Aircraft for Australia. Note by Secretary

The present strength in the whole South-west Pacific area is:Eastern Sector (Bismarcks New Guinea Solomons) 430 aircraft (30 to 40 per cent being army units) Western Sector (Celebes Amboina Timor) 190 aircraft (50 per cent being army units). Thus the total in the two sectors may be up to 650 shore-based aircraft of all types. This is greater by 100 to 150 aircraft than any concentration yet reported in the South-West Pacific. It will be seen, therefore, that the Japanese have been and are strengthening their air forces in the area, but we doubt whether they can be optimistic enough to expect to gain air superiority.