The CHAIRMAN. I do not want him to tell anything in open session that he feels is classified.

Secretary MACINTYRE. I say a certain proportion of the force could now get off within 30 minutes or less. Also certain portions of the force can be on alert on exercises in other areas outside of the Zone of the Interior, and also able to get off. But it is not nearly enough a proportion to suit us.

The CHAIRMAN. Now here is what worries me, Mr. Secretary: Of course, everyone wants to give you all the authorization necessary to meet your military missions. But are we wasting and can we use the $200 million after the man-operated airplane begins to fade away? Will it be so it can be used in the missile field?

Secretary MACINTYRE. I do not necessarily conceive that the manoperated aircraft are going to be entirely read out of the picture.

The CHAIRMAN. Of course that may be true, but nevertheless, if it so happens that the increased missile capability discounted readiness of the Strategic Air Command, could you use those facilities in the missile field?

Secretary MACINTYRE. The support facilities at SAC bases are being used right now in our plan for initial sites.

For example, we are putting an Atlas squadron not at Fairchild Air Force Base, but in that area, representing a separate target from the base. But the missiles will be at a site away from the base, which, however, will be used as the barracks and the support facilities for the personnel who will operate at the missile sites.

The CHAIRMAN. Then, can the House be advised that all this money being spent $200 million

Secretary MACINTYRE. Well

The CHAIRMAN. If the missile can begin to eliminate manned aircraft, it will not be wasted but can be utilized in the missile program. Secretary MACINTYRE. I would like to answer that this way: I have no question but it is absolutely necessary to spend this money for two reasons: One, in the immediate future, over a given span of quite a few years, it is essential that we be able to get as much of SAC as possible off the ground, on very short alert. This program is completed by this $200 million.

Furthermore, beyond that period, no one can now foretell the exact composition of the force structure. But I would like to suggest to you, sir, that when that period is reached, it may well be that one of the most effective uses of long-range missiles is through their marriage to the aircraft as a platform from which they will be launched in a way which represents virtual invulnerability to attack.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, you said one thing I want to pinpoint. Now you said this $200 million will complete the ability of the SAC to get off the ground, is that correct?

Secretary MACINTYRE. That proportion

The CHAIRMAN. Then the committee can understand next year when you appear here, you will not be asking for any money to enable SAC to meet its military mission?

Secretary MACINTYRE. We are saying that we believe this substantially completes that program which we consider essential to enable a good proportion of the presently programed SAC force to get off the ground on a very short alert.

The CHAIRMAN. Then

Secretary MACINTYRE. And that this money should complete that planned program except for perhaps a few odds and ends that may appear.

The CHAIRMAN. All right.

Now we have the record clear on that. So next year when you come back here, why, we will not expect to see an item along that line, from your statement, which is in the bill today, is that correct?

Secretary MACINTYRE. You may have a small item.

The CHAIRMAN. What?

Secretary MACINTYRE. You may have a small item to complete some odds and ends.

The CHAIRMAN. All right.

Secretary MACINTYRE. But it will be very minimal.

Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Chairman, in that connection there, would the chairman let the Secretary indicate what type of construction, generally speaking, would be germane to this completion project?

Secretary MACINTYRE. Well, I think General Rentz can explain the details on it.

The CHAIRMAN. All right, General.

This is very important information right in this connection. How would this $200 million now be spent, contributing to the ability of SAC to get off the ground?

General RENTZ. If you remember, Mr. Chairman, when we submitted the 1958 supplemental program, we initiated the relocation of 11 KC-97 squadrons.

The CHAIRMAN. That is right.

General RENTZ. I told the chairman and the committee at that time that we would complete this relocation in the 1959 program.

The 1959 program contains $21 million for the relocation of these KC-97's. At that time we will have 11 KC-97 squadrons relocated in the northern area of the Zone of Interior so they can more competently fulfill their mission.

At the same time we presented the 1958 supplemental we initiated the SAC alert program. We requested and received approval for $25 million for SAČ alert facilities. That is the configuration at the end of the runway for the aircraft, the personnel facilities, and so forth. At that time I told the committee that the total cost of this program would be approximately $100 million and we would complete it with the 1959 military construction program.

This request contained $80 million to complete the SAC alert program, as we envision it today. It does not include any aircraft shelters. It may be necessary in the northern climates to request aircraft shelters in later programs. That is the only item that this SAC alert package does not contain.

The CHAIRMAN. Then we can understand that probably you will have the shelters presented in the next bill, next year, and that will not cost very much.

General RENTZ. Mr. Chairman, I would not even say we are going to have the shelters presented. Strategic Air Command is at the present time making a study to see if they can operate in this climate without shelters.

The CHAIRMAN. Then the committee can understand that the main things in the bill next year will deal with missiles.

General RENTZ. I think that is substantially so.
The CHAIRMAN. That is right.

I am glad we worked ourselves around to it.

Secretary MACINTYRE. Missiles, personnel, and perhaps some improvement, Mr. Chairman, in the foreign area.

The CHAIRMAN. All right. Now, when we get in the missile field, it does not involve such enormous cost for ground facilities as it does in connection with man-operated aircraft?

Secretary MACINTYRE. That is only true, sir, so long as we place our sites for the missiles in reasonable relation to existing bases, so that the support facilities of those bases can be used for the personnel and so forth.

That is what we are trying to do. But there may well be a need for a separate new base or so with its own support facilities. We are going to try to keep that to a minimum, so that we can use existing support facilities.

The CHAIRMAN. Of course, you always have to have certain types of airplanes from which we fire certain types of missiles.

Now you have all the facilities to meet that requirement necessary, in the way of runways and facilities?

Secretary MACINTYRE. I would not say all so far as the tactical end is concerend abroad.

The CHAIRMAN. Well, you are meeting all your requirements today. You are not asking for anything along that line now in the bill?

Secretary MACINTYRE. I think there might be other things that we would like to have, but which, at the moment, have been deferred. The CHAIRMAN. All right.

Then the committee can be forewarned that next year we will probably be dealing more with missiles and missiles constantly on, and that all the facilities for SAC are going to be buttoned up and finished in 1959 ?

Secretary MACINTYRE. On the alert and dispersal; yes, sir.

You must understand that the intercontinental missiles are assigned to SAC as an operational matter. So the missile money of the future will go to SAC.

The CHAIRMAN. I understand that. I understand SAC handles the ballistic missiles. But the ballistic missiles have no relation to man-operated aircraft by SAC right now.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary. If there are no further questions, we want to thank you very much.

Secretary MACINTYRE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, the next witness is

Mr. KELLEHER. General Rentz, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. General Rentz, Deputy Director of Installations. Oh, yes. He is our right-hand man.

General RENTZ. Thank you, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. We have such a list of witnesses-so many dignitaries, I didn't know who was who.

Now, General, it is always a pleasure to have you before the committee. You are a very effective advocate of the various provisions of the bill, and forthright. The committee always welcomes you to present your views.

General RENTZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. That is, at the beginning anyhow.

General RENTZ. Yes, sir. [Laughter.]

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, Secretary MacIntyre has presented the status of major Air Force program objectives, forces, and weapons systems and the significance of Air Force base development in the attainment of those goals. My statement will provide greater details of the content of the Air Force fiscal year 1959 military construction authorization request, show how the various projects relate to overall Air Force requirements, and also show our progress and plans for provision of bases and facilities needed to properly support the forces, weapon systems, and operational objectives.

Status of base requirements: As Secretary MacIntyre noted in his statement, the Air Force, as an autonomous service, started out with a total of 131 installations in 1948. Since that time, and as part of the significant increase in the size of the Air Force and its increased missions and responsibilities, there has been a tremendous growth in the size and complexity of the Air Force base structure. As of December 31, 1957, the number of active bases had increased to a total of 276 major installations, of which 163 were inside the United States, 11 were in United States Territories and possessions, and 102 were in other overseas locations. In addition, Air Force activities were located on over 3,000 minor locations including the numerous sites of the North American aircraft control and warning network. The total number of major installations, under current plans, will remain approximately the same through fiscal year 1961, the end position against which the fiscal year 1959 military construction program is based.

The fundamental base structure has been substantially established. The problem now facing the Air Force is to adapt the existing base structure to the requirements of new weapon systems and concepts, including facilities for dispersal and alert of the strategic forces and the fitting of operational missile facilities into the existing base structure as far as practicable. Concurrently, we must provide the shortages in base personnel and support facilities for these new missions and eliminate the operational and support deficiencies for the existing missions.

Although certain adjustments are being made in the composition of the forces and in base deployments, existing bases are being adapted to the extent that no new major bases are being initiated in this program, although there are several new radar sites in the program. The request for new authority provides for construction at 158 major installations, of which 108 are inside the United States and 50 are outside the United States. In addition, the program provides facilities at a number of other sites and locations, including A. C. & W. network projects, facilities for the development, testing, and operation of missiles, and classified facilities at various locations.

I would like to run through the program summary, Mr. Chairman. Of the figure $986,271,000, $525,101,000 is inside the United States; $118,670,000 is outside the United States; $317,500,000 is for missiles; $25 million is for unforeseen construction. Then we have $4,372,000 for the Air Academy. And the increased authorization for prior

year projects, known as deficiency authorization, is $13,411,000. Making a total of $1,004,054,000.

Of the $986,271,000 of new construction provided by this bill, $525,101,000 represents named projects inside the United States and $118,670,000 are for projects outside the United States. In addition, the major portion of the missile authorization will be utilized inside the United States.

These figures, however, still do not give a full picture of where the proposed projects in the program will be constructed. Of the $118 million shown for outside the United States, $28,525,000 are in United States Territories and possessions, and $42,751,000 are for projects on the North American Continent which directly contribute to continental defense. This leaves only $47,394,000, or less than 5 percent of the total program, for projects in what we would term "foreign" countries. This annually decreasing ratio of foreign construction in the Air Force program is in line with the progress being made to improve the intercontinental strike capability of the Strategic Air Command and the increased contributions of their self-defense by our allies.

In previous years, it has been the custom to present our program as it relates to construction for the various Air Force major commands. This method of presentation has lost a major part of its significance under current and planned deployments since nearly every Air Force base, although assigned to and administered by one of the commands, has several missions and houses and supports the operations of major units of other major commands.

We can no longer think in terms of SAC units being only on SAC bases or ADC units being only on ADC bases. For example, a traditional ADC fighter interceptor base now also has become the home of a SAC heavy-bomber squadron and its supporting tanker refueling squadron in addition to its ADC fighter squadron.

It is considered more appropriate and useful to the committee, therefore, to present and discuss the content of our construction program by the program objective which the construction supports or, as we have termed it, by "package." However, to permit relation of this program, as in the past, to the bases of the major commands to which they are assigned, I have included the following table which summarizes the program by major command.

I will not read that, Mr. Chairman, but I will go directly to the program objective summary.