Memorandum by the U.S. Chiefs of Staff
Cairo, 7 December 1943
Secret
CCS 411/5
Operations in the Southeast Asia Command
In order to settle the question of tonnage lift to China versus availability of aircraft from ATC India-China Wing, it is recommended that the Combined Chiefs of Staff accept the following in lieu of the solution recommended in CCS 411/4, SEXTANT, 5 December 1943:
a. The Combined Chiefs of Staff recognize the principle that the Supreme Allied Commander, Southeast Asia Command must have control over resources allocated to him for the accomplishment of the assigned objectives.
b. The Combined Chiefs of Staff also recognize the necessity of firm commitments of tonnage over the “hump” into China during the next six months. The Combined Chiefs of Staff direct:
- That the tonnage over the “hump” be maintained on the following basis of transport plane allotments:
| C-87s | C-46s | Tons delivered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| December | 40 | 97 | 8,858 |
| January | 40 | 107 | 9,535 |
| February | 48 | 120 | 11,066 |
| March | 55 | 25 | 5,614 |
| April | 52 | 46 | 6,716 |
| May | 50 | 96 | 9,686 |
- They further direct that transport plane allotments to the Supreme Allied Commander, Southeast Asia Command, for TARZAN, be on the following basis:
- 15 Dec to 31 Jan – 18 C-47s or 12 C-46s
- 1 Feb to 28 Feb – 11 C-47s or 8 C-46s
- 1 Mar to 31 Mar – 188 C-47s or 126 C-46s
- 1 Apr to 15 Apr – 183 C-47s or 122 C-46s
- 16 Apr to 15 May – 114 C-47s or 76 C-46s
- 16 May to 30 Jun – 43 C-47s or 29 C-46s
NOTE: The above subparagraph is based on the assumption that 35 additional C-47s will be available in the theater by 1 February. (Now allotted to the 10th Air Force)
c. The Combined Chiefs of Staff direct that any shortages in delivery of transport aircraft into the theater on present allotment bases be prorated in proportion to the allotments outlined in b (1) and (2) above. Excess in numbers of ATC aircraft over the expectations outlined in (1) and (2) above will be allocated by direction of the Commanding General, USAAF, India, during the above period.