5.
AIRCRAFT REQUIREMENTS (AIR FORCE):
The next item on the con-
ference agenda was a discussion and determination of aircraft requirements to be fulfilled by the Air Force. Colonel Massey prefaced this
discussion by introducing Colonel Bonnot (AFOAT) and informed the group,
that he is now the Air Force Idaison Officer to whan we go to discuss
matters concerning Air Force support.
He also stated that with the
help of the staff of TG 7.1 and 7.4, a preliminary list containing about
62 aircraft to be provided by the Air Force had been compiled to cover
our requirements, The list indicated below was then tabulated on the
blackboard for discussion,
No.
Type
10
WB.50
Discussion
To be used for weather reconnaissance.
Col Bonnot said
that he was not in complete agreement with thig number.
It was his opinion that the two atoll concept will
probably require additional aircraft, It was decided
that if further study justified additional aircraft,
a supplemental request would be submitted to the Air
Force,
3
C-54
To be used for documentary photography. Col Massey
pointed out that while we had received no information
concerning requirements for documentary photography,
.
it is assumed that such information will be forth-
coming since this requirement has always existed in
the past. Col Bonnot was asked to find out, if possible, if hich altitude technical photography will be
required, Col Coleman (FC, AFSWP) replied that he had
heard nothing about a requirement for RB-50's so far,
It was his opinion that enough data may be currently
available, and this requirement may be eliminated.
7
SA-16
To be used for search and rescue and weather island
resupply.
The shortage of this type aircraft was
discussed, but it was pointed out that there is no
substitute for the SA-16's, since it is the only
known operational amphibious aircraft in the Air Force.
Col Massey stated that we are also asking for UF's to
be stationed at Kwajalein, but due to the different
missions for which these sircraft were teing requested,
they could not be substituted for the Air Force planes.
He stated that we must have the same kind of flexibility
that we had during Operation REDWING and that we could
not put this headquarters in a position of asking for
something less than is considered a minimum requirement,
It was his opinion that if the Air Force cannot rrovide
the SA-16's, a decision mst be made at the JCS level
to provide similar equipment from other sources. Col
\
»
Bonnot asked if the mission would be stated in the JCS
paper, to which an affirmative reply was given,
2
Tnef
c APWL/ HQ