AIR OPERATIONS IN MIDDLE EAST

1. Mission.

To support United Nations land forces in defending the Middle East from Axis operations.

2. Situation.

It is assumed that land forces of the Axis and of the United Nations will be heavily engaged in the Middle East. It does not seem reasonable to speculate at this time as to the areas in which such operations will be taking place by late 1943 or early 1944. However, it is certain that Axis forces in North Africa and the Middle East must be sustained by shipping which crosses the Mediterranean and uses the North African ports. Furthermore, it may reasonably be assumed that Axis shipping is active in the transportation of oil across the Black Sea and through the Bosporus, the Aegean Sea and the Corinth Canal.

3. Air Operations.

It may be anticipated that the air operations required for this Theater include:

a. Direct support of our ground forces by attack of Axis ground forces.

b. Air attack of Axis Air forces at their airdromes.

c. Indirect support of our ground forces by air attacks against Axis shipping and ports in North Africa.

d. Air defense of our own forces and our own vital installations.

e. Air attacks against Axis oil installations in Rumania and the Caucasus.

f. Air attacks against Axis shipping and ports In the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea.

AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENTS

First Phase – (Destruction of Axis ground forces)
Aircraft Requirements	Objectives
4 Heavy Bomb Groups	Ports of Embarkation Ports of Debarkation
3 Light Bomb Groups	Axis Shipping Concentrations of Supplies
1 Medium Bomb Group	Motor Transport Troop Concentrations Tanks Supplies Ground Installations Air Bases Aircraft
6 Fighter Groups	Air defense of own ground forces, air bases, other vital installations
2 Photo Squadrons
Second Phase (Clearing of Mediterranean)
Additional Aircraft Requirements	Objectives
2 Heavy Bomb Groups	Air bases and seaports in Crete, Dodecanese and other Mediterranean Axis-held islands
1 Medium Bomb Group (Torpedo carrying)
1 Light Bomb Group (Dive)
Third Phase (Destruction of Industry and Resources)
Additional Aircraft Requirements	Objectives
2 Heavy Bomb Groups	Heavy industries in Italy and in Axis-held countries (particularly Roumanian and Caucasus oil industries). Lines of sea and land communication.
TOTAL
Heavy Bomb Groups	8
Medium Bomb Groups	2
Light Bomb Groups	4
Fighter Groups	6
Photo Squadrons	2
Transport Groups