821.248/207: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Colombia (Lane)
431. Your 526, March 18, 1 p.m.16 The Colombian Government’s request for 63 airplanes under Lend-Lease to meet the needs of the Colombian Air Force for 1944 has been submitted to the Munitions Assignments Committee. After giving careful consideration to the matter, the Committee has approved the assignment of the following planes:
| AT–6 | 38 | |
| AT–7 | 5 | |
| PT–19 | 12 | |
| C–45 | 1 | |
| C–47 | 1 | (on wheels) |
| J–4F | 2 | (on floats) |
| Link Trainers | 3 |
In reaching this decision the Committee assigned 12 AT–6’s in lieu of the A–24’s and 6 additional AT–6’s to replace an equal number of P–40’s, the assignment of which was cancelled owing to urgent military demands. In consideration of the Colombian need of transport planes the Committee allotted the AT–7’s as this kind of machine can be used for transport purposes and together with the C–45 and C–47 should help fill Colombian requirements. The J–4F’s are Navy type planes.
[Page 809]The Committee’s recommendation will be submitted to the Board17 on March 31. There appears to be no reason, however, to believe that the Board will not approve the Committee’s recommendation.