Evening star., 1946-02-10
Autonomous Air Force
Urged al Farewell
Party for Gen. Arnold


ing so important "they cannot to.
day be denied equal status anc
equal autonomy with land and sea
forces"
The speaker was Senator Hill
Democrat, of Alabama, member
of the Senate Military Affairs Com.
mittee and one of the 400 guests
attending a farewell dinner for Gen
Arnold in the Presidential room
Of the Statler Hotel.
1t was almost exclusively an AAF
party for the man whose guidance
evolved the worlds greatest air force
One of the speakers who praised the
retiring chief was Gen. Carl Spaatz
who earlier in the day assumed act
ing leadership of the air arm.
Turns Over Command.
During that brief ceremony at the
Pentagon, Gen. Arnold turned over
the command to the 54-year-old
strategic bombing expert with the
words:
We'll. the jobs all yours, Tooey
and I wish you the best luck in the
world" They shook hands and the
new acting chief replied:
Thanks, Hap, I'll need a lot of it. u
At the Statler, where the Army
Air Forces band played and there
were cocktails in the Congressional
room before dinner, Gen. Spaatz
was more lavish with words.
He characterized Gen. Arnold as
"the first soldier of the air" whose
name always would be identified
with the "life flow of the air forces -
Gen. Arnold did not accept the
word impossible. BY his fearless
energy and answering will, he made
the impossible come true. He formed
an organization without precedent
in the history of war, and this re-
fleets the true stature of the man."
Given Silver Service.
Gen. Spaatz then presented Gen.
and Mrs. Arnold with huge silver
service on which was inscribed sig
natures of 1872 of Gen. Arnold's "close
associates and fellow workers"
Senator Hill indicated by his re-
marks that he would make strong
fight to obtain equal status of the
air forces with the Navy and Army,
despite opposition to such a move
ment revealed only yesterday as
coming from Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover, Army chief of staff, and
Gen. Arnold himself. Their views
were expressed in a letter to Chair
man Manasco of the House Ex-
penditures Committee.
Under Hap Arnold so brilliant
were the achievements of the Army
Air Forces, so magnificent their
record and so superior their contri-
bution to the winning of the war
that they cannot today be denied
equal status and equal autonomy
with land and sea forces" Senator
Hill said, adding: II tell you to-
night that it shall be written into
the law of the land"
Saved Thousands of Lives.
Sepator Hill paid tribute to the
GENTS of general who contributed
to saving the lives of thousands of
Americans by blasting Japan out
of the war without one soldier hav-
ing to land.
'fhe guests applauded when Sen
ator Hill said military air power
has made it's greatest step forward
and Billy Mitchell has been yindi-
Gated"
Mrs. Arnold was presented with a
War Department commendation and
medal for exceptional civilian serv-
ice by former Assistant Secretary of
War for Air Robert A. Lovett, Gen.
Arnold's close friend, who acted as
toastmaster.
The award was given for Mrs.
Arnold's work in establishing and
directing wonen's volunteer COM
mittees throughout the air forces
to aid dependents of service per-
sonnel in adjusting problems.
Thanks Air Forces.
After the group had toasted him
and Mrs. Arnold, the general spoke.
He said he felt honored to receive
kilograms from all over the world
and that when he looked at the
kilograms, and then at the crowd,
he thought to himself there was
nothing so popular as a retiring
general.
The retiring air chief was gay and
thoughtful in turn. He thanked the
Air Forces for their loyalty, thanked
the civilians, especially the women
volunteers and added:
This has never been a one-man
air force. The team of Lovett and
Arnold was wonderful, even if I do
say so myself"
Then the general solemnly warned
the men who had served with him
that they must profit by the war
In his closing remarks he compared
the tenor of today's headlines with
those he had read before the war.
Think that over" he said twice.
That's the only message I have to
leave with you"
Partial Guest List.
Among the guests were Gen. and
Mrs. George C. Kenney; 1t. Gen.
and Mrs. Louis H. Brereton; 1t. Gen.
and Mrs. Ira c. Eaker; 1t. Gen.
and Mrs. Harold L. George; 1t.
Gen. and Mrs. Barney M. Giles;
1t. Gen. and Mrs. Hoyt S. Van
denberg; 1t. Gen. Nathan F. Twin
ing and 1t. Gen. and Mrs Ben
jamin K. Yount.
1t. Gen. James H. Doolittle, re-
tired, of Tokyo bombing fame, ap-
peared in uniform.
Gen. Arnold soon will start his
terminal leave on his farm near
Sonoma, Calf. The new acting chief
reserved for future press confer
ence any announcement of policies
which may accompany reorganiza-
ton Of the peacetime air forces.
s-LNEcI