Evening star., 1949-01-11
Giant Bombers
ToF|y Herefor
Inauguration,
B-36s, B-29s and
Fighters to Provide
Sky Umbrella

~
Sky Umbrella
A flight of B-36s-the worlds
largest bombing planes-will
form part of the "sky umbrella"
over the inaugural ceremonies,
it was announced today.
Releasing details of the show to
be staged by Air Force units during
the inaugural parade, the 1949 In
Committee revealed six OF
the big Consolidated Vultee ships
will come from Carswe]l Air
Force Base, Fort Worth, Tex, and
will be units Of the 7th Bombard-
ment Group.
The six-engined bombers have a
wing spread of 230 feet and are de-
signed to carry 10000 pounds Of
bombs 10000 miles.
B-29s to Participate.
The aerial review also will include
two groups of B-29 Boeing Super
Fortresses, totaling approximately
so planes: about 48 F-82 North
American Twin-Mustang fighters of
the 9th Fighter Group, Kearney
(Nebr.) Air Force Base; approxi-
mately so F-80 Lockheed Shooting
Star jet fighters of the Continental
Air Command and several forma-
tions of C-82 Fairchild Packets,
known as flying boxcars"
Some of the jet ships will be from
the 4th Fighter Wing, based at
Andrews Air Force Base, Camp
Springs, Md.
In addition to the Air Force planes,
$50 to 300 Navy and Marine Corps
fighters, bombers and patrol planes
will fly over the parade route. In
this group will be go Naval Reserve
planes.
Completing the air cover will be
100 fighters and bombers of the Air
National Guard.
Arrangements for the extensive
inaugural week program were NOV
ing toward completion today at the
Tariff Commission Building, where
the committee planning the civic
celebration has its headquarters and
at the Capitol, where the Joint
Congressional Committee on the
Inauguration held a meeting yes
terday.
Senate Secretary Leslie L. Biffe,
who is executive secretary of the
committee, struck a temporary snag,
when it was found programs ac-
companying tickets being distributed
for seats at the Capitol ceremonies
did not carry the name of House
Speaker Rayburn. The top House
Democrat name was that of House
Majority Leader Mccormack.
Distribution had begun to
members of Congress, but Mr..
Bifhe's Office recalled the packets
to permit insertion of a corrected
program.
A special display of Air Force
equipment is being assembled on the
Washington Monument grounds, in
Guiding the fuselage of o B-29, an
ESQ and q number OF guided mis-
siles. The exhibition will be opened
Sunday.
Other ordnance exhibits will be
shown there by the other armed
forces.
Parade Orders Issued.
The Inaugural Committee made
public a general order" listing the
line of march in the parade.
1t was estimated approximately
10000 persons will participate in the
7-mile-long, 21a-hour parade.
Among additional participants
announced today are 400 flying
cadets from Randolph Air Force
Base, San Antonio, Tex; 100 WAF's
from Lakeland Air Force Base, San
Antonio; a contingent of airmen
from Boiling Air Force Base here,
and 200 Negro airmen from Lock-
bourne Air Force Base, Columbus,
Ohio.
AS the President approaches the
reviewing stand at the White House,
the Sd Infantry saluting battery, To-
Gated on the Ellipse, will commence
a 21-gun salute.
Callope to Bring Up Rear.
The steam callope being brought
by the Kentucky delegation will
bring up the rear of the parade.
The first consignment of official
inaugural medals, struck by the Bu-
reau of the Mint, was delivered yes
terday afternoon at Inaugural Com
mittee headquarters. Leland How
ard, assistant director of the bu-
reau, turned the shipment over to
H. L. Kemp. the committee admin
istrative officer in charge of medal
sales.
Mr.. Howard, familiar with the de-
mands of collectors for mint" con-
dition, WINGED slightly when one Of
the medals was fingered by pho
tographer. Numismatists value in
augural medals, he explained, and
consider less acceptable those which
have been discolored by oils from
the skin.
The first shipment of 1900 medals
will be used to fill orders on hand.
Mr.. Kemp said, but an additional
1900 will follow, and more may be
struck if public demand warrants.
Mail orders are being accepted for
this official souvenir, the only in
augural memento authorized by
Congress for sale to the public. The
medals cost 50 each, plus IS cents
postage. Each is wrapped in tissue
paper and packed in a cardboard
box to preserve it from hicks or
handling by other than the buyer.