Moscow Embassy Files: Lot F–96
The American Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson) to the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union (Molotov)
Excellency: I have the honor to inform you that I have been instructed to transmit the following message dated December 16, 1942, from President Roosevelt to Premier Stalin.
“I am not clear as to just what has happened in regard to our offer of American air assistance in the Caucasus. I am fully willing to send units with American pilots and crews. I think they should operate by units under their American commanders, but each group would, of course, be under overall Russian command as to tactical objectives.
“Please let me know your desires as soon as possible, as I truly want to help all I can.
“Pursuit plane program would not be affected. What I refer to is essentially the bombing plane type which can be flown to the Caucasus.”
Accept [etc.]
Secretary of Embassy