Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-14
Iron and Steel Mill Destroyed;
20U.S.NavaI Commands Shifted
Mitscher Named
Deputy Chief Of
Air Operations
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.

by WILLIAM de WALfS l. LIE 1s
The greatest shift in flag off,
GERS of the Navy since Pearl
Harbor was announced today by
Secretary of the Navy Forrestal.
Involving changes in 20 COM
mands, the list is headed by the
assignment of Vice Admiral
Marc A. Mitscher, famous carrier
task force commander, as deputy
chief of naval operations for
air.
The two principal changes in feet
commands in the Pacific are the as
signment of Rear Admiral Frederick
G. Sherman, now commander of a
carrier division in the Pacific. to
command the LIST Carrier Task
Force. and Vice Admiral John H.
Towers, deputy commander in chief
=, of the Pacific Fleet, to command the
I'd Carrier Task Force.
Admiral Mitscher is expected to be
promoted to full admiral in his new
assignment, and Admiral Sherman
to the rank of vice admiral.
Vice Admiral John S. Mccain,
now commander of the ID Carrier
Task Force, has been ordered to
report to the Navy Department here
for duty and further assignment.
New Assignment Not Revealed.
Asked about a report that Ad-
miral Mccain Is to become deputy
veterans administrator, Secretary
Forrestal replied that that involved
a presidential appointment and that
he therefore did not feel free to
discuss it.
In his new post, Admiral Mitscher
viii succeed Vice Admiral Aubrey
w. Fitch, now deputy chief Of
naval operations for air. Admiral
Fitch was assigned as superintend-
ent of the Naval Academy at An
napolis.
This places the two top positions
at the Naval Academy in charge OF
air men. The other is Capt. I. H
Ingersoll. commandant of midship-
men.
Secretary Forrestal emphasized
that these changes definitely were
not to be considered a shake-up in
the naval command. He added that
no further changes in the higher
commands are contemplated at this
time. The shifts announced today
were made for several reasons, he
said. One is that victory in Europe
made available certain flag officers
for duty elsewhere.
Other Reasons Given.
Furthermore, he said, the Navy
wants to implement the shore estab-
In this connection, Secretary
Forrestal predicted that after the
war all Naval Academy midshipmen
who could qualify would be required
to fly.
Increased Emphasis on Air.
Asked about reports that the
Navy was contemplating creation
of a new Office of deputy COM
mander in chief for air, the Secre-
tary said his only comment was
that air in the Navy now is such
an important integral part of ma
val operations that air domination
of the Navy would be a matter OF
evolution and not revolution.
He said he foresaw the time when
air would be go per cent of the
Nays strength. The time may
come, he said, when the commander
in chiefs staff would be composed
primarily of airmen.
Secretary Forrestal said all the
changes announced today would be-
come effective at varying dates, but
that all should be completed rough
| ly within 80 days.
lishment with officers who have
been IN the fighting area. Another
reason is to relieve some of the
officers of the heavy physical and
nervous strain incident to the kind
of combat which the naval forces
now are experiencing.
Secretary Forrestal said constant
(See NAVAL, Page A-3)