July 8, 1947
9:20 A.M. Arrive office.
9:25 A.M. General Gardner and General Power – approved restrictions on flying due to gasoline shortage so that the Air Force would be in a tenable position if it became necessary to curtail civ. gas consumption.
9:30 A.M. Gen. LeMay & Dr. Bowles – briefing for JRDB meeting.
9:50 A.M. JRDB Meeting with General LeMay.
12:15 P.M. Returned – then to Mr. Symington with reference to personnel for the President's Air Board.
12:45 P.M. Lunch.
1:30 P.M. Returned.
1:50 P.M. Colonel Moore on phone who stated Senator Guerney stopped him in the hall and said they were starting hearings on the three million six hundred thousand dollar cut in flying pay.
2:10 P.M. Gen. Rawlings advised Colonel Moore that the cut was okay as we had reduced the number of people on flying status. Also advised Colonel Moore that Sen. Guerney had been sent the letter of June 20 that went to the rest of the members of the committee with reference to flying pay.
2:30 P.M. Mr. Chalmers Hall on phone with reference to a study he is going to present to Senator Vandenberg with reference to the security of this country. Read his plans in detail to Gen. Vandenberg and the General advised him that all the things contained in his study were in the new bill on unification – that it had all the elements he was plugging for.
3:00 P.M. General Lyon on phone with reference to the cases of Major John M. White and Gerald R. Johnson for transfer to the Air Forces. All transfers by War Department direction have been cancelled as of 31 March. In the case of Major White there will be no trouble in event if the merger goes through and recommend this case be held until then. Johnson was recommended against by General Fairchild.
3:10 P.M. Air Marshal Goddard
3:25 P.M. Senator Cabot Lodge on the phone with reference to increased appropriation to call for 70 Groups. (1) Was the 70 Group Program cleared by the Budget or not? Gen Van said no—were cut down to 55 Groups. (2) Can you have someone in your office write an argument as to why it should be 70 Groups? Gen Van advised him