751G.5/12–552: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
1149. Rptd info Paris 182, Hanoi 127, Manila 114. Re Deptel 1141, December 3.1 The French have not asked for additional aircraft. What they do request and General Trapnell is urgently recommending is that the 30 F–8’s already programmed be expedited to arrive here not later than January and that delivery of the 8 B–26’s scheduled to arrive at rate of one a month during calendar year 1953 be accelerated.
The French yesterday made, however, urgent request on which in Trapnell‘s and my opinion immediately favorable action in some form or other should be taken. The request is that 150 American Air Force mechanics be detailed immediately to Nhatrang Air Base for one month to give 50-hour checks to 18 C-47’s and 100-hour checks on another 18 C-47’s. Nhatrang was chosen presumably because presence mechanics would be less conspicuous than if detailed to a Tonkin base or to Saigon. The French have made the same imperative request of the French Air Ministry, but according local information, French Metropolitan Air Force has only a few if any surplus mechanics for immediate despatch. The French request is entirely legitimate. When Salan asked for and was granted the 50 additional C-47’s late last summer (21 were provided by US), sufficient crews were available for normal maintenance. It was expected these would be used for tactical drops of parachute troops. No sustained airlift operation was or could have been foreseen at that time. With loss Nghialo and the ensuing necessary decision of French command to attempt hold Na San to prevent overrunning that country and Laos, an air lift had to be instituted. As a result, the C-47’s are operating at several times the normal rate, entailing urgent increased maintenance.
As an alternative to sending American mechanics, Trapnell and I have suggested possibility of the 36 planes being sent for repairs and checks to Clark Field. Trip to Manila would add extra flying time to the planes, but that might be the more practical operation. I can see no policy objection either to despatching American maintenance crews [Page 309] for a few weeks stay here or providing maintenance at Clark Field. On several occasions we have provided mechanical specialists for brief periods for instruction and repair of certain American equipment. This emergency maintenance is vital to holding of Na San and for meeting any other emergency air-borne operations.
General Chassin, CINC French Air Force FE, arrives today from Tonkin to consult with Trapnell2
- Telegram 1141 to Saigon, Dec. 3, read as follows: “Eyes only Amb. In view possibility Fr request, suggest you discuss with Trapnell nature possible Fr requirements additional aircraft because of destruction and attrition resulting from current mil operations. We wish to examine possibility of being helpful but can of course make no commitments at this stage.” (751G.5/12–352)↩
- In telegram 1183 to Saigon, Dec. 8 (repeated for information to Paris as telegram 3241 and to Manila as telegram 1651), the Department of State responded as follows: “Secy of Air and Air Staff giving urgent consideration matters brought up reftel [telegram 1149]. Chief of Staff has cabled Gen [Otto P.] Weyland CG of FEAF for his views. Suggest you make sure detailed info being developed re Fr requirements be made available directly to Weyland and rptd here.” (751G.5/12–552)↩