WAR DEPARTMENT
          OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR AIR
                    WASHINGTON, D.C.
 
                                   March 28, 1942
 
The Honorable Harry L. Hopkins
The White House
Washington, D.C.
 
Dear Harry:
 
     During my absence at Wright Field your letter of March 6 in connection with the need for
transports in Russia was studied by the interested divisions, particularly in relation to the request
of the State Department that additional means for handling mail and providing passenger transport
for Russia be developed if possible.
     I have recently had occasion to go into the matter of the transport situation with the Air
Service Command and the Ferry Command and I feel that a more responsive answer to your
inquiry can be given you than has previously been made.
     First, as to the need fo the Russian Forces for a large number of transport aircraft.  I think
this is obvious in the light of our own, as well as British and Chinese experience in the war.  In
fact, I think their need must necessarily be critical.
     Secondly, the tough part of your question is as to whether or not I think any can be given. 
Transport aircraft can only be supplied to Russian at the cost of wither our own transport units
which are in the most urgent need of equipment, or British or Chinese needs.  In view of the fact
that we are transporting so much stuff to the East, it seems to me that the question of a
reallocation of transports currently scheduled for the British might be reasonable.  We should
have enough air traffic in the Middle East and Far East to answer a certain part of British needs
which were stated prior to our involvement in the Far East.
     They are presently scheduled to receive from production, beginning in June with nin DC-3
type, over 30 a month of this type alone for 14 months.  In addition they get a few Lockheed
twin-engine transports between now and June and continuin on through the rest of this year.  In
these circumstances, it is my opinion that through careful reallocation it might be possible to get,
say, 100 transports for Russia by the end of this year.