Evening star., 1950-07-21
Marine Aviation Units
Rumored Blocked Off
From Korea Fighting
Army and Air Force Heads
squeIehed Corps Flyers,
Capitol Hill Hears
By Das,id Laurence

Capitol Hill Hears
By David Laurence
Out In Korea American boys are
fighting bravely and many are
dying but inside Washington there
is q bitter feeling Of criticism
concerning certain decisions Of the
top command-General Collins oi
the Army and General vanden.
berg Of the Air Force-who are
charged with having combined tc
squelch the opportunity Of the
United States Marine aviation
units TO fight in the Far East.
This feeling has been under
cover for several days. The ques-
ton came up early this week al
the Pentagon where General Mac
Arthur's requests are given con-
sideration. Word spread to Capt.
tol Hill, where members Of the
House Armed Services Committee
now have determined to get al
the bottom Of the matter.
There may be a wholly logical
explanation for 1t and the criti-
ciSm may be doing an injustice tc
the head Of the United States All
Force and to the head Of the
Army, but the fact remains that
while the Marines have been per-
mitted to call out their ground
units Of various kinds. they have
not been allowed to call out their
crack squadrons Of tactical avia-
ton which afford air support for
ground operations.
Behind Scenes Talks.
This delay has been a matter of
behind-the-scenes discussion for
days. Many persons familiar with
Marine Corps activities say it just
doesn't make sense to let the
ground forces Of the Marine Corps
be called out and then to keep
them from mobilizing their avia-
ton units.
It doesn't seem possible that any
professional jealousies on the part
Of the U. 8. Air Force could be
responsible for the block that has
been placed against the use of
the 80 Marine Corps Reserve
aviation squadrons and their
II radar units which work with
the air and ground troops.
The Marine Corps has its re-
serve aviation units, 100 per cent
battle trained. They are ready
for instant service. These 80
squadrons are in addition to the
16 squadrons already in active
service, most of which presumably
win fight with the Marine divi-
sion whose departure was public
ly announced last week.
There are rumors that even
these troops when they reach the
Far East will not be permitted
to function as q division but will
be split up piecemeal. These, how
ever, are Washington rumors and
they may have arisen because
Of the known opposition to the
call Of Marine Corps Reserve avia-
ton units.
. The truth is that General Mac
Arthur alone win decide how the
Marine Corps units now en- route
will be used and it is understood
here that he has asked for them
and wants them TO function in the
way they can be most effective,
which is as a combat team in a
ground and air combination.
Prevailing Belief.
The belief prevails that the diff
ficulties that have arisen did not
originate at Far Eastern head
quarters but stem from sensitive
feeling here at the Pentagon that
the Marines should not have their
own aviation.
It never has been contended,
however. by the sponsors of the
Marine Corps. aviation units that
they would serve the corps alone.
They are sufficiently flexible to be
used as tactical air cover for reg
ular Army divisions. They could
be put into action with some Of
the Army infantry divisions now
In Korea.
It would be healthful and help
full II these rurnors were scotched,
as they do not aid morale and it is
o tragic thing for any fighting
unit to be held back which could
be Of real service. Inasmuch as
Gems. Collins and Vandenberg
have been reported up to now as
working In harmony with Admiral
Sherman, 1t would be welcome
news to discover that any disin-
clination to let the Marine Corps
aviation be modified was tempo
rary and will soon be reversed.
It Is known that the naval fliers
aboard the carriers close to the
Korean coast have not been al
lowed to furnish cover for ground
troops, though they are trained in
low-level flying, but the explana-
tion for this is that they have not
been trained with the Army units
and there might be some mixup.
They are given bombing assign
rnentS In a different area and are
doing q sensationally good job.
Maybe there's an explanation, too,
for the failure to let the Marine
Corps call out It's aviation reserve
units.
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