Evening star., 1947-11-25

around in money gained through the
blood poured by my fellow flyers?
How long is the covering up Of
one brass hat by another going to
continue to make travesty of our
Air Force and disgrace the hundreds
of thousands who served 1t so well
during the last WARP
If sweeping investigation is not
held in the near future, and If the
dealers in blood money are not
brought to justice in the near fu-
ture, I will no longer consider it
an honor and privilege to serve in
what I thought was the finest fight
ing body of men in the world, and
will forthwith tender my resigna-
ton.
Would you be kind enough to tell
me what action, if any, is contem-
plated?
Very truly yours,
ELMER S. FRIEDBERG,
Captain, Air Corps Reserve.
FOLLOWING is the tert OF Secre-
tary Symington's reply to Capt.
Friedberg.
10 November, l947.
Capt. Elmer S. Friedberg,
345 King Street,
Pottstown, Pa.
Dear Capt. Friedberg:
When your letter of November IA
arrived, I was sitting with two Off
GERS whose names are synonymous
with all the courage and loyalty
known to be characteristic of the
Air Force. They both said, I'VE
could not have written our own
reaction more accurately"
Recently an Air Force general
told me he was in a store the other
day when two elderly women, noting
his rank and insignia. started talk
ing IN loud voices about generals
who stole while enlisted men were
dying. He said he would never get
over 1t.
Another officer of the materiel
command from Wright Field asked
yesterday, Isn't Senator Ferguson
going to say anything so the people
will know that the rest of us are not
dishonest?" and to that end I am
seeing the Senator today.
I cited you these reactions and
illustrations to show how shocked
and saddened all of us are to find
out what one man has done.
Except for what would appear to
be an error in judgment last May in
not passing to the committee an
anonymous letter, the Air Force as
a whole is not involved.
Many Letters Received.
The anonymous letter referred to
in the press, which makes several
charges against Gen. Meyers, was
but one of hundreds of letters re-
garding various members of the
AAF. Investigations were made with
respect to the letter in question. The
specific charges were not supported
by the facts. 1t now develops, how
ever, that there is very strong evil
dence of the broad violations alleged
against Gen. Meyers.
The Air Force men as whole are
the same fine clean group Of men
with whom you fought to preserve
our way of life, and of whom I am
sure in your heart you are very
proud
I can report to you as your secre-
| tary that since the first day we knew
of any facts in this matter we have
been working with all agencies of the
Government to be sure to see that
justice shall be done.
| AS soon as it came to our atten-
ton, I personally discussed the mat
ter Immediately with the Secretary
of the Army, Secretary of Defense
Treasury Department., the Attorney
General and Senator Ferguson
himself.
AS you know, the average air
officer is not an experienced busi-
nessman. 1t is not his training
This Is the reason man with a
business background can go very
far wrong without his supervisors
knowing it, especially when their
eyes are facing West and East to
the winning of the war.
Precaution Against Such Cases.
Based on my own business ex-
perience, however. can tell you that
once an able and experienced man
turns dishonest, especially if he is
intelligent and we'll trained, it is
almost impossible to catch him
until relatively long period of time
has elapsed This happens every
day in the industrial and banking
world.
In the future the Air Force plans
to reward for logistic-business-effi-
cheney, as well as flying g-operational-
efficiency, and this should reduce tx
a minimum the chance of anything
like this ever happening again.
So far as we know there is bu
one officer involved. We have asked
Senator Ferguson to turn over t.
us and the Department Of justice
all records on this case as soon a,
they are completed. and I can as
sure you of our determination t.
see that justice is done at earlies
opportunity So far as we know
every department of the Govern
AS good as a