Quote:
Originally Posted by John Dudek
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
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I think you'd do well to re-evaluate the wording and tone of my posts. Nothing in either indicates anything other than well deserved skepticism. So you can just stow your righteous indignation. I am discussing this particular issue calmly and courteously, and find your huffiness absurd, and your motivation for it somewhat suspect. I suggest you take a deep breath, calm down, and proceed with a little less over-sensitivity.
As for the priorities; No, the Philippines were receiving special attention in the latter half of 1941, but they did NOT have a higher priority than continental defense, nothing did. The fact that some bombers originally assigned to continental commands were subsequently sent to the Philippines was because it was judged that there were not immediately needed for continental defense. There is no evidence that this would have continued, nor that the Philippine reinforcements would have continued flowing, month after month, at the highest possible levels, as you seem desperate to suggest.
"By your count..."? Well, maybe so, but that's still a bit short of your original "count" of "over 1,000 aircraft". Again, I ask, what about your claim that four US divisions would have been sent, or that the USN had definite plans to send additional subs? Have you found documentation, or simply dropped the claims?