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1963-64
28-35

AN

NOV La 1964

HEARINGS BEFORE THE

ΜΑΙΝ
READING ROOM

SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL

MILITARY AIRLIFT

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

JULY 29, 31, AUGUST 1, 7, AND 8, 1963

Printed for the use of the House Committee on Armed Services

99.066

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1963

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
CARL VINSON, Georgia, Chairman

L. MENDEL RIVERS, South Carolina
PHILIP J. PHILBIN, Massachusetts
F. EDWARD HÉBERT, Louisiana
ARTHUR WINSTEAD, Mississippi
MELVIN PRICE, Illinois

O. C. FISHER, Texas

PORTER HARDY, JR., Virginia
CHARLES E. BENNETT, Florida
RICHARD E. LANKFORD, Maryland
GEORGE HUDDLESTON, JR., Alabama
JAMES A. BYRNE, Pennsylvania
SAMUEL S. STRATTON, New York
JEFFERY COHELAN, California
VICTOR WICKERSHAM, Oklahoma
OTIS G. PIKE, New York
JOE M. KILGORE, Texas
RICHARD H. ICHORD, Missouri

LUCIEN N. NEDZI, Michigan
CLARENCE D. LONG, Maryland

EVERETT G. BURKHALTER, California

A. FERNÓS-ISERN, Puerto Rico

LESLIE C. ARENDS, Illinois
WALTER NORBLAD, Oregon

WILLIAM H. BATES, Massachusetts
ALVIN E. O'KONSKI, Wisconsin
WILLIAM G. BRAY, Indiana

BOB WILSON, California

FRANK C. OSMERS, JR., New Jersey
CHARLES S. GUBSER, California

FRANK J. BECKER, New York

CHARLES E. CHAMBERLAIN, Michigan
ALEXANDER PIRNIE, New York
DURWARD G. HALL, Missouri
DONALD D. CLANCY, Ohio

KOBERT T. STAFFORD, Vermont
ED FOREMAN, Texas

RICHARD S. SCHWEIKER, Pennsylvania

ROBERT W. SMART, Chief Counsel

SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL MILITARY AIRLIFT L. MENDEL RIVERS, South Carolina, Chairman

WILLIAM G. BRAY, Indiana DURWARD G. HALL, Missouri

MELVIN PRICE, Illinois O. C. FISHER, Texas

ROBERT W. SMART, Chief Counsel

II

[No. 28]

HEARINGS BEFORE SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL MILITARY AIRLIFT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES,

SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL MILITARY AIRLIFT,

Washington, D.C., Monday, July 29, 1963. The special subcommittee met at 10:02 a.m., Hon. L. Mendel Rivers, chairman of the special subcommittee, presiding.

Mr. RIVERS. Let the committee come to order.

Before the subcommittee members of the committee and gentlemen, before the subcommittee begins testimony of the scheduled witnesses, I have a few brief remarks I would like to make.

In the first place, I would like to emphasize the fact that the subcommittee does not minimize the importance of these hearings. Mr. Smart, this is an executive session, isn't it?

Mr. SMART. Yes, sir.

Mr. RIVERS. On the contrary, the subcommittee attaches major importance to them. It is for that reason that the subcommittee has scheduled as witnesses the ranking civilian officials and officers in the Department of Defense.

I am pleased to note that the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who are to be our first witnesses, have seriously interested themselves in these hearings and are present to personally give their views to the subcommittee. That is precisely the way we want it.

Ås all of us know, our previous study of military airlift, with emphasis upon strategic airlift, resulted from the appointment of a special subcommittee by Chairman Vinson on January 29, 1960. I had the great honor and pleasure of being chairman of that subcommittee, and I am pleased that four of the members of that subcommittee are members of the present subcommittee. That gives us background and continuity which will undoubtedly make these hearings more meaningful.

After a month of preparation we opened our 1960 hearings, and as the facts unfolded the subcommittee came to the unanimous decision that we should not await conclusion of the hearings before taking positive action to support the pending proposal for the SOR, and to do whatever we could for the interim modernization of MATS through the procurement of then available aircraft.

As a consequence, and by direction of the subcommittee, I appeared before the House Appropriations Committee on March 30, 1960. In a top secret statement I reviewed the situation which we had found, recommended the appropriation of $50 million in support of the SOR, and recommended the appropriation of $335 million for the procurement of 50 C-135's and 50 C-130E's.

At that time there was no sentiment whatsoever in the Defense Establishment for the support of interim modernization of MATS, and there was open hostility in some quarters outside of the Defense Establishment. But, by the time the appropriations bill had been completed, we had been successful in appropriating $50 million for the SOR and $200 million to begin the interim modernization of MATS.

While much has been said in many quarters about modernizing our military airlift, it remains a fact of record that this was the first definitive action which was taken to accomplish that result. So, I trust it is not immodest for me to say that the subcommittee is certainly proud of its constructive contribution to this phase of our military capability.

When the $200 million was appropriated in 1960 for interim modernization, it is pertinent to note the restriction that was placed on the appropriation. Sufficient funds to procure the 50 130E's was earmarked for that sole purpose. Since the 130E procurement required about $170 million, there was not a sufficient amount left to begin any meaningful procurement of the 50 C-135's. That restriction served to further advertise both the reluctance and hostility to the modernization of military airlift. But, shortly thereafter new faces came on the scene and military airlift was accorded the importance which it deserved. As a consequence, our recommendation for the purchase of 50 C-135's was promptly implemented and funded. In addition, many additional C-130E's were programed for both MATS and TAĆ. We were indeed grateful for these actions and would be remiss if we did not give credit where credit is due. That credit belongs to Secretary McNamara and I am pleased to so state this at this time.

During these hearings it will be the intent of the subcommittee to continue its study of airlift with total objectivity and in an effort to make additional contributions. The subcommittee proposes to review and study the airlift mission, its problems and progress; airlift requirements and capabilities, as they apply to each of the military services; airlift concepts, the current status of forces, future programs, the capabilities of MATS to meet requirements as approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and to review the mission of Stricom and its airlift requirements.

It is clear from the agenda that a detailed consideration of tactical air is not scheduled during these hearings. That subject has been intentionally omitted because it becomes deeply involved in the recommendations of the Howse Board and the recommendations of the Disosway Board. The subcommittee recognizes that those recommendations are undergoing tests which will not be completed for some time, and we would not wish to either prejudge or prejudice the outcome of those tests by opening the subject at this time. On the other hand, we recognize that more than 100 C-130E's are currently programed for TAC. They obviously have a dual capability and in their strategic role could augment MATS. So, it will be pertinent to these hearings to consider the degree of strategic augmentation which TAC can give to MATS.

Before we call the first witnesses I would like to give as much guidance as I can to those who are scheduled as witnesses.

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