Mr. SHEPPARD. One of the outstanding presentations you gentlemen made had to do with the conditions by which Congress initiated construction at Lemoore, and it was with the understanding that the air station at Moffett would be closed down. When does the Navy plan to close this station? Admiral SYLVESTER. As I understand it from Admiral Pirie, sir, and I will get a more complete statement on this, is that all of the jet planes will definitely be moved to Lemoore, and as quickly as living accommodations and other items necessary for support can be gotten in there. When I last talked with Admiral Pirie he was not certain whether they would be able to move all of the propeller type planes out of Moffett, but definitely all the jets would be moved out. Mr. SHEPPARD. A sailor has the right to change his mind, but if you read the presentation made before the committee it is very clear. There was a definite and distinct understanding that this requirement would completely supersede the requirements at Moffett. If you have changed your minds I would like a clarification from somebody in authority on this issue and the reasons therefor. Admiral SYLVESTER. I will supply that information for you, sir. (The information requested follows:) The Navy anticipated that it would be possible to move all carrier aircraft out of Moffett Field to Lemoore when that station became fully operational. It is still the intention to do so. When facilities at Lemoore permit removal of these aircraft from Moffett Field, the Navy will no longer require that field. Before this can be done, however, we must provide adequate housing and recreational facilities for the personnel who will be assigned to this remote station. When it begins operation this July, Lemoore will have excellent operational facilities, but only 1,300 Capehart housing units have been authorized to date. Five hundred more housing units, either Capehart or privately constructed, are required to house the families of the men who will man the station. The current outlook for construction of housing by private enterprise is discouraging. The local communities are small and housing projects of the magnitude needed have not materialized. Lemoore's full operational capacity cannot be utilized until more housing is available. Recreational facilities at Lemoore will be grossly inadequate when that station starts operations. Local communities cannot absorb and provide all required recreational facilities for the influx of personnel that will come with Lemoore's opening. Quite aside from the facilities required for the sake of morale, swimming pools, in particular, are required for both morale and health. The temperature of Lemoore is often extremely high. "Valley fever," or coccidioidomycosis, is a problem to be reckoned with by those not acclimated to this area. Doctors state that swimming will greatly alleviate or reduce the incidence of this fever in comparison to such "dust raising" sports as baseball and football. The full capacity of NAS Lemoore will be utilized as fast as it becomes available and it still appears feasible to move all carrier units out of Moffett Field eventually. At the present, the Navy requires the continued use of Moffett Field for carrier propeller-driven aircraft. When facilities at Lemoore permit removal of these aircraft from Moffett Field, the Navy's need for this station will no longer exist. When this will be cannot be predicted with accuracy. Mr. SHEPPARD. You referred to living quarters. What do you mean by that? Admiral SYLVESTER. It was a question primarily of housing there, sir. Mr. SHEPPARD. Admiral Peltier, what is the deadline date when you will be out of there and this will be operational to its complete capacity? Admiral PELTIER. September-October will perhaps be 95 percent operational. I would say give us another 6 months to clean it up. I think some time next spring. I could not guarantee all the housing will be completed by then but most of it will be. Both projects are underway by now. Mr. SHEPPARD. You have a time limit on the housing operation? Admiral PELTIER. The first one will be done. The second one just started about 2 or 3 months ago. They will be almost done by then. Mr. SHEPPARD. How is that housing contractor getting along? Is he actually moving or is he requesting some delays? Admiral PELTIER. The first one was slow in getting started. Now they are coming on the line. Mr. SHEPPARD. The original bid was made on a production line basis? Admiral PELTIER. That is right. He was slow getting started. Mr. JONAS. Does this item include all of the tree planting and seeding which you plan to do in Lemoore? Admiral JOHNSON. So far as we know, sir, this will take care of the requirements. Mr. HANABURY. There may be more later. Mr. JONAS. I heard some criticism of this site some years ago. It was stated it was not only dry and dusty but hot as Hades and you would have a recurring problem of this sort. Mr. SHEPPARD. There are some atmospheric conditions that are not very pleasant, but you will find those in Texas and in New Mexico and others in that general area of the country. You will always get duststorms and other things. Off the record. (Discussion held off the record.) Mr. JONAS. That is all. Admiral JOHNSON. The housing requirements there are considered to be critical, Mr. Chairman. We have 1,300 Capeharts already authorized, as I recall it, and we are trying to get an additional 500. As you know, this is an isolated facility. The nearest towns are small and somewhat far away. This may delay the moving of some of our squadrons over into Lemoore. Mr. SHEPPARD. It might be well if whoever is in charge of this gets rolling right now. You had better get out of Moffett as you told us you would. If you are not making some effort to get out you are liable to wake up and find yourselves short of money. That is just a suggestion for your thinking. Admiral JOHNSON. The request is in to Congress, sir, to give us the authority and the money for the housing. Mr. SHEPPARD. I understand you are adept at selling your require ments. NAVAL AIR STATION, MIRAMAR, CALIF. Mr. SHEPPARD. We will pick up the next item under consideration having to do with the Naval Air Station, Miramar, Calif. Insert in the record page 42. FULL PRESSURE SUIT FACILITY The preliminary engineering for this item was prepared by Holladay & Westcott, Los Angeles, Calif., and is complete. Prorated fee. $2,600. Final plans and specifications have been authorized and are being prepared by the same A. & E. Will be completed July 31, 1961. Fee amount, $5,826. JET ENGINE MAINTENANCE SHOP The preliminary engineering for this item was prepared by Wilson & Wilson, engineers, Los Angeles, Calif., and is complete. Fee amount, $14,500. Final plans and specifications have been authorized and were presented by the same A. & E. Completed October 31, 1960. Fee amount, $42,450. EXTENSION OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM The preliminary engineering for this time was prepared by Kennedy Engineers, Los Angeles, Calif., and is complete. At fee amount, $17,000. Final plans and specifications have been authorized and are being prepared by Hilburg & Turpin, Los Angeles. Completion August 31, 1961. Fee amount, $45,000. (The following was submitted for the record :) The fifth project in this group is covered on page 42 of the program book. It is at the Naval Air Station, Miramar, Calif., and consists of three line items for $2,591,000. This is the second of our two west coast master jet stations. The first line item is for a full pressure suit facility at the estimated cost of $139,000. This is the second of this type of facility in the program. Whereas the first one we discussed at Cecil Field is for support of two squadrons, this facility is to support four squadrons, with a correspondingly higher cost. The requirement is the same to enable pilots and aircrewmen to wear the suits without physiological harm, when they are being briefed or on alert preparatory to operation of high-performance aircraft above 50,000-feet altitude. The next line item is for construction of jet engine maintenance shops at the estimated cost of $1,307,000. Modern high-thrust jet engines must be given periodic maintenance and rework checks. This involves a complete check of the engine, including the electrical system, and requires a production line technique to meet the workload. Availability of on-station jet engine maintenance shops will reduce the number of engines in major overhaul and repair, engines in the pipeline, engine storage and preservation, and shipping costs. Concomitantly, the shop will result in greater engine availability with ready-for-issue engines to the operating forces. The workload consists of engine buildups, hot and cold section repairs and inspection, and internal combustion section repairs. A jet engine maintenance shop has been authorized by the Congress in prior years for construction at each of the other three Navy master jet stations at Lemoore, Oceana, and Cecil Field. The third line item for Miramar is for extension of the electrical distribution system, at the estimated cost of $1,145,000. Since Miramar's designation in 1951 as a master jet station, a number of new structures have been authorized to improve the station's capability to accomplish its mission. The electrical requirements of the additional structures, coupled with increased demands generated by the assigned modern aircraft, have surpassed the capacity of the utility system to supply the needed power. This condition has reached the point where the overloaded system presents an ever-present danger of fire or breakdown of the electrical distribution system itself. This item will correct the deficiencies in the distribution system by necessary extensions and increase of the distribution capacity. Mr. SHEPPARD. Why do you need a bigger pressure suit facility here than at Cecil Field? Admiral JOHNSON. At this facility, Mr. Chairman, we will support twice the number of squadrons, four instead of two. We have a breakdown of the number of squadrons to be supported in each of these four facilities if you would like to have it. Mr. SHEPPARD. Insert that as part of your justification for the request. In other words, you have more people to serve in this operation than in the other. Is that it? Admiral JOHNSON. Yes, sir; and the number of pilots we are trying to take care of. (Information requested follows:) The number of squadrons to be supported in each of the four full pressure suit facility line items are: Mr. SHEPPARD. Last year the jet engine maintenance shop was proposed in the amount of $1,233,000. What has happened in that requirement? Admiral SHINN. I can speak to the requirement. I cannot answer specifically the difference in price. I will have to ask Admiral Peltier. The requirement for the jet maintenance engine shop I can speak to. Mr. SHEPPARD. I just want the cost. Admiral PELTIER. The cost we have here is in line with that in other places. It has gone up $74,000. Assuming a 2 or 3 percent increase for construction costs this is not out of line. This is cheaper than those we built at Cecil and Oceana. The cost is $23 a square foot. Those we built in Oceana and Cecil Feld were about $24 to $25 a square foot. I would have to get the exact breakdown of last year's project to answer you specifically. Mr. SHEPPARD. Insert that in the record when you get it. (The information requested follows:) This item was in the fiscal year 1961 MCON program with an estimated cost of $1,233,000 or $74,000 less than fiscal year 1962. While the estimated cost of the shop building and environment control in fiscal year 1962 is actually less than the fiscal year 1961 figure, there is a net increase of $44,000 resulting from planned installation of modern and improved built-in shop equipment. In the fiscal year 1961 MCON program a turbojet engine test facility which is not a part of the current program was proposed on a site adjoining the jet engine maintenance shop and the cost of common supporting features was charged jointly against both items. In the fiscal year 1962 MCON program the cost for supporting features is chargeable entirely to the jet engine maintenance shop and has resulted in a net increase of $30,000 for such utilities. Accordingly, the fiscal year 1962 MCON item has increased by the $44,000 and $30,000 noted above or a net total of $74,000. Mr. SHEPPARD. Last year Congress eliminated the jet engine maintenance facilities at this location. Has anything happened since then to change the situation as it existed last year? Admiral SHINN. I do not think anything has changed the situation, Mr. Chairman, except we have had more experience with similar facilities at Cecil Field and at Oceana, and they have proven their worth very much in terms of the time out of service that an engine has to have to get minor repairs, the number of engines involved in the operation at the field, and perhaps in terms of costs due to lack of need to ship it away to an O. & R. facility. 708110-61-pt. 15 |