Evening star., 1949-04-03

functions went TO the Research
and Development Board.
Decoration Board Included.
Joint Board to Study Matter of
Decorations and Medals, whose
duties were taken over by the Per-
sonnel Policy Board.
Armed Forces Disciplinary Con-
troll Board. an advisory group on
morale and welfare of service per-
sonnel. The Personnel Board
takes over its duties.
| At the same news conference
last Tuesday, MIR. johnson also
said the service chiefs would have
a chance at the Key West meet
ing Ito argue me out" of con-
illusions he has reached concern
ing the missions of the three
branches of the armed services.
None of the services apparently
has the slightest idea of what
Mr.. Johnson's plan for strategic
responsibilities is, and his cryptic
remark has brought about much
speculation at the Pentagon.
Most of the controversy over
roles and missions has arisen over
strategic air warfare. Under
James Forrestal, who retired as
Defense Secretary Monday. it was
decided that this duty belonged
principally to the Air Force. But
the latter was told that it should
not only permit but actually seek
aid from the Navy's carrier-based
aviation.
Air Force Features B-36.
The Air Force has placed much
of it's reliance on long-range
bombers and lately has been push
ing the B-36, a six-engine craft
capable of reaching high attitudes
which, the airmen say, would be
out of reach of fighters. The air
arm has called this plane truly
intercontinental bomber"
The Navy, meanwhile, is going
ahead with it's carrisr aviation
program. The admirals say that
the f1attops are floating airfields"
which make it unnecessary to
seize land and construct air bases.
The sea arm is building super
carrier at Norfolk, Va, capable
Of accomnaodat ting heavy bombers
Of the tyI3e5used to transport tie
atonifc bomb. This program has
given rise to Air Force fears that
the Navy plans to move in on this
field but the Navy's answer has
been that it has no such plans,
that it was only getting prepared
for any eventuality.
While Congress considers q bill
to authorize-but not appropriate
funds fora 7o-group Air Force,
that department is actively en-,
gagged Ia reorganizing its forces
to come within the 48-group limit
set in President Truman's pro-
posed budget. This re-grouping
is a gradual process.
Other Plans Made.
At the same time, the Air Force
has made other plans should it
receive additional funds from an
minded Congress. Chairman
Vinson of the House Armed Serv-
ices Committee and others have
advocated giving the Air Force the
$500, 100000 which Mr.. Truman
had earmarked for universal mill
tary training. Mr.. Vinson also has
proposed increasing the military
budget by $500. .o00. .000-a large
proportion of which would 60 for
airpower-but Mr.. Truman has
spoken out against that plan.
Air Force officials said yesterday
that they had projected plans for
48, 81 and 70-group forces, de-
signed to fit the funds at hand.
The plans also call for revisions
in the compositions Of the groups.
One such revision involves the
B-36.
Present organizaeional tables
call for four groups Of Is B-36s
each but with the purchase Of
more of the big bombers the new
organization calls for six groups Of
80 B-36s each.