853.79681/103
Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: In January 1943 the Air Transport Command of the Army Air Forces requested Pan American Airways, Inc., to explore the possibility of securing land airport facilities in the Azores. Pan American was to seek these facilities supposedly for commercial purposes but the real reason of the Army Air Forces’ interest was to have these facilities available as a ferrying point for the transfer of heavy military aircraft from the United States to European and African theaters of operation when authority to do so was granted by the Portuguese Government.
On April 20, 1943, Pan American representatives submitted to the Portuguese National Air Council a proposal for service with large land aircraft through the Azores and Lisbon to the United Kingdom. No mention of service through the Azores to North Africa was made because it was felt that initially a proposed service to the United Kingdom would receive more favorable consideration.
The members of the Portuguese National Air Council raised no definitive objection to the proposed land plane service by Pan American but requested that a detailed statement of ground facilities and technical requirements be submitted. It is understood that Pan American will promptly submit such a statement and at the same time will suggest that a test flight with a C–54 Transport be made from Lisbon to the Azores, with Portuguese officials to ascertain more accurately the requirements involved.
These negotiations were begun before the Trident Conference and such negotiations have been continuing their normal course since that time.
The British Government has not been notified of this project and the Portuguese Government has not been notified of the United States Government’s interest in the project.
The United States Chiefs of Staff recommend that you inform the British Foreign Office of the status of these negotiations and enlist its support when our legation has the occasion to advise the Portuguese Government of the United States Government official interest in the matter.
Sincerely yours,