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{
    "localId": "159441342",
    "label": "Memorandum from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal to President Harry S. Truman, with Attachments",
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{
    "id": "159441342",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Memorandum from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal to President Harry S. Truman, with Attachments",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/159441342",
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        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
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    "productionDates": [
        {
            "logicalDate": "1946-06-01",
            "month": 6,
            "year": 1946
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{
    "seq": 28,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "2-E\n2. Three Coordinate Branches\nWar Department View\nNavy Department View\nThe military establishment\nThe Navy feels that our\nshould contain three coordin-\nnational security requires\nate branches--naval, ground\nmaintenance of the integrity\nand air. Each should have a\nof the Navy Department,\ncivilian head and a military\nheaded by a civilian Secre-\ncommander. These officials\ntary of Cabinet rank. Naval\nshould have access to the\naviation, together with sur-\nPresident, but not Cabinet\nface and subsurface compon-\nrank since this would be in\nents, have been soundly\nderogation of the position\nintegrated within the Navy.\nof the civilian head of the\nThe Navy feels that similar\nmilitary establishment. As\nintegration by the Army of\nwas stated above, the three\nits a and ground forces\nbranches should. be given as\nwould be in the best inter-\nmuch autonomy as possible.\nest or our national security.\n(Our experience in the last\nwar clearly indicates that\nHowever, if the alter-\nparity for the Air Force\nnatives were three military\nand the operation of all three\ndepartments or one, the Navy\nservices as a team are essen-\nwould prefer three depart-\ntial to our national security.\nments.\nEverything that we know of the\nfuture points to an increase\nrather than a decrease in the\ndecisive role of air power.\n3. Aviation\nWar Department View\nNavy Department View\nResponsibility for the\nThe Navy has no desire\ndevelopment, procurement,\neither to compete with, or\nmaintenance and operations\nto dictate to, the Army Air\nof tho. military air resources\nForces, On the other hand,\nof the United States should\nthe Nayy feels that its\nbe a function of the Air\nexperience qualifies it to\nForces with the following\njudge its own aviation needs.\nexceptions, in which cases\nthese responsibilitics should\nOne reason for the Navy's\nbe vested in the U.S. Navy:\nstrong conviction against a\n(a) Ship, carrier and water-\nsingle department is the\nbased aircraft àssential to\ncontinued efforts of the Army\nnaval operations including\nAir Forces to restrict and\n(OVER)"
}