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A.W.P.D.-42Bases |
POSSIBILITIES OF BASING REQUIRED FORCES
I. European Theatre:
1. British Isles.
There will be at least 130 air bases with concrete runways in excess of 5,000 feet available to the U. S. Army Air Forces in the United Kingdom by January, 1944. The rate of completion of these air bases exceeds the rate at which we can move units to England, Capacity of these bases: maximum, 130 groups - normal, 65 groups.
2. Africa and Middle East.
See following maps for information on North African Bases.
II. Pacific Theatre:
1. North Pacific.
Sufficient air fields exist to base the required force in this area.
2. Central Pacific.
If 48 planes could be based on each existing field in this area, there would be no necessity for new construction. However, as it seems undesirable to locate more than 24 planes on any one air field, 24 new air fields will have to be constructed.
3. South Pacific.
To adequately base the required force in this area, 20 new air fields will have to be built.
4. Southwest Pacific.
Enough air fields already exist to base the required force in this area.
5. Pacific Attack Forces.
The only area which has adequate air field facilities to base this attack force is Australia.
6. India, Burma, China, Ceylon.
Enough air fields exist to base the force set up in this area,
7. Reserve Force for Eastern Siberia.
Enough air fields exist in Eastern Siberia to base this force. Before the force moves across the North Pacific, it can be concentrated in Northwestern U.S.A., Canada, and Alaska, where sufficient fields exist for this purpose.
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