On behalf of the Australian Government I thank you most sincerely
for your continued assistance in connection with Mr. Curtin's
proposal for equipping and developing the Royal Australian Air
Force. Australia will be most grateful. Mr. Churchill's signal
from abroad too was most satisfactory indeed. [1]

As I explained to Mr. Hopkins yesterday, I have felt it my special
duty to yourself to revise the programme so as to make compliance
with it far more easy to the military authorities. I have,
therefore, planned for deliveries of aircraft not within the
period of six months originally suggested, but over a far longer
period, viz. 18 months, i.e. July 1st 1943 to December 31st 1944.

This appears clearly from the revised programme which I now
enclose.

I would prefer a far more rapid development and have authorised
the revision with reluctance. Naturally the value of the special
contribution to Australia is directly related to the speed of
deliveries.

As revised, the programme calls for the delivery of only 135 unit
equipment in 1943 and 339 unit equipment during the whole of 1944.

I think you will agree that this is moderate and reasonable.

Having regard to all the circumstances and the special endeavours
I have made to satisfy the military authorities, I now
respectfully request agreement to the revised programme as now
submitted.

H. V. EVATT

1 Evatt had written to Roosevelt on 20 May: 'Following upon Mr.

Churchill's endorsement at the Pacific War Council of Mr. Curtin's
proposal for equipping the additional squadrons of the Royal
Australian Air Force and your most helpful observations, I beg to
request your own endorsement of the plan before the present
conference terminates.' See letter in Franklin D. Roosevelt
Library: Roosevelt Papers, Map Room files, box 170, A16-3 Warfare-
Southwest Pacific Area.

Enclosure

Revised Programme for the Equipment of the Royal Australian Air
Force

1943 1944 Total

Squad- Unit Squad- Unit Squad- Unit
rons Equip- rons Equip rons Equip-
ment ment ment
Heavy Bombers 2 (36) 7 (126) 9 (162)
M.S. [1] Fighters - - 5 (120) 5 (120)
S.S. Fighters 1 (24) - - 1 (24)
Dive Bombers 2 (48) 2 (48) 4 (96)
Transport (Landplanes) 1 (9) 5 (45) 6 (54)
GR/F Boats 1 (9) - - 1 (9)
Transport (Seaplane) 1 (9) - - 1 (9)
TOTAL: 8 (135) 19 (339) 27 (474)

EXPLANATORY NOTES

1. Heavy Bombers: The Royal Australian Air Force now includes no
unit armed with aircraft heavier than a 'Hudson' and as a Force is
quite unbalanced, its striking power, especially at long range,
being almost negligible.

The 71 Squadron Programme calls for 9 such squadrons and for this
development two Squadrons should be supplied this year.

Experienced Heavy Bomber crews are now available, having completed
an operational tour with the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom
or Middle East.

2. Single-seater Fighters: Only one of the total number of
squadrons of this type remains to be provided. It is suggested
that it would be preferable to form this squadron this year, with
aircraft similar to that with which other Single-seater Fighter
Squadrons in the area are now armed, rather than leaving it until
next year when it may have to be armed with an odd type of
aircraft.

3. Dive Bombers: Dive bomber squadrons in the R.A.A.F. are now
armed with A-35 (Vengeance) aircraft. The main disadvantage of
this aircraft is its comparatively short range, poor performance
and light armament.

Conditions of operations in the Australian theatres call primarily
for multi-engined aircraft, but whilst this is not a
characteristic of the A-35, an aircraft with a poorer performance
would be no practical contribution to the operational requirements
of the area.

4. Transport (Landplanes): Because of the undeveloped nature of
the country in which operations are being conducted, as well as
the long stretches of sea and jungle to be covered, the Transport
Squadrons are the most urgently needed. Six of these squadrons
have yet to be provided, and it is considered that one should be
supplied this year.

5. GR/F Boats: General Reconnaissance squadrons armed with
Catalina Aircraft are the only units in the R.A.A.F. possessing
more than medium, range. They are called upon to cover a large
area and they are doing excellent work. Only one of this type of
squadron remains to be provided to complete the programme. It is
understood that production of the type is good and the provision
of this squadron this year would be valuable contribution to the
operational demands of the immediate future.

6. Transport (Seaplanes): The R.A.A.F. contains one Transport
Squadron equipped with Flying Boats. This squadron was formed
originally by taking Empire Boats from Qantas Empire Airways. The
squadron is composed of personnel of long experience, who have
done excellent work. Their equipment, however, has now been
reduced to one boat only. This unit should be re-equipped as early
as possible. The conditions of the area offer exceptional
possibilities for the use of this type, especially during
operations. [2]