Evening star., 1951-07-14
Lodge Brings Drive
For t5O-Group Air
Force Out Into Open
By John A. Giles


The fight to push the Air Forcei
from 95 to $50 groups has beenl
brought into the open on Capitol
Hill.
Senator Lodge, Republican, oil
Massachusetts, made such a del
mand in a Senate speech yester-|
day. Previously prominent Air
Force officials had let it be known
that they would like to
see d rapid buildup to $50 groups
The air arm now has about 81
groups and is building toward
the 95-group structure. While
plans calls for fulfillment of the
95-group goal by September. .~l952.
it will be late 1853 before those
units are equipped with what the
Air Force terms modern planes.
Airbase Program Approved.
There were these other Air
Force developments:
l. A secret 81 billion construc-
ton program calling for alrbases
in Europe and areas trimming
Communist Russia was approved
by the House Armed Services Com
mittee. The approval does not
mean that the building program
will get under way Immediately.
After Senate approval, funds still
must be voted.
2. The State Department said
Saudi Arabia had agreed to let
United States bomber and fighter
planes use strategic Dhahran Air
field for the next five years. The
big Middle East base, which al
ready is being used by the United
States, is about 1,500 miles from
Soviet territory. 1t has been used
on a year -to-year basis heretofore.
3. The House committee tenta-
lively approved $357 .686 900 in
construction at eight bases in the
Alaskan area and Puerto Rico and
six within the United States.
Cost Put at STA Billion.
Senator Lodge maintained that
the United States would have
only a second best" Air Force
when it reaches 95 groups. He
estimated that it would cost $74
billion to build $50 groups over
a three-year period.
The Senator said the decision
on these sums will have fatefu
consequences on us and can spell
life or death for the people o1
Western Europe and for the de-
fense of America in Europe"
! Senator Lodge, who served a!
an Army officer during the las
war, argued that a 50-groul
tactical air force was needed tt
support the six American divi
sions which will serve in Gen
Eisenhower composite Western
Europe defense force.
Russian Buildup Larger.
/ He added that this countr.
might be called on to furnish 10,
900 more planes to create a West.
ern Europe air force to give th'
West the two-to-one margin owe.
Russia it needs to win air superior.
Iity. He had made that same argu
ment in an earlier Senate speech
! He expressed the belief Russif
had increased its armament
buildup even more than tn,
United States since the Korean
war began.
While Senator Lodge STRESSED
! the need for additional tactical al
units, high officials have been ex
pressing their desire to build VI
the long-range strategic air arm
which would carry the initial figh
to any enemy with atomic bombs
While this country is believed II
have a two-to-one aircraft supe
riority in this category, official
, say that Russia recently has beel
showing increasing interest il
building up this force.
!, Other Defense Demands.
J And while these same official
speak privately Of $50 groups, of
ficials express the belief that tn
fight for such a program will nc
, be carried outside the Pentagon t
5 any appreciable extent. This come
despite the fact that it is we
, known that some officials alread
have begun to wage a quiet out
> Iside campaign.
, Such a buildup is coupled wit
, Army demands for three more di
r visions and Navy cries for addi
tional carrier air groups and NOR
! anti-submarine warfare effor
{ Some Defense Department Off
$ cials believe that, while the Al
. Force is setting its sights on Is
. groups, it would be conter
with something less in the fins
analysis