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adequate reserves of equipment and personnel to maintain it.  This force will be capable of being used anywhere on their airways from Kamchatka to the northern islands of the Philippine group and from the main Japanese islands to Manchuria on the west and to the Bonin islands and on to Guam in the east.  This force, with its observation and surveillance aviation, will be capable of controlling these sea areas of Japan.  Consequently, any offensive to be pushed against Japan will have to be made under cover of our own air power.

65.  Air power cannot be developed from floating bases or seacraft.  The so-called "airplane carrier" has practically no value against shore establishments of aviation because it cannot launch sufficient aircraft at one time, cannot control them, cannot land them and refuel them fast enough, and is very vulnerable.  Aircraft carriers, in addition, have to protect themselves against other surface vessels such as submarines, destroyers, cruisers, and battleships, so that a considerable outlay is necessary for their protection alone.  I therefore belive it impossible to conduct an air offensive against Japan using seacraft from which to operate and as naval vessels cannot operate except under air protection, they will

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