Evening star., 1953-06-30
BY ChorIes J. Yorbrouoh

Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg,
chief of staff of the Air Force
and lonely defender of it's 143-
wing goal, retired today. High
officials of the Eisenhower ad-
mlnistration were conspicuous by
their absence from the cere-
monies.
Gen. Vandenberg's retirement
marked the beginning of a
change of military high COM
mand sought by Senator Taft,
Republican, of Ohio for a clean
sweep of the Safeguarding
joint chiefs.
At Boiling Field, in jet planes
and on foot across heat-shim-
mering concrete aprons, the Air
Force gave him a farewell salute.
Before appearing to review Air
Force personnel from Boiling and
Andrews Air Force Base, Gen.
Vandenberg sent a message to
all personnel. He was, he said.
confident that you will carry
forward with spirit and deter
mination the unfinished task of
building adequate air power for
the security of our Nation"
$500 View Ceremony.
There were $500 persons in the
stands, among them members of
Congress and representatives of
foreign governments, but not
RusSia's Maj. Gen. Kuvinov, who
was invited.
Also absent, though appearing
on the invitation list, were Presi-
dent Eisenhower, Secretary of
Defense Wilson and Deputy Sec
retary Roger Kyes. Secretary
Wilson left Friday for Michigan
vacation. Mr.. Kyes remained at
the Pentagon.
Ironically, the representative
of Mr.. Wilson's Office at the cere-
mony was Assistant Secretary
w. j. Mcneil, the man the Air
Force blamed for it's fiscal re-
strictions. Mr.. Mcneil is con-
troller of the Defense Depart
ment.
Gen. Vandenberg was pre-
sented the second Oak Leaf Clus-
ter for his Distinguished Service
Medal by Air Force Secretary
Talbot.
Gen. Bradley on Hand.
Gen. Omar N. Bradley, due to
quit as chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff on August 16,
looked on.
It was a colorful show, and a
hot one. The temperature was 81
on the field. Two persons in the
ranks keeled over from the heat
as they posed with Gen. Vanden-
berg and his successor, Gen.
Nathan F. Twining. They were
quickly revived.
Sixty-four jet aircraft-F-84s,
F-94s, F-86s and B-47s-roared
overhead. Gen. Vandenberg gave
the fighters a fleeting glance.
But his eyes semed to linger
on the big, swept-wing BAT
bombers until they were out of
sight.
Gen. Vandenberg is 54 and has
completed 80 years service as an
air officer. He served a full four
year term as Air Force Chief Of
Staff, but former President Tru-
man re-appointed him to q short
term SO he could round out his
30-year military service and be-
come eligible for retirement.
When Gen. Eisenhower took
Office in January. he made no
move either to rename Gen.
Vandenberg or pick him as chair
man of the Joint Chiefs to sue
ceed Gen. Omar Bradley, whose
second term In that office ex-
pires in August.
Chief 143-Wing Man.
With the departure from Office
Of the Civilian Defense and Air
Force heads Of the Truman ad-
ministration, Gen. Vandenberg
became. the chief defender Of
budget proposals to carry the Air
Force toward a goal of 143 wings
by 1855.
Gen. Vandenberg battled be-
fore congressional committees
against the plan Of the admin
istration and Secretary Wilson
to clip IS billion on appropria-
tions in the next fiscal year and
cut the 1855 goal to 100 wings.
The general contended that the
danger of delay was great, that
Soviet air strength and atomic
capability is growing swiftly.
But the battle was going
- OAAk