Evening star., 1957-04-19
|b-5S Bombers
To Get Priority,
Wilson Reveals
By JOHN v. HoRNER

Progress in the development
|of B-58 bombers is credited by
Secretary of Defense Wilson as
contributing to a decision to
cut back the production schedule
for the Air Forces B-52s.
After the. department an
nounced a showdown in B-52
output yesterday. Mr.. Wilson
met with reporters and explained
that the B-58 tests are so favor
able that this program will be
supported on a higher priority
basis hereafter.
The B-52 carriers of hydrogen
weapons will be turned out at a
rate Of Is instead of the pre-.
|viously y-announced rate of 20 per
month.
Although the B-58 is classed
as a medium bomber, there has
been talk Of its succeeding the
IB-52. In his news conference
yesterday, Mr.. Wilson declined
to commit himself on specific
plans but said the objective will
be to keep a balance in aircraft.
Order Remains Same
A Defense Department an
nouncement said the total num-
Der OF B-52s on order-603-will
remain the same. The present
plan is simply to stretch out the
production program so that the
full number will not be received
for about six months later than
originally contemplated.
Also. the production of KC-l35
jet tankers will be stabilized at
Is a month. instead of being
stepped up to 20. The Air Force
objective is to have two tankers
for every three B-52s In opera
ton.
This replacement OF older
B-36s with modern B-52 bombers
supported by jet tankers. said
the announcement, greatly in
creases our deterrent striking
power and provides a powerful
restraining force to Communist
aggression"
Secretary Wilson said that IL
Congress trims $516 million of
defense procurement funds from
the 1857 budget-a possibility
suggested yesterday by Presi-
dent Eisenhower-the produc-
ton program for 1858 would not
be hurt. But he emphasized as
Mr.. Eisenhower did. that a slash
of this amount in the 1858 bud
get would have to be followed
by a similar increase one year
later.
Senator Jackson. Democrat
OF Washington. said the an
nouncement about the B-52
stretchout may signal a serious
impact on the economy of the
Pacific Northwest. The Boeinp
aircraft are built at Seattle and
Wichita. Kans.. and the KC-l35s
are built in the Seattle area.
Believed Mistake
The Air Force is making a
great mistake in slowing down
its KC-l35 tanker program 4"
said the Senator. I'VE have a
substantial shortage OF tankers
not Just to refuel B-52s. but also
B-58s and Bats. and a whole
family OF tactical aircraft.
The KC-135 is the only tanker
we have. This Boeing-built
tanker can add Importantly to
the range and combat effective
ness OF our jet aircraft of all
types"
At his news conference. Sec
retary Wilson did not rule out
the possibility that an over
estimate of Soviet Russia's long
range air force strength discoy-
cred recently was a factor in
revising production schedules.
Our intelligence information
is a little different" he said
broadly. He said there has been
an improvement in the B-58
held. but he declined to specify
what.
Secretary Wilson would not
pin-point the date for the
launching of the earth satellite
at Patrick Air Force Base-per-
maps some time next year--but
he indicated plans will be worked
out to permit news coveraee of
the event.
He said the missile develop-
ment program is moving along
about as might be expected !"