Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-28
Air Force Policy
Revised 10 Meet
Atomic Threat
Readiness Program
CoIIed q Must If U. S.
Is to Survive Attack
By JOHN A. GILES

! Lie All rOECe GOudy dIlIlUuLlCEu
a revised system of production
planning for wartime to meet
the threat of devastating in
dustrial destruction in the event
of a general nuclear war.
Secretary Quarles laid down
the new policy calling for a top
priority assignment for aircraft
and weapons that must be kept
in active production under the
most austere emergency condi-
tons"
The new policy also empha-
sized the need for dispersal Of
production sources to minimize
the dangers of destruction in the
event of an enemy attack.
| Readiness Program Needed
eff, in an emergency. we are
to survive and minimize the
devastation to our Nation. the
traditional concept Of a pro-
llonged industrial buildup after
attack must be replaced with a
readiness program" the secre-
tary wrote in a directive con-
Cured in by the Defense Depart
ment.
1.-The continuous chronological
advancement along with shift
ing international. political and
military policy have dictated
radical changes in our national
strategy. Therefore, new APP
Iproach to industrial support of
our military forces in a national
emergency is essential.
This new approach is essen
tial because, for the first time
in modern history our Nation is
faced with continuing poten-
tial threat Of devastating de-
struction at the outset Of gen.
eral war"
A spokesman told reporters
that I'VE know from studies that
have been made that there would
be severe industrial damage"
early in an atomic war.
/ EmDhasis on Planes
| The seven-page memorandum
to Gen. Nathan F. Twining. air
chief Of staff. supersedes one
laid down in June, 1858. It
specifics that industrial resources
will be concentrated on "the
most important planes and mis-
lsiles, such as those for strategic
bombing and air defense"
Secretary Quarles said such
i"selective planning land produc-
tom Is imperative" because
Sufficient resources are not
available to attain the required
readiness for all aircraft, guided
missiles and support equipment"
To achieve maximum, all
out production" of strategic and
air defense weapons in the first
two to three months Of an
atomic war, the policy sets forth
a concept providing that indus
tries producing top priority
weapons must be able to go into
accelerated production instantly
with the outbreak OF a general
war.
Low Priority Weapons
i A lower priority is assigned to
tactical and support weapons
which would be needed in local
war or in the stages following
the attacks in an all-out nuclear
war.
! Mr.. Quarles ordered an i'm
mediate review Of all current
. and emergency production OF
weapons and supporting systems
Reviews will be made semi
!; annually.
The document says the new
policy would:
! /. Deter war by maintaining
a modern Air Force in being that
can Immediately defend the Ma
ton and retaliate in case OF
attack.
/ 2 Make the United States
capable of rapidly expanding
production.
1 3. Improve induStry's ability
, to maintain or rapidly restore
production Of critical survival
ami retaliation weapon systems
4. Maintain the health of the
aircraft industry as necessary to
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