be a reflector setting out in the middle of the water area. It would afford no training from that standpoint. The type of scored activities that are required to be trained on this range just indicates that it requires that we actually have a land area in which to do it. Mr. WINSTEAD. This target area also serves a great area, doesn't it? This is not just for local training down there, but you serve a terrific area with this target range? Major BEALS. This area includes the combat-ready units, Air Force units from Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and Seymour Johnson in North Carolina, and various Navy units from up and down the coast who will be using this area. Mr. WINSTEAD. This is a very important project for the Defense Establishment? Colonel YATES. Yes; it is. Mr. WINSTEAD. It is one of these things that you have got to have someplace? Major BEALS. That is correct. It is the only way in which we can complete our combat capability for these units that are presently without a range. Mr. WINSTEAD. Mr. Stratton. Mr. STRATTON. No questions. Mr. WINSTEAD. Without objection, this project will stand approved. Thank you. Mr. SLATINSHEK. The next project is Air Force acquisition No. 34, involving the Detroit Air Force contract management district. (The report of Department of the Air Force acquisition No. 34Detroit Air Force contract management district is as follows:) DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE ACQUISITION REPORT No. 34, FEBRUARY 28, 1963 Submitted pursuant to section 2662 of title 10, United States Code Name of installation: Detroit Air Force contract management district. Interest: Leasehold acquisition of fiscal year 1963 (April-June 1963) with the right to renewal until June 30, 1968. Use: General office space. Area: 38,000 square feet. Estimated cost: $90,000. Authorization: Reorganization Plan No. 18 of 1950 (H. Doc. 523, 81st Cong.) Appropriation: Independent Offices Appropriations Act, 1962, approved August 17, 1961. Act of July 1, 1962, 76 Stat. 125, as amended. 1. This is to report that the Air Force plans to renew the leasehold providing for the continued occupancy of 38,000 square feet of general purpose space in Detroit, Mich., for the Air Force installation listed above. 2. The space now occupied by 252 people is in the Essex Wire Building, 6233 Concord Street, Detroit, Mich., and is leased by General Services Administration under GSA lease No. GS-05B-6220, at an annual cost of $78,660 ($2.07 per square foot). The anticipated 14.4-percent increase to $90,000 ($2.37 per square foot) is considered normal for the Detroit area. Of the available space, 35,295 square feet is occupied by the Detroit contract management district, 2,435 square feet by the Auditor General, and 270 feet by the Office of Special Investigation (OSI). The contract management district is responsible for administration of contracts, including production, quality control, cost analysis, and property control, industrial planning, liaison with the assisting contractors in the completion of Government contracts. GSA has advised there is no Government-owned space in this area that would be suitable for this organization. 3. The existing lease expires under its own terms on March 31, 1963. 4. The renewal of this leasehold has been approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics). Mr. SLATINSHEK. Colonel Yates. Mr. WINSTEAD. Let me ask, for the sake of time, if your statement largely pertains to the project we have before us, I think each member has had opportunity to read the project. Colonel YATES. Yes. Mr. WINSTEAD. And in order to expedite the matter, unless there are questions or objections, since we do have a copy of this project. And so far as I know, Mr. Slatinshek, there is no objection registered? Mr. SLATINSHEK. No, sir; no objection to this project. And there is one remaining project. Mr. Chairman, Air Force disposal No. 86, involving Chennault Air Force Base, La. This is the Louisiana project before the committee. Mr. WINSTEAD. This other one will stand approved, then, without objection. We will take up that one at this time. (The report of Department of the Air Force disposal No. 86Chennault Air Force Base, La., is as follows:) DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE DISPOSAL REPort No. 86, DECEMBER 31, 1962 Submitted pursuant to section 2662, title 10, United States Code Name of installation: Chennault Air Force Base, La. Using service: Strategic Air Command. Former use: Base for B-47 wing. Area: 3,549 acres, of which 2,884 are owned in fee and 665 acres lesser interests. Original cost: Land. Improvements. Total... $870,000 50, 130, 000 51, 000, 000 1. This reports an Air Force proposal to dispose of the Chennault Air Force Base, Calcasieu Parish, La., approximately 3 miles east of Lake Charles, La. The base will become excess to Air Force requirements as a result of its phasedown of the B-47 weapons system. This base was originally programed for disposal in 1961, but its deactivation was postponed as a result of the Berlin buildup. It will be inactivated and excess to the Armed Forces requirements on June 30, 1963. No other Air Force requirement exists for the base and both the Army and Navy have indicated no requirement for it. 2. The base was originally activated in 1942 as the Lake Charles Army Flying School on land made available by the Calcasieu Parish. It was reactivated in June 1951 as the Lake Charles Air Force Base, and renamed in November 1958 in honor of Maj. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault. 3. Major improvements on the base include an 11,465-foot runway, the facilities and structures normally used to support a medium-bomber operation, and 185 sets of adequate public quarters. The total cost to the Air Force was approximately $51 million; the current estimated fair market value is approximately $11 million. The estimated annual custodial and maintenance cost of retaining the installation on an inactive status is $90,000. 4. The Corps of Engineers will be requested to effect the disposal through the General Services Administration in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Air Force does not contemplate acquiring any land in the vicinity of this installation in the foreseeable future. 5. The disposal of this installation has been approved by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics). Colonel YATES. Air Force disposal project No. 86, Chennault Air Force Base, La. Chennault Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles east of Lake Charles, La. in Calcasieu Parish (county). The land area of the base is approximately 2.884 acres in fee; lesser interests such as clearance easements over the approach zones, and so forth cover 665 acres. The amount of U.S. investment in the installation is approximately $51 million. This is represented by an 11,465-foot heavy-duty runway, some 1,301,000 square yards (281 acres) of hard-surface taxiways and ramps, and approximately 341 buildings, having a gross area of 2,104,000 square feet. The buildings are hangars, shops warehouses, administration, recreational, and miscellaneous support structures. Also included are 185 sets of public family quarters. The major facilities are in good condition; although several World War II facilities are still in use. The annual cost of maintaining and operating the base is $3,707,000 (not including pay and allowances.) Chennault is the home of the 68th Bombardment Wing (M), which flies the B-47 airplane. The B-47 weapons system has been in use for 12 years now, and it is obsolescent. As a result, we are phasing down our B-47 program. Part of this phase down is the deactivation of the 68th Wing. The 68th was originally programed to deactivate in spring of 1962. Its deactivation was delayed due to the Berlin buildup. As a result of Air Force programing actions during the past year, we know now that we will not have a requirement for the base even in the event of another such quick buildup. The 68th will deactivate. on April 1, 1963, and its support units will be phasedout by June 30, 1963. At that time, we will have no further requirment for the base. Chennault was one of our primary installations; we do not program the disposal of such an installation without first being doubly sure that we have absolutely no programable requirement for it in whole or in part in the foreseeable future, and we are now programing 5 years ahead. We have screened the disposal of this base with both the Army and the Navy. Neither of these services has a requirement for it. Therefore, the Department of Defense considers the base excess to its requirements. The actual disposal of the base will be effected by the General Services Administration in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Corps of Engineers will act as our agent in this matter. We cannot at this time tell whether the base will be transferred to another Government agency, a State or community agency, or to private parties, or whether it will be disposed of as a whole or piecemeal. In any event, the local communities effected by the closing of the base will be given all reasonable assistance in making up for the effect of the loss of the base on their economies. The full resources of the Office of the Economic Adjustment Adviser within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (I. & L.) is actively working to assist the local communities in finding new, productive uses for the facilities to be released. The annual cost of retaining the base on an inactive status will be approximately $90,000. This includes custodial care and the minimum physical maintenance necessary to prevent undue deterioration of the facilities. Your favorable consideration of this proposal to dispose of the Chennault Air Force Base is respectfully requested. If there are any questions I will be glad to try to answer them. Mr. SLATINSHEK. No, sir. The committee had formerly requested the Department of the Air Force to delay the project for 60 days, and the 60-day period will expire March 28 of this month, and we have received no further objection from anyone to disposal of the project. Mr. WINSTEAD. Any questions by any member of the committee? If there is no objection, then this project stands approved. Colonel YATES. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. SLATINSHEK. Will everyone leave the room; the committee would like to go into executive session. Mr. WINSTEAD. The meeting is recessed, subject to call of the Chair. (Whereupon, at 12:15 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned.) |