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.