IX. ADMIRAL KIMMEL'S VISIT IN JUNE AND ANNUAL REPORT

 

A. ADMIRAL KIMMEL'S VISIT

 

Admiral Kimmel visited Washington in June 1941 and, according to Admiral Stark, they reviewed matters of policy (page 113). According to Admiral Turner, in the fall of 1941 Admiral Kimmel came to Washington and they discussed the proper methods of conducting the initial phases of war (page 1019).

Admiral Kimmel said that in June, 1941 he told Admiral Stark and the President of the dangers to the Fleet in Pearl harbor, i.e. air attack, blocking of harbor etc. He told the President that the only real answer to an air attack was not to have the Fleet in port when an attack came; that it took two to four hours to sortie and that once an attack was started it would be completed before they could change the disposition of the Fleet (page 367). In general, he said, he felt that the Fleet should not stay in Pearl Harbor; but he made no protest and made no recommendation for withdrawal of any of the battleships or carriers.

On June 4, 1941, Admiral Kimmel wrote a memorandum for Admiral Stark (Exhibit 10) with copies to General Marshall, Admiral King and Admiral Towers, in which he stated:

"The agreement entered into betwixt the Commanding general, Hawaiian Department, and the Commandant, 14th Naval District, in regard to joint action of the Army and Navy Air Corps in Hawaii provides:

"(a) That in activities in the defense of Oahu and the other islands against enemy bombing attacks the command shall be vested in the Army Air Corps assisted by Navy fighters which may be available.

"(b) That in a mission which involves bombing of enemy ships the command shall be vested in the Navy Air Commander in charge of the Base. Briefly, when an alarm is sounded the Navy patrol planes take off to locate the enemy ships and when located the Navy directs the efforts of the Army and Navy bombers in the offensive action which they take against the enemy ships.

"The liaison betwixt the Army and Navy Air Corps in Hawaii is very satisfactory and weekly drills in air raid alarms with the two services acting in unison are held. These drills have developed many weaknesses but the conditions are steadily improving and it is felt hey are in much better shape now than they were a few months ago. The conditions will continue to be unsatisfactory until certain equip­ment has been supplied and the personnel drilled in its use.

"There are about 140 light Army planes (fighters and light bombers) and 21 heavy bombing Army planes now in the Islands. These in addition to some obsolescent bombers and fighters. It is believed that the number of Army bombers in the Islands should be at least four times the number that they have there now and it is felt these planes should be sent out as soon as it is practicable to do so.

"There are not now a sufficient number of Army pilots to man all the Army planes in the Islands."

 

B. ADMIRAL KIMMEL'S ANNUAL REPORT—YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1941

 

This official report, dated August 15, 1941 (Exhibit 44), was in five parts (1) Organization, (2) Operations and Training, (3) Material, (4) Personnel, and (5) Inspections. The report stated, among other things, that the Fleet had been organized into three Task Forces; that the Fleet was adequate for only limited offensive operations; and, that there were many deficiencies of ships, planes, equipment and men. The deficiencies included "inadequate local defense forces to provide for the safety of the Fleet in harbor ..." and it was said, there were insufficient patrol craft, and district patrol and observation aircraft, though allocated in the aircraft expansion program, were not yet available.