Evening star., 1951-01-10
Air Force Chieftains
Favor Raising Status
OF Tactical Command

Air Secretary Finletter and Gen.
Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Air Force
Chief of Staff said at a House
Armed Services Committee hear
ing today that they would support
bill putting a separate tactical
air command on a level with the
strategic command.
They were not enthusiastic, how
ever, about any of the provisions
in the proposed bill designed to
"codify" the organizational and
operational functions of the Air
Force at this time.
"It's better to let the Air Force
evolve a little more, especially at
such q dynamic time as this, and
not make it too rigid or have too
much restraint placed by specific
statute on its present operations"
Mr.. Finletter declared.
Action Expected Tomorrow.
The committee which yesterday
swiftly approved a 81 billion ship
building program heard the Air
Force officials suggest several
amendments in the event that the
proposed Air Force measure is re-
ported to the House. The COM
mittee expects to act on the bill
at a closed meeting tomorrow
morning.
The status of a tactical air
command dealing with support of
ground operations drew compara-
lively little questioning at today's
session. There has been a. long
standing dispute IN and out. of
the Air Force on the issue of
concentrating on a strategic air
command that goes in for long1
range carrying bombs, including
the atomic bomb.
No Basic Objections.
Gen. Vandenberg told the COM
mittee that the Air Force has al
ways had a strategic command,
but only recently established a
separate tactical command. He
and Mr.. Finletter said they had
no basic objections to the pro-
posed bill that would specifically
designate the strategic and tao
tical command as well as three
other commands, each to be head
ed by q four-star general.
The bill, sponsored by Commit
tee Chairman Vinson, would in
crease the number of Air Force
four-star generals from four to
seven and the number of three
star generals from seven to thir-
teen. In time of war or of acute
emergency, more could be named
at the discretion of the President.
Proposal Critized.
The Air Force chiefs leveled
their main fire at proposal that
the Surgeon General, Quarter
master General. Chaplains, and
various other officers be detailed
to the Air Force by the Army and
Navy.
Other possible amendments sug-
gested by Mr.. Finletter and Gen.
Vandenberg included:
/. Appointment of q Vice Chief
of Staff with the rank of general
to assist the Chief sof Staff who
now has to spend much Of his
time with the Joint Chiefs of Stan.
2. More "f1exibiiity" in the
number of officers who could be
assigned to duty at Ar Force head
quarters in Washington IN time
of peace as well as war. The bill
would set a maximum of 1900 for
peacetime.
8. Opposition to a proposal for
establishment of q separate air
adjutant general and inspector
general because those officers
should be under control of the
chief of staff.
4. Opposition to. any ''rigidity"
In establishing separate corps such
as construction and engineers for
the Air Force. Gen. Vandenberg
explained that such separate
groups in the Air Force might
tend to build up unfortunate
rivalries.
Chairman Vinson commented
later that he appreciated the un-
willingness of the Air Force to
have various housekeeping func-
tions brought in from other
branches of the armed forces"