Foreign Relations of the United States, Conference at Quebec, 1944

J.C.S. Files

Memorandum by the United States Chiefs of Staff¹

top secret
C.C.S. 520/4 (Octagon)

[Quebec,] 13 September 1944.

Control of Strategic Bomber Forces in Europe Following the Establishment of Allied Forces on the Continent

References:	a. C.C.S. 150th Mtg.,2 Item 5
	b. C.C.S. 520 Series3
	c. C.C.S. 304/134
	d. C.C.S. 172d Mtg., Item 105

1. While not accepting all points in C.C.S. 520/3, the United States Chiefs of Staff agree in principle with the establishment of control of the Strategic Bomber Forces in Europe by the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, RAF⁶ and the Commanding General, United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe,⁷ acting jointly for the Chief of the Air Staff, RAF⁸ and the Commanding General, United States Army Air Forces,⁹ the latter acting as agents of the Combined Chiefs of Staff.

2. In the opinion of the United States Chiefs of Staff, the directive proposed in the Annex to C.C.S. 520/3 is in several respects inadequate, and therefore they recommend that the Combined Chiefs of Staff approve and dispatch a revised directive as set forth in the Enclosure.¹⁰

1. For the consideration of this paper by the Combined Chiefs of Staff at their 173d and 174th Meetings, September 13 and 14, 1944, see ante, pp. 320, 331.
2. Held at Washington, March 17, 1944; minutes not printed.
3. Earlier papers in this series are not printed. With respect to C.C.S. 520/3, see ante, p. 309, fn. 8.
4. “Forces Available to the Supreme Allied Commander for Operation Overlord”, March 14, 1944; not printed.
5. See ante, p. 309.
6. Air Marshal Sir Norman Bottomley.
7. Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz.
8. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Charles Portal.
9. General Henry H. Arnold.
10. The enclosed draft directive is not printed as such, but it can be reconstructed from the enclosure to C.C.S. 520/6, post, p. 432, and the footnotes thereto.