What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Department of the Army staff communications cable concerning United States military planning in the Far East, dated March fifteen, nineteen fifty‑two. The cable presents an interim reply to the Commander in Chief, Far East, and the Commander in Chief, Pacific, and it outlines force‑allocation recommendations, air‑force augmentation, and the prospective role of atomic weapons in the Pacific theater. It is notable for its explicit reference to the prohibition on United States ground combat forces in the defense of Formosa and for the planning of carrier groups to store and rotate atomic weapons. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault, which hosts a digitized copy of the original record. The release is part of a broader Freedom of Information Act disclosure of historical Department of the Army files. The record was uploaded to the archive on the Black Vault website, and the full text is available at the URL https://archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI00889/CI00889djvu.txt. The document reads as follows: Department of the Army Staff Communications Office JCS 903685 March fifteen, nineteen fifty‑two From: Joint Chiefs of Staff 1. This is an interim reply to CINCFE reference 3018072 dated January, and CINCPAC reference 0606012 dated February, considered jointly. Estimates and recommendations contained therein will be further reviewed at the time reports directed by JCS 92510 and JCS 92666 are considered. JCS 92655 specifically prohibits the use of United States ground combat forces in the defense of Formosa. No report indicates any change in this limitation at this time. 2. We recognize the seriousness of the enemy air threat in West Pacific and Far East. In light of worldwide commitments, Air Force augmentation given in JCS 900404 was considered practicable at that time. However, Air Force current plans include a conversion within the next six months of three Air Force fighter groups presently assigned to Far East Air Forces to improved‑type aircraft. 3. The ninth medium bomber now available in the Far East to furnish your commands with atomic support is capable of delivering existing weapons against either strategic or tactical targets. Using SHORAN techniques, tactical capabilities of this force have already been demonstrated. 4. It is recognized that forces assigned to and scheduled for Far Pacific areas are not, report, sufficient to carry out simultaneously all possible emergent tasks. Overall limitations on manpower and appropriations preclude deployment of a second carrier group to West Pacific without a significant reduction of forces in other areas. However, flexibility of the present or upcoming carrier task group should be expedited by planning contingent tasks for it in support of missions of both your commands. 5. Two additional carriers will be assigned to CINCPAC temporarily to permit operation of four carriers in West Pacific. CINCPAC will have two carriers in May and June…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Department Of The Army Staff Communications Cable Concerning United States

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Department of the Army staff communications cable concerning United States military planning in the Far East, dated March fifteen, nineteen fifty‑two.

Date: OCT 12 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Episode notes

This is a declassified Department of the Army staff communications cable concerning United States military planning in the Far East, dated March fifteen, nineteen fifty‑two. The cable presents an interim reply to the Commander in Chief, Far East, and the Commander in Chief, Pacific, and it outlines…

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Questions about this case

What was Department Of The Army Staff Communications Cable Concerning United States about?: This is a declassified Department of the Army staff communications cable concerning United States military planning in the Far East, dated March fifteen, nineteen fifty‑two.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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Department Of The Army Staff Communications Cable Concerning United States

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