Evening star., 1949-02-27
JET Force in Germany
Stymied by Red Tape,
Commander Charges
BY the Assoeioted Press

Red tape and official lethargy are
seriously hampering America S
first line of defense in Europe, Col.
Hubert Zemke of the Air Force
charged today.
Col. Zemke, former assistant
United States air attache in Mos
COW and World War II fighter ace,
is commander of the 36th Jet
Fighter Wing. The jet planes are
looked on here as the primary line
of American alrf1eld defense on
the European continent. They
are based at nearby Fuerstenfeld-
hruck.
In an interview Col. Zemke list
ed the following factors he said
have "all but grounded" the jets:
/. Lack of clearly defined mis-
sion and objectives.
2. Travel restrictions which pre-
vent normal training.
3. month delays in getting
vital airplane parts and supplies.
4. Failure of the State Depart
ment and higher headquarters to
solve diplomatic problems. and
failure to provide liaison in a
projected defense of Europe.
Given No Mission Yet.
The 36th Jet Fighter Wing
came from the Canal Zone last
August" Col. Zemke. said. No
mission has been transmitted to US
so far. 1t is a natural aSSump-
ton that we are a training Or
ganization as would be the case
in any fighter group. Unohcially
we are the first line of defense. in
Europe. No one in authority has
seen fit to state this officially.
LAS it now stands we must
evolve our own mission which
means simply: We do the best we
can with what we have, and 1t is
not enough"
Restricted training keeps the
swift fighters in the American
zone of Germany. Aerial gunnery
is prohibited because of the dan
ger of falling missiles.
Such needed training as long
distance flights to England,
France and other Allied countries
must depend on State Depart
ment sanction" Col. Zemke con-
tinued. This has never been given
in the case of jets.
Flights Declared Vital.
Col. Zemke, a veteran of l55
missions over Europe during the
war, said such flights are vital in
keeping the fighters at their peak.
I'VE have made requests for au-
thorization to make such flights
but the best answer we've got is
we're working on it," he said.
Allied air officers frequently
have asked us to visit their coun-
tries. British air officials and
those Of France and Norway have
offered us landing facilities.
1T would appear, that the pro-
jected Atlantic Pact would call
for sound air liaison with our AL
lies No such liaison has been
worked out for the jets, our new
est and best fighters. Col. zemke
declared. AS matters now stand,
United States jet fighters in Ger
many are "handcutfed to one air.
field" he added.
mo proper coordination has
been carried out by higher head
quarters and our Government for
the provision of jet fuel for United
States use in Allied countries" he
said. With such a situation pre-
vailing, our Jets could fly to an
Allied country and then sit there
out of fuel"
Jets Firing Prohibited.
Flight restrictions have stymied
gunnery practice substantially. he
said. Although the Russians prac-
tice air-to-air firing in the Allied
airlift corridors. the jets are pro-
hibited because of potential
danger to persons on the ground
"AS a consequence, we must
practice shooting either by ground
gunnery or camera" he declared.
I'VE are attempting to negotiate
for aerial gunnery sites out of
Europe. One such hoped-for site
is no closer than the north coast
Of Africa"
Col. zemke said supplies are as
long as two months in arriving,
but added: There are complex
tiles in this problem, too. Our
mission has not been defined,
hence supply Is not authorized to
issue such minor items as sleeve
targets
Lack of many things necessary
to the best operation of the jets