NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
TOP SECRET
33. The French Tactical Air Force, including F8F fighters and B-26 light bombers, appears well organized and employed. The problem--very much parallel with Korea--is lack of well defined targets. With an aggressive ground offensive this picture should change for the better. It is adequate in the absence of counter air (see Annex "N").
34. The Air Transport and Troop Carrier Force is fairly well organized, but could employ more efficient techniques, which have been agreed to by the French. The limiting factor, with one reservation, is the lack of sufficient maintenance personnel. This shortage of personnel limits operations of all types of aircraft employed in the theater. The exception referred to is lack of numbers of aircraft to airdrop more than two battalions at one time. This latter fact was the basis for the request by the French for a squadron of C-119's. The French state, however, they are entirely in accord with our recommendation that C-119's are not feasible for continued operational use in Indochina and, accordingly, are recommending the withdrawal of their request for the squadron, as well as agreeing to the immediate removal of the six presently on loan from FEAF.
35. The requirement still exists, however, for more aircraft if three infantry battalions are to be airdropped simultaneously. It was recommended to the French, and they agreed, that in the event a three-battalion drop is projected, enough C-119's to make up the lift deficiency be loaned to them, subject to high level U.S. approval, for the three or four days necessary, and that French crews previously checked out in Germany or elsewhere be on hand in Indochina to make the drop. These same pilots would supplement the present C-47 crews
TOP SECRET
