Quote:
Originally Posted by Devilsadvocate
Still wouldn't be close to 1,000 combat aircraft. And Hap Arnold may have been keen to get every aircraft possible to the the Philippines in 1941-42, but he wasn't the sole arbiter of that decision. He reported to the JCS and Roosevelt, both of which had concerns about supplying aircraft to the British and Soviets, as well as outfitting US forces elsewhere. Despite what you claim, the Philippines did NOT have top priority, with those who counted, for US aircraft production; that distinction went to the defense of the continental US.
I gather you've dropped your claims about the four US divisions, and 44 (or 45 subs, I forget now which)?
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But the Secretary of War was keen on the idea and gave top priority to reinforcing the PI with all available B-17's and B-24's at the expense of Lend Lease and US defense. In short, dozens of commands were stripped of aircraft that were crated up and sent to the PI, or in the case of the B-17's, flown there. Likewise, Congress appropriated and forwarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in airfield construction money to the PI in the latter half of 1941, so you see, the Philippines DID have top priority for the alocation of US bomber and fighter aircraft.
Continental US defense went a-begging in favor of Hemisphere Defense, according to US Air Force Documents. "The proposed transfer would have left only 17 B-17's within the continental US. Eleven of these were obsolete B-17 A and B models. Five B-17-E models were undergoing trial flights. 12 B-17's of the Hawaiian Department were also being readied for the flight to the Philippines." "General Spaatz expressed the hope that an additional 48 B-17's and B-24's could be dispatched" from the US to the PI by 6 December.
And let me tell you something else, buster. By my count, there would have been well over 500 aircraft in the PI by just March of 1942 alone, had the Japanese not attacked, given what was planned and what was already in the pipeline and this doesn't even begin to include what would have been available by September. The vast majority, if not all of the A-20's, B-25's and B-26's that fought over New Guinea would have been based on Luzon as well. Lastly, I don't respond well to derision. If you want to discuss this calmly like two historians, then fine, we can do so. Otherwise, this will soon degenerate into a pissing contest where nobody wins and everyone loses. So, back-off Mac!
US Air Force Historical Study III Army Air Action in the Philippines, Netherlands East Indies