B47’s TO GO

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 11

B47’s TO GO

Subsonic Rombers

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 15.

The United States confirmed today that it intended to begin withdrawal of 847 nuclear bombers from overseas and American bases this year.

The end of the subsonic medium bomber planes was signalled by the tiefence Secretary (Mr Robert McNamara) in testimony before the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee last month.

He said that the planes, kept on constant alert at bases circling the Soviet Union, would be gradually “phased out” of the forces □ver the next several years, although some of them could be kept in service if the need should arise. The withdrawal of the 847 will follow the dismantling of Thor missile sites in Britain and Jupiter sites in Turkey and Italy and their replacement by Minutemen inter-continental ballistic missiles in the United States and Polaris submarines in the Mediterranean. Mr McNamara told the committee that all 14 of the 852 nuclear bomber wings operated by the Strategic Air Command would be maintained because long-range bombers would be useful, even in the missile age. for follow-up attacks on enemy targets The shift of 847 bombers from overseas bases was expected to be completed by the latter half of 1964