Evening star., 1951-05-28
Air Force Operating
Now on 'Shoestrinq,'
Vandenberg Says
Continued From First Page.)

cnurla ana tne principal cities OF
China if the full power of the
Air Force was used.
"And even if we utilized it, and
laid waste to it, there is a posi-
bility that it would not be con-
elusive" the general continued.
But the effect on the United
States Air Force would fix it
SO that, should we have to operate
in any other area with full power
of the United States Air Force, we
should not be able to do it.
Using Air Force Viewpoint.
"The fact is that the United
States is operating a shoestring
air force in view of its global re-
sponsibilities. We are trying
to operate a $40 million business
with about $20,000."
Senator Russell asked if Gen.
Vandenberg based his decisions on
purely military grounds" rather
than on political considerations
that it might bring Russia into
the war.
Gen. Vandenberg replied:
Il am looking at it from the
point of view of the United States
Air Force and the potential that
it has kept the peace so far.
Today the United States is rela-
lively safe from air attack. To-
morrow in my opinion we will not
be. Because we are relatively safe
from air attack today, an air force
of certain size can protect the
United States and keep the bal
ance of power in our favor"
DefenseS Adequate Today.
Gen. Vandenberg said the Air
Force as of today has one job to
do if this country should get into
a major war with Russia-that is
to lay waste the Soviet industrial
potential.
Tomorrow" he added, when
they have developed their long
range air force and they have
more atomic weapons, we have
two jobs. We would have to put
into first place the job of destroy
ing the Russian air potential that
could utilize atomic bombs against
the United States, and lay waste
the industrial potential.
To-day the air defenses of this
country are about adequate. To-
morrow they will not be nearly
adequate enough"
Under other questioning by Sen.
ator Russell, Gen. Vandenberg sale
the use of B-29's and B-50's in tac-
tical support of ground troops ir
the Korean fighting has been ef-
fective. In this connection, he
pointed out that after night at
tack by a single B-29, ground
forces pushed forward and found
600 casualties. In another instance
he added, 800 enemy dead were
counted.
Some Testimony Deleted.
A large section of his testimony
at this point was deleted for secur-
ity reasons.
Under questioning by Senator
Russell, the general said he
thought the Soviet jet engine was
a development on the British jet
engines that were the subject of
considerable controversy when
they were sold to the Russians
several years ago.
In testimony that was censored
for security reasons in several de-
tails, Senator Russell asked if
newspaper accounts reporting that
every time American planes en-
countered the Russian jets 1--WE
shoot down from one to four and
report no losses" were reasonably
accurate.
''Yes sir, they are" Gen. Van
denberg replied.
Senator Russell wanted to know
how Gen. Vandenberg accounted
for that and the Air Force leader
replied:
"Our pilots at the present time
are much superior in tactics and
technique of air fighting, in my
opinion. They are better trained
and their. armament is superior
think those are the two factors.
Range Estimate Difficult.
Under other questioning, Gen
Vandenberg said the Soviet jets
have not come below the 38tt
Parallel in Korea since that was
about. the extreme limit of theil
range.
Senator Russell-How does the
range of our jets compare with
that of the Russian jets?
Gen. Vandenberg-That is diff
f1cult to answer in an all-inclusiv
answer, because it depends OF
what type of our jet we are talk
ing about. If we are talking abou
the F-86 Sabre, which is mos
nearly comparable to the MIG-15
I would say we have some sligh
advantage in range.
Senator Russell-Have our All
Forces encountered any bomber
coming out of Manchuria or is i
exclusively fighter planes?
Gen. Vandenberg-There hav
been few reports of single air
craft operating at night that indi
cate that some of those might b.
bombers.
Bombs Have Been Dropped.
Senator Russell - Have ther,
been any attacks made upon ou
troops and installations and base
in Korea by those planes?
Gen. Neutrality-suspicious. hav,
been dropped upon occasions. T,
my knowledge, they have causet
no casualties as yet.
Gen. Vandenberg faced detailet
questioning by the 26-man join
LOST.
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