HEADQUATERS, 14TH U.S. AIR FORCE
Office of the Commanding General
26 January, 1944
SUBJECT: Matterhorn Project
TO : Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C.
1. With the arival in China of Brigaider General K.B. Wolfe
and members of his staff, It can be said that the Matterhorn Project
is rapidly taking shape. Thousands of workers are now engaged in
building the required bases for the operation of the transports and then
the B-29 Bomardment aircraft in the selected China Base area near
Chengtu, China. It has been my privilege to discuss thoroughly with
Brigadier General Wolfe, the proposed plans for his operations. As a
result of these discussions and after careful thought and study, I am
impreseed with the necessity for reporting to you, as a member of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, certain serious defects in the plans as they now
exist. What I have to say herein is based upon seven years of practical
experience in air operations in China against the Japanese. I submit
them to you at this time in the sincere hope that action will be taken
at once to correct these defects.
A. The mean operating bases in China have been selected
in the Chengtu area. work has now started on these bases and they
will be completed in time to meet the target dates. The Chengtu area
is far removed from Japan and is well protected. It is a suitable area
for operations against targets in Manchuria or Korea or as a base for
maintenance and supply operations against Japan proper, but, operatons
from this area against targets in Japan without the use of staging fields
is frought with many great tactical problems, some of which I desire to
point out :
(1) Our B-29's must fly over approximately 350 miles
of enemy held territory before reaching the east coast of
China.
(2) These aircraft will be heavily laden and to be
effective at this great range, will be required to fly
at comparatively low altititude during their first few hours
of flight.
(3) While traversing the enemy held territory north of
the Yangtsze River, they will be within range of at least
fifteen Japanese airfields, many of which are equipped with
Radar for early warning.
(4) The mainlind of Japan proper will be alerted.