S E C R E T
 
     b. Air
               Air operations in CHINA will require additional aircraft
    as shown in paragraph 19 a above.
        Air deployments to SOUTH and SOUTHWEST PACIFIC (2579 
    aircraft), January 1, 1944, have been made in accordance with
    requests for forces by the Commander, SOUTHEAST PACIFIC, to 
    perform tasks assigned, exclusive of capture of  RABAUL. 
               It is entirely possible that attrition of Japanese 
    aircraft during the preliminary phases of operations under 
    way will permit the taking of RABAUL and completion of sub-
    sequent operations in NEW GUINEA, with the forces allocated.
              However, for planning purposes, and assmuing JAPAN has not 
    been evicted from the CAROLINES, it is estimated that for
    operations to complete the capture of NEW GUINEA, including 
    defense forces, 3048 aircraft will be required. This indicates
    a shortage of 469 aircraft as of January 1, 1944.
              There will be sufficient land-based aircraft available
    to CINCPAC for the operations in the MARSHALLS and CAROLINES
    during 1944.
        c. Naval
                  It is concluded that there are not sufficient naval forces 
    to carry on a major operation in the central PACIFIC and a major 
    operation in the SOUTH PACIFIC simultaneously during 1943-44.
    Preceding discussions of the naval requirements for individual 
    operations make it apparent that consideration must be given to
    the sequence of assigned tasks.
              d. Logistics
                  The logistical implications for supworting major opera-
    tions such as those in NEW GUINEA or the CAROLINES have not 
    been assessed in this paper, among these implications would be 
    the shipping required to support the additional ground, air, and 
    naval forces moved to the theater. Furthermore, as the forces 
    advance there will be increasing demands for cargo shipping due
    to the extension of the line of communications, such as from
    from RABAUL to NEW GUINEA.
 
 
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