January 5, 1942
 
The Honorable,
 
     The Secretary of the Navy.
 
Dear Mr. Secretary:
 
                The relative effectiveness of the torpedo launched from aircraft, coupled with the fact
that low cloud ceilings frequently restrict other types of attack against naval vessels from the air,
strongly indicates the desirability of having that weapon available for use in some of our present
theatres of war. Some of the airplanes which we will send to the Far East can be readily equipped
to carry and launch the aerial torpedo which has been developed by and is being produced for the
Navy.
 
                It is requested that you advise, at your earliest convenience, how many aerial torpedoes
can be furnished from your supplies for the use of the Army Air Forces and the approximate date
they can be sunplied to our forces in the Far East.
 
 
                                   Sincerely yours,
 
                                  /s/ Henry L. Stimson
 
                                       Secretary of War.