Evening star., 1943-06-24
Arnold
Continued From First Page

Without them success would be i'm
possible. We have attempted to the
best OF our ability to recruit them
intelligently, to treat them fairly
and to make them an integral part
OF our fighting team. Whatever
success we may have had in this
regard does not blind us to the
need Of constant effort to improve
our civilian personnel administra-
ton"
He told the committee that II
could help the Air Forces in their
task
we are eager to receive advice
and. assistance and We stand read,
to cooperate with your committee
Whole-heartedly in every possible
way the general said
In answer to questions regarding
the number and tasks of many
civilian employees of the War De.
partment the witness went "on rec
ord as commencing both the out.
standing contribution of our civilian
army and the personnel and man
agement practices which govern its
activities"
rs Per Cent Women.
There were 1920 departmental
civilian employees on duty with the
headquarters Army Air Forces on
April 80, it was testified. OF these
rs per cent were women. Reorgani-
zation of the headquarters on March
29, decentralizing many operating
functions to the field, resulted in a
saving OF approximately 500 civilian
positions. so that on May 81 the
headquarters had a total of 3.57s
civilians.
Civilian employees numbering 492
at Gravelly Point in the headuuar-
ters of the Air Transport Command
are in the departmental service, he
explained. The grand total of de.
partmental employees, 4,O7l on May
81, represents only IL per cent OF
the Army Air Forces total civilian
personnel.
There are approximately 800. O.OOC
civilian employees in the field service
OF the AAF-82 per cent of them in
the Air Service Command. $1,000 in
the Material Command, $4,000 in
the Technical Training Command
5000 in the Flying Training Com
mand.
Gen. Arnold told the committee
TO insure ability to do our lob. we
are asking for approximately $4,000
additional civilian personnel. or a
total of $4,000 to be used in our
field operations for the coming fiscal
year" The major portion of this in
crease, he OOO-is in the Air
Service Command.
1T is estimated that from June
80 to December 81 the number of air
planes serviced by Army Air Forces
personnel in continental United
States will have increased more than
one-third, and there will be further
increases in 1914" Gen. Arnold said
The issuance of supplies, mainte-
nance and repair of this huge air
armada which will fly more than
81 100000 hours makes a heavy task
for approximately 100000 civilian
employees during the next fiscal Yea:
ne stressed.
Cites Air Force Expansion.
The general also called attention
OF the committee that the Air Service
Command employs literally thou
sands OF women and over-age nlen
who could never be of service over
seas, and without these civilians il
would be necessary greatly to ex-
pand the military strength of the
Army Air Forces. During the COM
ing year the procurement program
viii be more than $4,000, ,0O0, 900
worth OF aircraft, air craft engines
spare parts and other equipment,
These contracts will be fulfilled in
$4,000 plants and shops, and ap-
proximately $4,000 civilian employees
are required for this work, the gen.
eral said.
Stressing the tremendous expan-
sion' undergone by the AAF. Gen
Arnold stated that in June. 1910
their military strength was 47,OO0
while today there are more than O.
100000 officers and men in the. Army
Air Forces. or AZ times that of three
years ago. During the same time the
increase of civilians has been com
parable-from 5000 to $4,000 or Al
times as many
Stressing efforts to "cut red tape,
the general said that since Apri
more than $50 reports have beer
eliminated entirely and many others
are now submitted less frequently.
At the close of the hearing Chair.
man Ramspeck told Gen. Arnold
| you have been the frankest wit.
ness yet before this committee" anc
complimented him on the tremen.
| douS joh he Is perforninp