Franklin D. Roosevelt to Winston Churchill (May 29, 1941)

by Franklin Delano Roosevelt

May 29, 1941To: AMEMBASSY
To:  LONDON

DRAFT OF SUGGESTED CABLE TO THE PRIME MINISTER

SECRET FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE FORMER NAVAL PERSON
IN SPITE OF THE BEST EFFORTS OF THE ORGANIZATION NOW HANDLING FLIGHT DELIVERY OF COMBAT AIRCRAFT FROM THIS COUNTRY TO ENGLAND I AM ADVISED THAT SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF THESE PLANES ARE ACCUMULATING IN THIS COUNTRY AND THAT THIS CONDITION IS APT TO GROW WORSE AS PRODUCTION REACHES AN ACCELERATED RATE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS PERIOD IN OUR COMMON INTEREST AND IN ORDER TO RELIEVE THE SITUATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE I AM PREPARED TO DIRECT THE ARMY AND NAVY TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TRANSFER OF AMERICAN BUILT AIRCRAFT FROM FACTORY TO THE POINT OF ULTIMATE TAKE OFF AND TO SUPPLY MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING FACILITIES ALONG THE WAY AND AT THE ULTIMATE STAGING FIELD PERIOD THIS SHOULD RELEASE A NUMBER OF CIVILIAN PILOTS NOW DELIVERING PLANES PERIOD MANY SUCH PILOTS CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE POOL OF ATLANTIC FERRY PILOTS NOW ENGAGED IN THIS WORK PERIOD SINCE MILITARY AND NAVAL PILOTS AND GROUND CREWS WOULD BE ENGAGED IN DELIVERY OF PLANES I AM ADVISED THAT THE CLOSE COOPERATION NECESSARY TO CARRY THROUGH SUCCESSFULLY THIS CONTINUOUS OPERATION CAN BEST BE OBTAINED IF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATLANTIC FLIGHT COULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY THEIR SISTER SERVICE UNDER THE AIR MINISTRY USING OF COURSE THE PRESENT CIVILIAN PILOTS AND SUCH ADDITIONAL ONES AS MAY BECOME AVAILABLE PERIOD THIS PROCEDURE WOULD ENABLE THE PLANES TO BE BROUGHT UNDER THE CONTROL AND DIRECTION OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE ⁠PRIOR TO⁠THE SCHEDULING OF TAKE OFF AND APPROACH TO THEIR DESIGNATED LANDING FIELDS IN ENGLAND PERIOD THE SUCCESS OF THIS OPERATION WOULD DEPEND IN LARGE PART UPON THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE WESTBOUND AIR TRANSPORTATION BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH GOOD WILL ON BOTH SIDES SUCH PROBLEMS CAN BE SOLVED AND GREATER ASSURANCES GIVEN OF THE ABILITY TO HANDLE DELIVERY OF THE INCREASED QUANTITY OF COMBAT AIRCRAFT ANTICIPATED DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS PERIOD I HOPE YOU WILL COMMENT FRANKLY ON THIS PROPOSAL. ¶. For example the American Army and Navy could deliver planes at Botwood Newfoundland ready and serviced for the R. A. F. to take them over and fly them across. Later and depending on developments we might be able to deliver them to your people in Iceland. Roosevelt