Evening star., 1934-01-28
ARMY'S AIR PLAN
FORMS 9OO-PLANE
UNIT FOR DEFENSE
Continued From First Page.)

each composed of several groups Each
group. in turn, would be composed of
at least three tactical squadrons and
one service squadron. The whole force
, it was stated unofhcially probably will
Leaving the G. H. c. air force as an
independent unit ready for immediate
action on any front, the remainder OF
the Air Corps will be available for
normal duty, as under the present plan
Of operation. This would include all
observation units attached to the field
armies. corps and divisions; the bonn
bardment and attack squadrons neces-
sary for cooperation with the ground
forces against the enemy along the
ground battle front, and the pursuit
forces necessary for protection of OBJ
servation. attack and observation mis-
sions and the naturalization Of enemy
pursuit.
While no totals have been announced
under the new program. 1t Is hoped IN
Air Corps circles that the program will
take care at least of the entire new
G. H. @. Air Force. leaving the present
authorized strength Of 1900 serviceable,
or 2,025 airplanes in all. for duties with
the ground armies. This would mean a
LOIdl lOICc VI lcdiiy /o,ooo OH PAoAS' va
all types.
Strength in First Three
Coupled with the Nays aerial
strength. now being greatly increased
under the P. w. A. program, this Army
increase is expected to raise the
strength of the United States in the
air from about fifth position among the
world air powers to a place among the
first three powers.
Yesterdays announcement by the
general staff is taken in aeronautlcal
circles to represent the first officially
announced recognition Of the Air Corps
as the Nations first line of defense.
The first line Of defense" it was
pointed out. must be an organization
capable OF being at the right place at
the right time" With the development
, of aviation since the World War, it is
contended, the Navy has lost its place
as the first line Of defense because OF
its physical inability to cope with much
faster moving enemy aviation.
Under this doctrine. it was said, the
Navy would be supplanted as the Ma
tion's first line of defense by the new
900-plane c. H. O. Air Force, supple
mented, If necessary, by additional COM
bat aviation units from the regular Air
Corps.
The new combined aviation programs
Of the Army and Navy. it is estimated,
probably would give the United States
5000 or more military airplanes of all
types. The French program, it Is un-
derstood unoficially, since no official
figures are available, provides for about
5000 airplanes.
The original five-year Air Corps pro-
gram was adopted in accordance with
the findings of the Morrow Board. ap-
pointed by the President in the Fall of
1925 to study the aviation needs Of the
country.
Old Plan Limited.
In connection with the Army Air
Corps, the Morrow Board reported:
I'VE do not consider 1t wise. how
ever, to make definite plans for such
an extended period as 10 years. We
consider plan looking forward period
not to exceed five years as more pru-
dent. We therefore do not recommend
full realization of the plan of the Las
sitter Board. but rather that the mat
ter be made the subject of further study
by competent authority
The Lassiter Board had been ap-
pointed to study the specific needs OF
the Air Corps under the Morrow Board
plan, it was explained.
Pursuant to the view expressed
above, the War Department general
staff, assisted by the chief of the Air
Corps and other officers, has restudied
the situation of Army aviation" the
War Department explained in an
nouncing the new plan yesterday.
THE Morrow Boards report fur
nichod sound fo,,rlo fioy, for thu 1o0-
islation creating the five-year program
and fixing the ratio of the number OF
! airplanes to be allotted to the Army
and Navy. Satisfactory progress has
In the main, been made. However a.
tn, five-year program advocated by the
Morrow Board approached completion
it appeared desirable to continue the
study of our national defense needs In
Army aviation.
Advances in aircraft engineering
sciences, coupled with broader concep-
ton of employment and possible per.
formance Of aviation in national de.
fense. have naturally led to varied
opinions relative to doctrines. strength
distribution, organization and utili-
zation Of air forces.
"The recent organization of Army
tactical units into four combat armies
has had certain definite influences on
the Army Air Corps. The purpose OF
the general staff study and conclusions
has been to harmonic and crystalize
the latest views on these aviation SUBJ
jects in order to insure up-to-date doc
trines and organization, and determine
desirable strengths.
Available for Sea Duty.
Among the decisions reached was
4 definite conclusion to build up In the
All Corps Q homogeneous air unit
known as CHG Air Force, comprising
all military elements Of aviation and