemb.er 1st please write me by. couri.er or put .it on the telecon and whatever it may be I 'Will see that you get it. Again au revoir.

Sincerely, /'-{

So~ A. Rosenhla.tt Golonel, Air Corps

'vI

J

HEADQUARTERS XXX OOllBER COMMAND Offie.of,the Co_nd1ngGeneral

API) 234, % fe.taeter San Francisco, California

Dear Sol,

i

Your letter.s' Clitme in ye&t,ardayand

lII1r:Jeli' and get ,orr an ana"er tooa;y,

I am. going to surpriseevell

As usual iYd1:1 r,ang: the b$U on 70Ul" ,obseryat1,one over here. I thought,! had seen everytb1ng when I got into the Iudie-mess, hut this '1ee:ven VlorS',e'. ,r brQught over 19:1t11. Mf' Pr stan, Pinky S.lth, Emrick" 'Garcia,. andFulkr'od.Kl,seoer, IIy 'CildChlef of Staff fro. England; iSP:upPo,sed to be on his way 'over heel With that nucleus and a lot of shlU'fling, Ithlnk I ,can get' ,thmgs moving •

..

r h~ve rec,QlQ1l1snded to Larry that the whole OCXthstattllOV. out hl!re atonoe insteas,ot' gO,inS' to, 'seed in India. They 'could help

g,et ;t;be Ul:th ,go1ngs. lo~ fa;ste;r and be, ln, 'lIiUch better shape to get into the fight "nan' they ,are ·res.dy t"oinkethea up torvard. At le.llt the _ te.re:t;s'eetion at'1dtopo outfIt. are ,Ill must". a,s we can. do 8.C)thlng W,lt11 we get good target ,ini'Qrnw.tion .• 'All we have noll' '1.8 10turee

of 8 00en. targets or 80. The :nth .,,111 need the sOlie ,stuff 80 the move, win Dene it, t.hemtoo.

The depot 1soft functioniAg yet. Bl1,lrtells me that abot1t thr" percent of our requls1:t1Qn~ a.re f1118<;1 by the depot ,and.hat 1I'e are ltv1n,g on air freil',ht from the mainland. Thank the Lordthnt OD.9 th1i1g 1a wQrking'around here.

I had lu.nC'h witb Adm1rsls'Spuranoe and lichne:r the other dayit W8.,eli Tllsh trip and I d1dnot have time to visit Division;. At the first. QPp()rtunity I will do 80.

My,pe,I"Qonal supply lituat1,ol') 1s a.lri h~at the pr~8entt1... I don't ,reou1ro l1uch and I bel10ve thr,twe· can. get lIIost everything we needfroftl Hawa1.1.. The privatl1Jl !,took you, sent me oft "ith is etill practica.lly 1ntaotrmd at the prfltsent rate of consuapt1on. w111 last some tl,m.e. 'Perhaps you oanroute your brother by here. fo.rreruel1ag.

I suppo.. Mr.. Hopkins 18 off on a tour" .J1bw but give III rest re-

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• 'I u. OOL,y TO

COMMANDING ENE • L. ARMY AIR FORCES WAS ING N 25. D. C.

I '

ATTENTION:

"

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON

;22 Janua.ry 1945

Command

Maj or General Curtis E. LeMay Commanding General, XXI Bomber

A.P.O. 234 c/o Postmaster

San Francisco, California.

. E~~·~~)

Dear Curt, , \

I amJsending the inclosed~ written previously. I certainly enjoyed receiving your last letter which was written before the new move and was extremely pleased that I was able to be of service to your outfit.

I am now working like mad on the move of the 20th, and have been put in charge of all the logistical matters.

Do you personally need or want anything? I got Possum a number of items for his personal USfiJ: but I guess he must have either taken them away with him or given them to others by now. So please let me know what you desire. I sent the .38 automatics to the Zot'ii Bomber Command , Dd you need any where you are? If there is anything I can do, I ~ope yo~ will please let me know ,because, while I· can't do anythin& about your 'maintenance, except, to see that you have parts and spares, I can, I hO'pe, continue to be, helpful on general supply_

I send you my very best wishes as always for continued success and will avidly follow your activities f rom this end.

Sincere~ SOL A. ROSENBLATT

Colonel, Air Corps

lOth January 1945

Dear Curt---

I have just heard the news I have been waiting for as live been

one who since return here has been raising hell in favor of more work for you.

I write you now because I think you should know from me what ideas and im-

pressions I got from living with the 21st as I did with the 20th. I am not at all

qualified to talk about tactical personnel but I can hardly refrain from the

comment that there are damned few in the 21st with any field experience.lou will

find this also true in your B.C. operations set-up. Without dispc.raging anyone,!

carried away the feeling that Dell Wilson was the only man in the operations set-

with any real background or experience.! hope you will do what you did in India

to strengthen yourself in that department.

On the supply and maintenance

side the situation is even more compelling because you haven't even got one man

that I know -of who has had any field experience.Since your success is in largest measure dependent on maintenance,I recommend you not be taken in by any bull frOll

-

anyone I don't care who he is,and get someone in who is not only an able executivE

administrator with real know-how.The Old Man here will back you to the limit. To-o

but who has also the know-how under stress field conditions.You must have a drivi

I ,am setting up even stricter supply control to insure that your slightest necess

is a blitz "mustll•

The fellows you have in my honest Opini,oD have been blinded

.. "

by star-dust in their eyes;and politics between the 2lst,the Guam depot and AAFPO

have run rampant.Some are too old to cure j they think technical discussion is a go

,

substitute for direction.Personally lid use the surgeon's scalpel.

Now I've gotten this orf my chest,please keep this to yourself alone.I

hmpe you know how very much indeed your success and the success of your whole out-

fit means tome .As So £s.ct,li"ttle e Lee matters.My heart 1s with you iD all you

undertake and the Good Lord above will bless and protect you ever. I send you my

.,

10th January 1945

Dear Curt---

I have just heard the news I have been waiting for as 1've been

one who since return here has been raising hell in favor of more work for you.

I write you now because I think you should knOVI from me what ideas and im-

comment that there are damned few in the 21st with any field experience.You will

pressions I got from living with the 21st aB I did with the 20th. I am not at all

qualified to talk about tactical personnel but I can hardly refrain from the

find this also true in your B.C.operl:1tions set-up. Without disparaging anyone,I

carried away the feeling that Dell Wilson was the only man in the operations set-up

'wi th any real background of experience.1 hope you will do what you did in India

to strengthen yourself in that department.

On the supply and maintenance

side the situation is even more compelling because you haven't even got one man

that I know of who has had any field experience.Since your success is in largest

measure dependent on maintenance,I recommend you not be taken in by any bull fr9Jl

-

anyone I donlt care who he is,and get someone in who is not only an able executive

but who has also the know-how under stress field conditions.You must have a driving

administrator with real know-how.The Old Alan here will back you to the limit. To-daJ

I .am setting up even stricter supply control to msW'e that your slightest necessarJ

very best wishes for now and for all the future,--

__ -r rtcst .. ~ ~~ ~

~-......,,"'~

• "" ~ :. ._ .! • _..._. .;_ :: -

~ ~. ~

uate?J'

. .L~

is a blitz "must".

The fellows you have in ~ honest Opinion have been blinded

" "

by star-dust in their eyes;and politics between the 21st,the Guam depot and AAFPOA

have run rampant.Some are too old to curejthey think technical discussion is a good

substitute for direction.Personally II d use the sur-geon! s scalpel.

Now live gotten this off my chest,please keep this to yourself alone.I

bcbpe you know how very much indeed your success and the success of your whole out-

fit means to me.As a fact,little else matters.My heart is with you in all you

undertake and the Good Lord above will bless and proteot you ever. I ;,end :tou m:y

ATTENTION:

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON

AI)OR£ •• IUiPLY TO COMMAM~ING GENERAL. ARMY AJR FORCES .WASHING'I'ON 25, D. C ..

11 December 1944

Major General Curtis E. LeMay Commanding General, 20th Bomber Command APO 493 c/o Postmaster

New York, New York

Dear Curt,

I have at long last finally arrived home and frank y I never was so glad

to get anywhere. I never thought the day would come when I wou d e happy to

see Washington but I sure was when I finished up this littlE: Il'eundabout swing. First of all let me express to you personally not only my thanks but my deepest appreciation for your manifold kindness to me for which I will always be grateful. I consider that the time spent with you was not only a real pleDsure but a benefit in every sense of the word. I have reported direct to General Arnold personally, and to others on the air staff including Larry Norstad, what I thirlk and £'eel with respect to your effort and Y01rr abilities which were the utmost tops.

I suppose Colonel Moore has now returned and haC' reported to you on his trip in the Pacific. Frankly I think Dinty did almost as much good for the 21st Bomber COmIn trl as they did for him and I am very pleased tbat be was able with your permission to make the trip.

I found conditions at the Centa-aL Pacific reasonably chaotic because of ill e cOTarop~d situation. The struggle is not over yet. Possum has his hands full to maintain the complete integrity at his end as we have to maintain it for you and for him at this end. I had a very lengthy discussion with General Norstad particularly concerning the redeployment of your command, and I have urgently reported that it should be moved at the very earliest possible moment and that

its position until it is actually moved is rather anoma~ous. While I was at Saipan General :&ugene Beebe came through and he was on a mission concerned in large part with that very problem. I talked to Gene the rmoment he got back to find th t no decision has yet been reached. There is some t.a.Ik a out the possibility of your going into Guam. Frankly, although I wonlt be the one to make the deCision, I am not too keen for it as I can not see two bomber commands operating out of the same

area, assuming that the 21st Bomber Command remains as a unit. Nor is there, in my opinion, sufficient accomoda.tions there in view of the fact that there will be an

air depot, a weather squadron, a reconnaissance squadron, the headquarters squadron and the 314th Wing plus the depot ships, all operating in the same viCinity. I am making it my business to follow this matter very closely and hope to be heard when the decis' on is finally reacbed. I told General Norstad as well 13.S General Arnold that I wanted as long a time as possible to provide you with the latest OE~ when you moved and that it was my firm opinion that you should move only with minimum equipment. Sine I can divert the OEL now being assembled for the 315th and Jl6th Wings

I told them th~t upon that basis 30 days notice to me of your move will be su££ioient providing the facilities exist where you may be going.

7

,

':: '-- ..» "

General Kenney told me that there was no possibility of your being

based on ~and he was very much adverse to Northern Luzon because he wanted to base his own bomber command there. These facts I also have reported.

I therefore don't know what the score is at the moment but will be able to have more definite information surely within the shortest possible time.

You will probably be interested to know that Bill Craigie ~back, had his leave in Florida and will be in Dayton with the Air Technical Service Command as he desired. I talked to General Harmon on getting him to use Bill Craigie - replacing Ted Landon who was with the 7th Bomber Command but frankly, now that

I am back, I don't think Bill is very keen about it ..

Just in passing, li ~ ~~that I have done everything in my power to get Strat another star as Ithink the present situation is extremely anomalous. I think this will be accomplished.

I enjoyed very much speaking to Mrs. LeMay on the phone and we chatted at great length. It seems you have been very remiss in not writing how you live, where you live and what the conditions are, etc., and when I got through telling her I hope she had some slight conception of what the end of the world looks like. I also called Mrs. Beckemeier and I am going to take dinner with her in the very near future, whereat the frailties of your aide will be the subject of discussion.

Weil, I am now pleni1Y busy as Bill Irvine leaves on this Friday the 15th to become Deputy for Supply and Maintenance for General Hansell and I have been given his set-up as well as a few other odd job to keep me busy.

S1ncerely 1-(

Sol A. Rosenblatt Colonel, Air Corps

Oh, yes, I trust by now you have received ~ of the refrigerators. The rest are either enroute or will be shortly. And I will also send you all the other odds and ends which they say can't be done. If there is anything speCial you need, please telecon to my personal attention and it will receive same.

Well, that is about all for now. I hope you know how very much I wish you persona.lly and all you men the very best of all good fortune. Please enjoy as good a holiday season as is possible under the circumsta.nces with all best wishes for the New Year.

I remain

.~~-- - - - --------- - ---~~ ----

~ i ADDRESS REPL TO COMMkNDING GENERAL. ARMY AIR FORCES j WASH!NGTON 25, D. C.

I

ATTENTION:

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON

23 February 1945

Major General Curtis E. LeMay Commanding General, XXI Bomber Command APO 234, c/o Postmaster

San Francisco, California

Dear Curt,

I am in receipt of your letter of 4 February and I was not only plea£ed but just tickled to death to hear from you. It was' certainly good news to know of the fellows that you brought over with you. Maybe that is part of the reason why the highest authorit~eBLhere are so happy about the situation since you took over. So far as the supply situation is concerned, I think you will find that steadily improving. I am very sorry that a directive h~d to be issued to stop the by-passing of the Guam depot but we were getting so much heat here both -from Harmon's outfit and from ATSC that the directive bad to be issued. I hope you know that that doesn't apply to special out-of-course items which you may want or need and you must not hesitate to let us know so that we can handle such things for you direct. I say, without qualification, that there is nothing that you possibly want or .need which we can't get for you and please donlt hesitate to let us know. Incidentally, I authorized an awful lot of extra plush utility items, demountable barracks, etc., for tl}e shipments of the 34th Wing, and

I told those fellows that I would notify you and that you would maKe

such use of all that stuff as you desire. So' when those things arrive please alert your people and split up the items among your,;;,Wings as

you see fit. It is not intended that just the 34th have all that materiel.

I have authorized an awfulit lot of additional stuff too, for the 3l5th on the same basis.

General M.iller from ATSC, who I don't think you know, told

me to advise you that they are putting on board a replacement airplane, three cases of sherry for your personal use. So that should be arriving about the same time as this letter if not even before and the items are for your personal use.

.. -

You probably know that General Harmon is coming in here. We donlt know what all he is going to raise but General Norstad is fully prepared.

I had dinner last, night with Mrs. Hopkins and Harry is not yet back but I passed on your message to her and will see that he gets it as well. I sure am hungry to take a look at you but that doesn't seem to be in the cards yet, -- perhaps sometime in April.

I send you my very best wishes and kindest regards as always,just keep up the grand work.

Sincerel~ SOL A. ROSENBLATT Colonel, Air Corps

...

•

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..

·'

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. Sundaymorning,witheverytbing quiet and j30entagon a real morgue .•

21st January 1945.

.a gain.,rny best wiehe

success. sincerelJ' .4

Dear Curt-

I wrote you on the 10th of January a little he'artful outpo.uring which

I typed personally and which I am now sending you as I wanted to wait until yo.u

had actually taken over and had returned from India before taking a shance ,mailing

same and possibly having some strang,er open and read it.

The reaction here sln.ce the lOth has been simply wo.nderful.Everyone

of the .Air Staff are extremely pleased with your new assignm.ent and I :gersonally

have been wild with joy. I don't knew whether I'll succeed or not but I'm trying

to persuade the powers that be to give you in addition to the P 47Nsthe balance

of what still remains as the Fighter Command of the 7th .&ir Force.! think your

fighters ought n()t to be a separate fighter command but an augmented fighter wing.

Inc.identally,in the comingp oparations,my dearewt navy friend,the

fightingest navy so-and-so there is,will be in the thick ·of it.He is Rear kdmiral

John J.Clark,commander of carrier division 5 and his flagship has been the Hornet.

He has invited me to be aboard his ship in the Iw-Ji- operation but I told him

I coul.dn! t getaway .My brother Lt.Herman S.Rosenblatt is hd.s Chie;lf of Combat

Intelligence and was recently deco.rated by Admiral. Iliitscher.li word to. either the

Admiral or my brother will get any person yeu may want to send an okay to. go with

the expedf.td.on .• Incidentally ,Lt .11 l'e x "McGrary t brother of the .Lt .Col. who. lastill with Ira Eaker in public relations)is also aboard with the Admiral in combat

operations.lSd give my right arm to. be with them if I coul.dj but JIve gat to. stay

here a while bef#re they will let me go &.ny-where again.

Is there anything you would like me to. do. for yeu? If so, just say the

word and it's done.

Harry and Mrs. Hopkins send you their best.! was with them

yesterday at the inauguration at the Whi.te House and am going this afterneon to.

Vicepreside,nt Truman's reception.I dined with him last week.