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Washington D. C. As Viewed
By Your Senator,
A. Willis Robertson
MORE INFORMATION NEEDED ON STRENGTH OF AIR FORCE
The Subcommittee on Armed Services of the Senate Appropriations Committe invited Secretary of Defense Wilson to explain to it this week just how he plans to make our Air Force 30 per cent stronger while cutting its appropriation for the next year by more titan five billion dollars.
Until there is time to study that explanation I am reserving judgment on the wisdom of the proposed cut, but there are certain facts already known which gives me concern.
We know that plans for EDC and NATO land forces in Europe are far behind schedule and there is considerable doubt as to their ultimate strength. This makes it essential fotf us to have an Air Force which is the equal of the Russian force in fighting potential, if not m numbers.
In the summer of 1945 we had 243 air groups. We now have 106 wings (a wing is approximately the equivalent in striking power of what used to be called group). It is generally believed that Russia has more jet planes than we, both fighters and bombers. In comparing our air strength now with what we previously had or with what Russia may have, however, we must, realize that the B-29, which was our principal bombing plane in the last world war is
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