◆ SpookStack

Between 29 July and 11 August, when a memoran- dum was prepared by the JMCLEAR Project Officer, Col. Gaines, for Col. Moore, the Director of Materiel Management of the Air Force, a very significant modification was suggested in the equipment of the B-26's which were to be acquired from the Air Force. On 29 July, the a-gun nose had been requested, plus pylons for fuel or napalm, and rocket racks. On 11 August, it again was requested that the a-gun nose be installed, but if this was not possible, then a 6-gun nose would be acceptable. Of more significance, however, was the plan to add to the plane's firepower by adding three internal guns to both the left and the right wings -- bringing the total of .50 caliber forward-firing machine guns to either 14 or 12. 47/ One can only speculate whether the installation of the additional .50 calibers would have made a signifi- cant difference in terms of the effectiveness of the B-26's at the time of the D-2 airstrike. The reason that the wing guns were not installed probably was best explained by stan Beerli who said -- with refer- ence to other modifications that he was questioned about -- that the restrictions were imposed by time - 38 -