Lot 788

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Description:

BARNEY GILES' 1945 B-29 COMMUNIQUES
BARNEY GILES (1892-1984) Army general who commanded the Fourth Air Force and Twentieth Air Force for the Army Air Corps during World War II. Credited with developing long-range strategic bombing and fighter plane theory, doctrine, and procedures. Rare grouping of documents related to the Army Air Corps 1945 plans for Pacific Theatre bombing: a series of four typed memos and communiques between Giles and other Air Corps commanders discussing bombing procedures and limitations on crews, spanning May 16, 1945 - June 3, 1945, all stamped, "SECRET". The main discussion is between Giles and Deputy Air Corps commander Ira Eaker. Eaker begins by tasking Giles with organizing Pacific Theatre plane sorties, in part: (May 16, 1945) "...We feel, however, that the highest priority for long range fighters is to protect the long range bombers. This should not prevent them from doing their other task of defense of their airdrome as required... (May 21, 1945) ...There was a report made to General Arnold that the B-29 crews were being overworked...Everyone here is extremely gratified by the effort General LeMay is putting out, but of course that effort cannot continue if the crews are overworked...It does look like the original estimate was made without proper relation and taking into account the very long ten to fifteen hour missions your boys have to fly..."; accompanying is a series of charts and figures logging flight mission data and statistics. Giles replies: (June 2, 1945) "...I have had an opportunity during the last three weeks to give Admiral Nimitz and his staff some good sales talk on strategic bombing. Admiral Nimitz is in full accord with the Strategic Air Plan for the Pacific... Admiral Nimitz announced to his entire staff, consisting of about 60 Navy people, how well pleased he was with the results of the bombing of the Japanese cities..."; (June 3, 1945) "...I hasten to reply to yours of 21 May 1945...over your expressed desire to reconsider B-29 combat crew requirements in light of LeMay's combat operations during the last three months...a decision between a long-term and short term operating policy for combat employment of the XXI Bomber Command should be directed since combat crew availability was to be the principal factor in limiting combat effort to be performed... I agree with LeMay that the present situation constitutes a most extraordinary opportunity, of which maximum advantage can be taken only by exerting the 100% capability of the XXI Bomber Command..." Also included are detailed discussions of air defense lessons during the Battle of Iwo Jima. In all, the 34 pages of documents contain five signatures from BARNEY GILES, two signatures from Deputy Commander of U.S. Army Air Forces IRA EAKER, and one signature by Major General K.P. MCNAUGHTON. Pages contain folds, staple marks at top left corner, and binder punches along top margins, slightly toned, very good.

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January 21, 2010 10:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

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