Page:Legislative History of the AAF and USAF.djvu/65

 �This Page Declassified lAW EO12958 its own sea1 which the Secretary was to cause to be made from a design approved by the President. The Army Air Forces, the Air Corps, United States Army, and the General Head- quarters Ar Force (Ar Force Combat Com- mand), were to be transferred to the Urnted States Air Force now estabhshed. There was to be a Chief of Staff, USAF, to be ap- pointed by the Fresdent, from among the general officers of the Air Force, for a term of four years. Under the Secretary of the Ar Force the Ctnef of Staff was to exer- cise conunand over the Urnted States Air Force; to hhn were to be transferred the functions of the Chief of the Ar Corps, the commanding general of the GHQ Air Force, and the commanding general of the Army Air Forces. When the transfer became ef- fective, the offices of the Chmf of the Ar Corps and his Assmtants, and of the Com- manding General, GHQ Air Force, were to cease to exist. The Chxef of Staff of the USAF was to hold a grade and receive al- lowances equivalent to those of the Chief of Staff, United States Army. All commismoned officers, warrant offi- cers, and enlisted men of the Ar Corps and the AAF were to be transferred to the USAF. All others belonging to any com- ponent of the Army of the Urnted States and who were under the authority or com- mand of the Commanding General, AAF, were to be continued under the authority of the Chief of Staff, USAF, and under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force. Personnel whose status was affected by these changes were to retain their com- missions, warrants, or enhsted status, and were not to lose any of the rights, benefits, or priwleges to which they were legally en- titled. A period of two years from the date of the enactment of this legslatmn was al- lowed for transfers of personnel, property, records, installations, agencies, actiwties, and projects between the Department of the Ar Force and the Department of the Army. The USAF was to include both combat and service forces. It was to be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offenmve and defensive air operations. The USAF was to be responsi- ble for the preparation of those air forces necessary for successful prosecuhon of war; and, working m accordance with grated mobilization plans, t was also re- sponsble for the expansion of the peace- tme components of the Ar Force to meet the needs of war. The National Security Act also prowded for the creation of a War Counml composed o the Secretary of Defense, acting as chair- man wth the power of demson; the Sec- retaries ol the three setwoes; the Chief of Staff, USA; the Clmef of Naval Operations; and the Chief of Staff, USAF. The War Councfi was to advise the Secretary of De- fense on matters of brod pohcy relatmg to the armed forces, and to consider and re- port on such other matters as directed by the Secretary of Defense It was provided under the act that the Yomt Chiefs of Staff was to be the hghest staff organmatron n the military estab- lishment. It was to consist of the Chief of Staff, USA; the Chief of Naval Operations; the Chief of Staff, USAF, and the Chief of Staff to the Commander m Chief, if there should be one. The Joint Chiefs of Staff was to act as the pnncipaI mltary adviser to the President and the Secretary of Defense, and as the hgh-level planning group for the National Mhtary Establishment. Under the Joint Chiefs of Staff there would be a Joint Staff of not over 100 officers, to be comprised of apprommately equal numbers of officers from each of the three setwoes. The Joint Staff, under a drector appointed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was to perform such duties as the YCS directed. The Security Act also set up a Mutations Board consisting of a elvihan chairman, appointed by the President, and an Under Secretary or an Assistant Secretary from each of the three military departments. The major functions of the Munitions Board were 1) the coordinatxon oœ the production, procurement, and distribution plans of the departments and agencies in the National Mhtary Establishment; 2) planning for the military aspects of industrial mobihzaton; 3) the standardization of procurement pro cedures; 4) making produchon, procure- THIS PAGE Declassified lAW EO12958