Office of the Historian

868.20 Missions/8–348: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Greece

secret
Washington, August 11, 1948—7 p. m.

Gama 1239. Dept has approved establishment of separate Air Force Group (Amag 1470 Aug 31) to have equal status in Mission with Army and Navy Groups. Approval was recommended by Army and Air Force Depts.

Second question of increasing size of Air Force Group to total of 41 raises question whether such increase is necessary or desirable at this stage of military assistance program. If guerrilla warfare passes its climax, and scale of operations diminishes, Mission military groups will presumably decline in size. Dept inclined to approve increase Air Force Group only if such increase necessary to establish balance among groups with full cognizance of foregoing.

Please comment further.2

Marshall
  1. Not printed; but see Mr. McGhee’s memorandum of August 11 and footnote 3, p. 127.↩

  2. Ambassador Grady, on August 18, informed the Department that he still considered 41 the necessary minimum size of the Air Force Group. A group of such size would be able to influence training and maintenance procedures of the Royal Hellenic Air Force, with a goal of doubling the monthly hourly employment rate per assigned aircraft, thereby doubling striking power with no further increase in aircraft or personnel (telegram Amag 1493, 868.20 Mission/8–1848).

    In view of these comments, the Department approved, on August 24, the proposed increase to 41 (telegram Gama 1258, 868.20 Missions/8–1848).

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