Evening star., 1952-09-18
Navy Has Robots
For Air Drive
In North Korea
Revelation Comes
After Firing Of First
War Guided Missile
BY the Associated Press


TOKYO. Sept. 18.-The man
who directed the first use of guided
in the Korean war said
today the Navy has Immediately
available enough missiles to mount
a sustained large-scale robot cam
paign in Korea"
1t. Comdr. Lawrence A. Kurtz
of Washington said missiles car
Eyewitness Story on Launching Of Guided
Missile. Pose A-S
Guided Missile Commander Has Wife and
Young Son Here. Poee AS
rying atomic bombs conceivably
could hit any target in the world.
Comdr. Kurtz commanded the
12-man team which catapulted q
pilotless plane from the carrier
U. S. S. Boxer September then
watched on television as the plane
launched the age of push-button
warfare with a strike against a
Communist target in North Korea.
Comdr. Kurtz told a news con-
ference continent to continent
guided missiles are possible" The
Korean test was the "forerunner
of what probably will come"
Better Equipment Ready.
The equipment used was rather
obsolete-we have better things
than this" he added.
Comdr. Kurtz said 1900 planes
had been converted into guided
missile "drones," including those
which had been used hitherto for
target practice. He emphasized he
did not mean fleet of 1900 was
presently available.
Answering a barrage of ques-
tions. the Navy officer declared 1T
lis possible" that guided missiles
could change the nature of the
air war in Korea-a hint that
Ipilotless planes may be used to do
the work of today's fighter
lUOulUcIo anu UUIlUCIS.
Comdr. Kurtz declared, I'VE
could mount a large-scale robot
offensive right now, and it could
be sustained.
ANY plane easily could be made
a robot and could carry atomic
bombs.
Robots are more effective and
more maneuverable than piloted
planes. In one strike, a guided
misSile-Navy Hellcat-scored a
direct hit on the small supporting
ipile of a North Korean bridge,
wrecking the entire structure.
The target was more than $50
miles from the carrier which
launched the robot.
1.-THE control plane had turned
away and was headed back to the
ship when the missile struck.
II can't think of any known de-
fense against guided missiles.
They can go any place, any time"
Comdr. Kurtz said.
He conceded the enemy is capa-
BILE of devising similar weapons.
GA Navy announcement in
Washington yesterday was the
first revelation of the new
guided missile. The Navy also
released a delayed dispatch from
Fred Waters. Associated Press
staff photographer, who told
graphically of launching from
the carrier U. S. S. Boxer. It
was indicated that from four to
six such missiles have been
launched.)
The chief lesson learned in the
actual combat strikes in Korea.
Comdr. Kurtz said, is I'VE found
out we could use carriers effective
lly, without interfering with the
carriers normal operations.
Could Replace B-36s.
He noted that the guided missile
work was done even during a re-
cent mass strike against Pyong-
yang, North Korean capital. when
Navy planes were taking off and
landing on the carrier.
ANY carrier out here is capable
of launching guided missiles" said
Comdr. Kurtz. He declined to an
swer, however, on grounds of mill
tary security when asked if mis-
siles still are being used against
Communist targets in Korea.
A reporter asked if the guided
, missile would diSplace huge atom
! carrying bombers like the B-36.
!, Eventually, it could" replied
the commander. cts a question
of time"
These are some of the points
Comdr. Kurtz made:
Robot planes can be refueled in
midair . rigged to strafe enemy