811.2340/2–1847
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of War ( Patterson )
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have considered carefully your letter of February 18, 194751 in regard to a proposed reduction of U.S. Army Air Force units in Europe.
I note that General McNarney has stated that purely from a military standpoint the requirement for air support for occupation forces in Europe is one fighter group and two troop carrier squadrons with ancillary units totaling 7,500 personnel. I also note that General Spaatz concurs in General McNarney’s analysis, but desires to retain a total air strength of personnel varying from 8,000 to 12,000 to permit a degree of flexibility in the rotation of tactical units, including VHB units, from the United States to Europe for short training periods.
This matter has, as you know, been the subject of oral conversations between officers of the State Department and the War Department. I understand that, even if the orders for the withdrawal of air force units were issued at once, the actual withdrawal would not begin for a period of some weeks, probably not until sometime in May.
In all circumstances, I have no objection to the issuance of the necessary orders for this deployment along the lines of your letter. It is my hope that there will be no publicity concerning this movement and that it can be handled as a routine matter of administration.
Sincerely yours,