WAR DEPARTMENT
              OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF THE AIR CORPS
                           WASHINGTON
 
                                        April 8, 1942
 
MEMORANDUM TO: The Secretary of War
 
 
              1. Tab a indicates the present and December 31, 1942, objective strengths of the Air
Force units outside continental United States.
 
                   Tab b shows the present and December 31, 1942, objective strength under the
control of continental United States.
 
                    Tab c shows the strength which it is contemplated will participate in the main effort
overseas.
 
                    Tab d shows the total requirements with shortages for the December 31, 1942,
objective.
 
             2. Production resources of aircraft are short of these requirements by the following
amounts, if' we meet present foreign commitments.
 
                              Aug. 1              Sept. 1               Dec. 31
     Heavy                418                 644                   938
     Medium          809                 934                   1095
     Light               1268              1476                   1742
     Pursuit        2176      2907         5367
                                                                                                9142 Total Shortage Dec 31
                    These figures include allowances for a reasonable attrition rate and a reserve of
twenty-five percent as well as essential, commitments for technical and training purposes.              
 
     3. It is proposed to meet the requirements of the main effort by:
     1. The reduction of Defense Aid comnitments.
     2. The establishment of priorities between theaters and commands.
 
            4. Our December 31, 1942, objective of 9,568 tactical  aircraft assigned to units is not
excessive when compared with the