Truman Library, Truman papers, PSF–Subject file
Memorandum by Major General R.B. Landry to the President1
Here are a few highlights which spell out briefly the effect of a cut in appropriations for the Air Force2 for the FY1953, which you suggested I submit to you prior to your meeting with Mr. Vinson this afternoon.
Under your budget submitted to the Congress, the Air Force would have received $19,233,000,000 for the FY1953. Under the $46,000,000,000 expenditure limitation by the Congress, the Air Force would receive $17,400,000,000, or a reduction of $1,833,000,000.
Insofar as the Air Force is concerned, such a reduction will bring about very serious and far-reaching effects. For example, such a reduction for FY1953 will severely reduce the activation, manning and equipping of air combat units provided for by the President’s budget. The attainment of a modern 126 combat wing force would be delayed approximately 18 months.
Breaking this down further, the Air Force had planned on attaining a total of 96 combat wings by the end of FY1953; only 83 combat wings can be provided with the reduction in funds. In FY1954 the Air Force had planned to attain 120 combat wings; only 98 combat wings can be provided under the reduced funds. The Air Force had planned to reach 120 combat wings by December [Page 10] 31, 1955; with reduced funds this cannot be achieved until approximately June 30, 1957. Such a further delay on the top of the previous year stretch-out would be most serious.
Under expenditure limitations, aircraft production would have to be substantially reduced. This amounts to the elimination of 3,000 aircraft (approximately 27%), during the period January 1, 1953 to June 30, 1954. This reduction on top of the previous stretch-out would produce havoc in the industry and probably make it necessary to shut down at least one medium bomber, two jet fighter and three transport and training production facilities, as well as two engine facilities. Obviously the waste that would occur in the build up of production facilities would be enormous. Then, too, our production capability to meet an all-out war, instead of being improved will have been crippled, insofar as our air power is concerned.
The effect upon labor would be very harmful in that labor forces would have to be reduced, including some located in critical employment areas.
Under this limitation of funds, substantial quantities of combat ammunition would have to be deferred for 12 months. The serious danger here need hardly be mentioned further.
There are other items and activities which I shall only mention in passing which will be seriously affected and will not be possible of procurement until after FY1953 with this limitation in expenditures. These are:
- a.
- Substantial quantities of ground support equipment and ground electronic equipment for the control of aircraft in the defense of the United States.
- b.
- The capability of the Air Force to maintain its equipment and aircraft in a satisfactory and safe condition would be substantially reduced.
- c.
- Stock levels of maintenance materials and consumable supplies below minimum safe levels required for present forces would result (to say nothing of the additional forces which are contemplated).
Mr. President, in my judgment the results of the expenditure limitation on the Air Force, as a consequence of the $46,000,000,000 expenditure limitation passed by the House, constitutes more than a calculated risk and might well wreck our entire preparedness program and threaten our National security.3
- Landry was Air Force Aide to the President.↩
- Following President Truman’s submission of his annual budget to Congress on Jan. 21 (see footnote 3, p. 3), the Department of Defense requested an appropriation of $50.9 billion, $1.5 billion less than the obligational authority requested by the President in January. On Apr. 3, the House Appropriations Committee recommended a $46.7 billion military budget. Cuts totalling $4.2 billion from the Defense request included $1.7 billion in Army requests, $1 billion in Navy requests, and $1.5 billion in Air Force requests. Further cuts on the House floor reduced military appropriations to an even $46 billion. (Congress and the Nation, 1945–1964, vol. I (Washington, Congressional Quarterly Service, 1965), p. 270)↩
- No reply to this memorandum has been found. Senate action on military appropriations at the end of June resulted in a bill appropriating $46.4 billion, and a conference with the House. The conference report carrying a $46.6 billion appropriation was approved by voice votes in both houses on July 5. (Congress and the Nation, p. 271)↩