RECONSTRUCTION OF AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25247, 28 July 1947, Page 7

RECONSTRUCTION OF AIR FORCE

INSTANT READINESS FOR COMBAT (Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 26. Now that President Truman has signed the bill unifying the armed forces, Air Force leaders will begin a drive to force the new independent but under-sized United States Air Force into a “ready to fight” organisation by the end of 1947, says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” Their objectives will include a maximum build-up of full strength units, the streamlining of the air staff, and ultimately a distinctive uniform and insignia, and perhaps an air academy in the tradition of West Point and Annapolis. The detachment of the air arm from the War Department is regarded as one of the most momentous developments in the history of the American military establishment. Overshadowing air other aims will be the building of an air force which, like the Navy, will always be in fighting trim. Fiftyfive groups will be organised at full strength. This is the limit permitted by the present appropriations, although the authorised strength is 70 groups. The present actual strength is substantially fewer than 55 groups, none of which is fully manned. The new groups will be divided into 19 bomber. 28 fighter, and eight troops’ groups. In manpower, the Air Force has now an actual strength of approximately 305.000 men: although it is authorised to have 401.000. It has set itself a recruiting quota of 15,000 men a month. •