AIR OPERATIONS IN NORTHWEST AFRICA

1. Mission.

The purposes of the operations in Northwest Africa are substantially as follows:

a. To secure Northwest Africa as a base for future operations.

b. To clear the western half of the Mediterranean as a sea route.

c. Ultimately to extend control of the south shore of the Mediterranean toward Cairo with a view to clearing the entire Mediterranean as a sea route.

d. To provide a base for air operations against Italy.

e. To provide additional bases for air operations against Germany in connection with the Air forces stationed in the U.K.

2. Situation.

It will be assumed that these operations have met with sufficient success to provide a firm foothold in Northwest Africa extending eastward to include Tunisia.

3. Air Operations.

Under these circumstances it will be necessary to provide fighter forces along the southern shore of the Mediterranean from Spanish Morocco to Tunisia in sufficient quantity to provide air cover for shipping. It will be further necessary to provide bomber forces to interdict movement by sea from Italy toward Libya or toward Tunisia. In addition, bombers will be required to operate against Axis sea forces in the Western Mediterranean. Bomber forces will also be required to interdict air bases in Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. Bombers will also be required for air operations against Italian ports and key Italian industries. The Italian industries which might be interdicted from Northwest Africa Include:

(1) Shipbuilding industries in Trieste, Venice, Genoa, Spezia, Leghorn, and others;

(2) Aircraft industries at Turin, Milan, Trieste, Naples, Rome, et al;

(3) Chemical industries at Oschir, Meran, Terni, Rome;

(4) Hydroelectric plants concentrated in Milan-Brescia-Swiss border area;

(5) Oil refineries at Bari (40% of all aviation gasoline), Leghorn (40% of all aviation gasoline), Venice, Brindise, Trieste, Naples, Spezia.

During the winter months when weather may seriously interfere with air operations from the British Isles, considerable bomber forces may be flown to North Africa for operations against key elements in Italy.

AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENTS

The following Air forces, initially provided for the seizure of Northwest Africa, will probably be retained there for the operations listed above.