WAR DEPARTMENT
                  OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF
                          WASH I NGTON
 
               
                                   January 15, 1942
 
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
 
          Subject: Utilization of British War Experience.
 
     It would appear that there should be no cause for alarm in connection with the Abassador
Winant's cables. We have taken advantage of Bri tish war experience, as soon as it became known
to incorporate improved or additional gadgets in our airplanes for production. Furthermore, we
have standardized on certain items, such as armament, oxygen and bombs. The British
representatives in the United States have passed and. are passing on all items of equipment that go
into British aircraft. They also are passing on the changes which they consider must be made after
the planes roll out the door before they are sent to England.
 
       As a result of British experience, we have incorporated Radex or Radar, the device for
identification of aircraft, the device for detecting a hostile plane from one of ours at night, and the
device for picking up objects at sea. These are all now in production. In so far as ground control
for operation of planes is concerned, as a result of our observers being sent to England and British
technicians being present in the United States, we have taken over bodily from the British their
organization and we have adopted their equipment so as to insure our being able to operate
co-jointly with them when required. As a matter of fact, the British were highly pleased with our
latest air maneuvers in which we demonstrated our ability to utilize this equipment.
 
       In so far as the quality of our airplanes is concerned, we accept the high performance
qualities of the Spitfire, but it must be borne in mind that the P-47, which is about to come in to
production, has been judged by all British pilots who have flown it as the best they have ever
flown or seen.
 
       With reference to the four-engine bombers, the first aircraft were shy on equipment, such as
turrets and radio, but the new four-engine bombers which the British are receiving will be in
accord With British specifications and we are and have been collaborating with the British to
insure that the latest British equipment is included. However, there is a time lag between the
decision to install new equipment and the rolling off the production line of the plane in which it
has been installed. We  are taking care of this by creating depots which will have no other purpose
than to insure that everything possible is done to bring these planes up to British