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the change from AD-5's to: B-26's. 42/ Late in July, a memorandum was prepared for the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Special Operations) in which it was stated that the Agency had backed off from the use of the AD-5 in favor of the B-26; and it noted the Agency's request that 10 B-26 aircraft be reclaimed from surplus storage and placed in the following combat configuration: with eight .50 caliber machine guns in the nose, rocket-launching system, pylon fuel tanks under each wing, and bomb bays capable of accepting either 250 or 500 lb. bombs. Four such air- craft are required by 1 September 1960, the remaining six will be required by 15 October 1960 ••• In order to expedite receipt of the aircraft requested above, it is desired that maximum emphasis be placed on timely reclamation of the air- craft to include authorization of over- time for which this Agency will reimburse from funds presently available. It is the understanding of this Agency that the B-26 aircraft are surPlus and would be acquired under an interdepartmental transfer at no expense other than labor and associated costs. 43/*' * It is interesting to observe that the response from DPD concerning the cost and availability of B-26's out of the Arizona stockpile went to the Department of Defense at least two days before Jake Esterline, Chief, WH/4 apparently received word about the availability of the B-26's. Again, t~is would indicate some break- down in the internal communications between DPD and WH/4. ~ - 36 -