WAR DEPARTMENT
              HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY AIR FORCES
                           WASHINGTON
 
 
                                             June 7, 1942
 
 
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
 
     Subject:       Possibility of flying pursuit airplane from Hawaii to Midway.
 
 
      With regard to your inquiry of the possibility of flying pursuit airplanes from Hawaii to
Midway, there are in Hawaii approximately 22 P-39D airplanes, with 5 belly tanks each. The
all-out range of this airplane with belly tank, in still air, is 1000 miles.    There are also
approximately 87 P-40 type airplanes, with- belly tanks each, whose all-out range, in still air, is
about 800 miles.
 
       The distance from the closest point in the Hawaiian Islands, which would be on the Island of
Kauai, to Midway is 1225 statute miles.
 
       None of these fighters have sufficient range to make the passage.
 
 
                                        H.H. ARNOLD,
                                   Lieutenant General, U.S.A., 
                              Commanding General, Army Air Forces.