SIZE OF UNITED STATES AIR FORCE OF GREAT IMPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 May 1949, Page 5

SIZE OF UNITED STATES AIR FORCE OF GREAT IMPORT

A 48-Group Force Thought To Be Deterrent To An Enemy

NEW YORK, May 2 (Rec. 5.30 pm).—General Hoyts Vandenberg, Air Force Chief of Staff, said in Indianapolis tonight that a 48-group Air Force could do no more than guarantee the prevention of early defeat and bring hope of eventual victory.

“Military officials hope and trust that this will be a sufficient deterrent to prevent a conflict,” he said. President Truman’s military budget provides for only 48 air groups The Air Force had 59 groups on January 1, 1949, and had sought 70 groups. The House of Representatives has approved a Bill providing for 57 air groups, but the Senate has not yet acted on the measure. General Vandenberg said the Air Force planned for 14 of the 48 groups

to be strategic bomber groups, including four equipped with 836, the world s largest bomber. “American strategic air power is primarily a deterrent to war, and a means of quick retaliation against aggressors,” he said. “It a conflict were forced upon us our strategic bomber force would f pass from the role of a deterrent to that of heavy retaliation. Oui insurance against defeat and our hope of future victory would depend in large measure upon the effectiveness of this attack.’-