Piercing the Fog - Air Force Historical Studies Office

Piercing the’Fog
Maj. Gen. Laurence S. Kuter
roles, it also created a pressing need for intelligence that would guide Washing-
ton in developing target lists and effective operational plans.”
Even before command arrangements for the Twentieth Air Force had been
resolved, Arnold told the COA to recommend appropriate targets. The
committee’s work followed an even earlier target study done by the Air Forces
Intelligence Service. Arnold’s desire was to have the committee verify
independently the Air Staff‘s analysis, which had selected fifty-seven main
targets and had a target-industry priority list of aircraft, nonferrous metals, naval
bases and shipyards, iron and steel, petroleum, chemicals, automobile engines,
and rubber. The COA began work in May 1943 to assess each different
industry, seeking to determine the following in each case:
330
The indispensability of its product to Japan’s war economy.
The industry’s position as to current production, production capacity,
and stocks on hand.
Japan’s requirements for various degrees of military activity.
The possibility of successful substitution or decrease in use of products
without affecting front line strength.