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.