Evening star., 1952-11-16
Agreement With AT
Permits Army 10 Fly
Own Planes at Front
By John A. Giles

Gen. j. Lawton Collins disclosed
yesterday a formal agreement
with the Air Force which turn
over to the Army operation of
small airplanes and helicopters IN
its combat zones.
The Army Chief of Staff said
the Army was going ahead with
plans to build up a force of 1900
operational aircraft and that a
company of large cargo helicopters
was being sent to Korea shortly
Some 1,100 of the 1900 aircraft
will be cargo-type helicopters.
Secretary of Defense Lovett or
dered the two services to make
the agreement, it was learned,
when it was found both the Army
and Air Force planned to buy
large numbers of helicopters for
the same purposes. The Marines
also use such planes in amphib-
ious landings and other Marine
operations but are not involved
in this argument.
Gen. Collins made it clear the
Army had no intention of build
ing up another air force. He
said its pilots would be infantry
men, artillerymen and members
of other arms trained to fly. They
also will be used for ground duty
when occasions arise.
No Duplication Planned.
THE Army definitely has no
intention of duplicating the Air
Force" he asserted. II would
vigorously oppose any move in
that direction. All we are in
terested in are very light planes
for strict combat zone use which
are proving invaluable in Korea
and would be so in any campaign
anywhere. Army aviation is an
integral of its components."
The Air Force will continue to
provide close support to troops, as
sault transport and other troop
carrier airlift, aerial photography,
tactical reconnaissance and inter-
diction of enemy land power and
communications.
The Army aircraft, under direct
command of ground commanders,
will be used for aerial observation.
command, liaison and courier
missions, aerial wire laying, trans
portation and casualty evacua-
tions, to initial points of treat
ment. They will operate only in
the combat zones-described as
from so to 100 miles in depth.
Outside that zone the Air Force
planes will carry out many of
the same type missions over quar-
ter distances. Army planes are
limited to 5000 pounds and hell
copters.
The Army aircraft will be un-
armed and will not have equip
ment necessary for long flights.
When a ground commander needs
q wire laid over difficult terrain
or food transported to an isolated
position, he will merely order an
Army helicopter attached direct
ly to his unit to carry out the
mission.
Demonstration Described.
Gen. Collins described at a news
conference a recent Army aviation
demonstration at Fort Bragg, N.
c., in which a helicopter landed,
unloaded and then reloaded and
took off with eight men in ten
minutes.
1.-The planes will go a long way
toward supplementing truck trans
portation, he commented. "We
will sacrifice everything for heavy
pay loads over short distances.
The Army has ha dts own light
aircraft for some years. In fact
1t has 1900 such planes now.
Meanwhile, the Air Force had been
going along the same lines. Both
services were aware of this dupli-
cation. The matter came to a
head during budget considerations
and Mr.. Lovett directed that an
agreement be drawn.
Gen. Collins said in the fixed
plane category the Army is getting
three modern types: Cd the Lie,
which replaces the old and smaller
World War II LA and LIS liaison:
the L-20, a somewhat larger light
plane for quick battlefront trips
of commands and staff, and the
L-23. a twin-engined plane much
lighter than the wartime CAT.