NAVY DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE WASHINGTON 10 November 1939 MEMORANDUM for the Director; SUBJECT: Aircraft- Deliveries to Belligerents. 1. Contacted Mr. Green, State Department in company with Captain Bode, to ascertain if he could furnish the number of aircraft ready for delivery to belligerents. He had nodata of those completed and ready for shipment. When an order is plaved, export licenses are often placed immediately. In the last four days, 510 export liscense are requests have been received in his office. In connection with flying planes abroad, Mr. Green stated that he had furnished Secretary Hull a statement, which was brought out in the State Department press con- ference yesterday, that this would be an unneutral act and subject to a $10,000 fine- (the aviators approached were offered $4,000). 2. Through Aeronautics, have obtained following information of planes awaiting shipment: Total number ready- 374 Breakdown- (a) 211 B-14's - Lockheed- Bombers for Great Britain. (b) 26 BC-1's - North American- Advanced trainers for Great Britain. (c) 50 BT-9's - North American- Advanced trainers for France. (d) 7 DB-7's - Douglas- Attack bombers for France. (type that crashed on West Coast with French officer aboard.) (e) 15 SB-2U's -Vought- Scout bombers for France. (f ) 65 Model 167 -Martin- Attack bombers for France. 40 BC-1's are now en route from West Coast for delivery to Great Britain. 3. The above information will be checked further. 4. The Clearance Commitee, Army and Navy Munitions Board, reports they are working on figures which will be available in a few days covering progress of deliveries and contracts placed. E.B. Nixon |