missions are ones which are specifically requested by the Air Force and fall within definitely defined categories. The detailed statement which I have heretofore submitted to this committee, and to which I referred earlier in this statement, mentions missions flown by Civil Air Patrol pilots for civil defense. These activities are performed upon specific request of the Air Force. Civil Air Patrol participation is controlled and directed by Civil Air Patrol officers at all times. These missions constitute a very small part of the Air Force-authorized missions, but, in order to come within the provisions of the proposed legislation which we are now considering, these and all other missions performed by Civil Air Patrol members must be specifically requested by the Air Force. Air Force regulations specifically provide that no mission can be considered in this category unless prior formal request is made by the Air Force. The exact beginning and ending of any such mission is accurately recorded. Any other activity, not specifically requested by the Air Force, cannot be considered an Air Force-authorized mission within the provisions of this proposed legislation even though specifically requested by any other agency of the United States and regardless of its benefit to our Government and our people.

Let us consider now the future cost of this proposed legislation.

As to the survivors of Civil Air Patrol members killed during World War II, a fairly accurate estimate may be made of future costs, particularly during the next few years. Information concerning the number and ages of claimants under the civilian war benefits program has been obtained from the Department of Labor which administers this program. This information, and an analysis of it, is contained in tables I to VII, inclusive, which are attached to this statement. believe that these tables are self-explanatory.

I

Table VIII indicates the current rate of compensation for survivors who become beneficiaries under the Federal Employees Compensation Act, computed upon the basis of an assumed pay of $300 per month. This is the amount which is recommended be adopted by Congress as a basis for computing compensation under this proposed legislation if it is enacted.

Using the numbers of claimants under the civilian war benefits program (see table VII) as a basis, the future cost of the Civil Air Patrol compensation bills may be computed fairly accurately. The cost for the last 6 months of 1955 would be $19,530. For 1956, it would be $38,925. The cost for each succeeding year would decrease until 1963, when all children who had been drawing compensation would have become 18 years of age. Only 13 widows would thereafter be entitled to compensation, the total cost being $21.060 per year. This assumes, of course, that none of the beneficiaries would have died or married within this period. These figures represent maximum costs. Under the retroactive provision of the proposed legislation, if enacted, beneficiaries under the civilian war benefits program would be entitled to future compensation at the rates provided in the Federal Employees Compensation Act, but no compensation would be paid for any period prior to the date of the enactment of these bills. In other words, the proposed legislation would be retroactive only as to eligibility and not as to compensation.

Eligibility for compensation under the civilian war benefits program ceased on April 20, 1945. As to survivors of Civil Air Patrol members killed during Air Force-authorized missions from this date to December 31, 1954, a completely accurate estimate of the cost of this proposed legislation cannot be made for the following reasons: Records of such fatalities occurring between April 20, 1945, and December 31, 1947, are not immediately available. Fairly accurate information is available for 1948 and 1949. Available information as to fatalities occurring during 1950 to 1954, inclusive, is considered completely accurate as to the number of such fatalities. No record exists, however, as to the number or ages of such deceased personnel who would be eligible for compensation under this proposed legislation if it is enacted.

The average number of survivors of each Civil Air Patrol member killed during World War II who claimed compensation under the civilian war benefits program was a widow, aged approximately 35 years, and 2 children whose ages averaged 8 years and 1 month. (See Table VI.) Using this same number of survivors for personnel killed during the period from January 1, 1948, to December 31, 1954, but using the ages of 6 and 10 for the 2 children, we can make some estimate of the cost of this proposed legislation as to such survivors. The yearly cost is detailed in table X. This computation is, of course, largely theoretical, since it is based upon assumptions as to survivors set forth above, plus the assumptions that all of such survivors would claim compensation, that 50 percent of the widows would remarry within 5 years after the deaths of their husbands, as they did after World War II (see Table VI), that the remaining 50 percent of the widows would

never remarry, and that none of the survivors would die during the period covered by the computations in this table. You will note that the estimated cost for the last 6 months of 1955 would be $16,920. For 1956, it would amount to $33,300. For each year thereafter, the amount would decrease annually until the cost was finally reduced to $11,340 for 7 surviving widows in 1966. It would remain at this figure for subsequent years, subject to being further reduced by the remarriage or death of any of these survivors. I know of no way to compute this phase of possible future costs in any more accurate manner. As in the case of survivors of personnel killed in World War II, the retroactive provision of this proposed legislation would apply to eligibility for compensation and not for the payment of past compensation.

As to survivors of Civil Air Patrol members who may be killed during Air Forceauthorized missions after January 1, 1955, there is, of course, no positive way to predict the future cost of this proposed legislation if enacted. In the 4-year period from January 1, 1951 to December 31, 1954, a total of 10 Civil Air Patrol members lost their lives in the performance of Air Force-authorized missions. This constituted an average of two and a half lives lost annually. Two more members were killed shortly after January 1, 1955, and 2 more were killed during June of this year. For our purposes, let us assume that we may have as many as four casualties annually in the future. This assumption is based upon the fact that the number of Civil Air Patrol senior members and the number of those members who have been pilots has remained fairly constant (yearly average, about 33,000 senior members, of whom about 13,000 were pilots) for the past 4 years. This assumption is also based upon the extent of current Air Force-authorized missions performed by Civil Air Patrol. Using this figure of four fatalities per year as a basis, and the numbers and ages of survivors used in computing the cost for survivors of personnel killed during 1948 to 1954, inclusive, we can arrive at some estimated cost. I refer you now to Table XI attached to this statement which indicates a hypothetical future cost as to these survivors. This table is, of course, entirely theoretical and is based upon and subject to the same assumptions and contingencies used in computing the costs enumerated for survivors of the postwar fatalities in Table X. Again, I know of no other way to compute this phase of possible future costs in any more accurate manner.

Table XII attached to this statement is a recapitulation of tables IX, X, and XI. This computation is based upon the assumptions and is subject to the contingencies mentioned in connection with the three preceding tables. You will note in paragraph 4 of the note to this table, that a possible initial increase in cost of $5,000 is provided for the last 6 months of 1955; $10,000 increase for 1956; and decreasing additional annual costs to 1959, when such costs level out at approximately $5,000 per year. This possible increased cost is to cover any fatalities which may have occurred during the period April 20, 1945, to December 31, 1947, for which there is no available information at the present time.

With further reference to table XII, there will unquestionably be a future date at which the cost will reach a peak, and the number of additional beneficaries each year will equal the number who become ineligible due to death or remarriage. It is impossible to predict the cost of the program at this peak, but I believe that a fair estimate would be in the neighborhood of $175,000 per year.

Finally, let us consider the possible future cost from a standpoint of those Civil Air Patrol members who are partially or permanently incapacitated as a result of accidents occurring during Air Force-authorized missions.

Four members filed claims for compensation under the civilian war benefits program. One claimant had lost both legs and was granted and is still receiving compensation under this program at the rate of $85 per month. A second claimant lost 1 leg and was granted $30 per month, which has been reduced to $20 per month at the present time. These 2 persons would presumably receive $200 or $225 per month, depending upon whether they had any dependents, under this proposed legislation. A third claimant under the civilian war benefits program received compensation under that program until his death from other causes in June 1950. Presumably, survivors, if any, of the first two claimants will be entitled to benefits, after the deaths of the claimants, under this proposed legislation if enacted. However, the possibility of such survivors and the possible amount of compensation is considered too speculative to warrant an estimate of such costs. Survivors of the third claimant would not be entitled to compensation since his death was not due to the injuries for which he drew compensation.

A fourth claimant under the civilian war benefits program suffered an injury which caused one leg to become shorter than the other. He has been paid $60 per year for special shoes since 1944. Since his incapacity presumably does not impair his capability for supporting himself and his dependents, he would receive no compensation under the bills which we are considering, if they are enacted. As to Civil Air Patrol members incapacitated during the postwar period, the detailed statement concerning these bills, which I referred to in the opening part of this present statement, indicates, year by year, from 1948 to 1954, the number of serious injuries resulting from accidents during Air Force-authorized missions. Practically all of these cases were head injuries, which is a common form of injury resulting from crashes of the light, single-engined aircraft used by Civil Air Patrol members. However, although these injuries are considered serious, those which do not result in death rarely cause permanent incapacity and would not warrant compensation under this proposed legislation if enacted. This same consideration would apply to all such injuries occurring after January 1, 1955, and the cost of this proposed legislation as to such injuries is too speculative to warrant an estimate. However, I believe that such cost would be negligible in comparison to the cost of compensation to the survivors of Civil Air Patrol members killed during Air Force-authorized missions, and the final figure of a peak cost of $175,000 per year for the entire program would, in my opinion, cover any additional cost of the program due to permanent injuries of Civil Air Patrol members.

Bear in mind, gentlemen, that these bills relate only to injuries and deaths occurring during Air Force-authorized missions and do not relate to accidents occurring during other Civil Air Patrol activities, which involve at least 3 or 4 times as much more flying.

I trust that I have furnished you will full and complete information concerning this proposed legislation. I assure you again that Civil Air Patrol is not petitioning for compensation for the services which are rendered by its members for our Government during Air Force-authorized missions. These services are voluntary. Civil Air Patrol does ask for protection and compensation for those unfortunate few who are disabled and the survivors of those who lose their lives during such missions. The enactment of this proposed legislation will accomplish this end. Thank you.

TAPLE I.-Original claimants under civilian war benefits program

TABLE IV.-Widows who did not claim personal compensation

Widow (331), plus 2 1 (7)

Widow (33), plus 2 4 (13, 8, 7, and posthumous)

1 Age at date of claim.

Plus-( ) indicates number and age of child or children at time of claim

TABLE V.-Widow who has died since making claim

Widow (491), with no children, died after 10 years at age 59. 1 Age at date of claim.

TABLE VII.-Current ages and compensation of claimants under the civilian war

benefits program

1 Either no children or no children eligible for compensation at time of claim.

TABLE VIII.-Current rates of compensation for survivors under Federal Employees

Compensation Act

[Based upon assumed monthly pay of $300]

1 When a widow and 1 or more children survive, the widow receives 40 percent of the monthly pay, plus 15 percent for each child, not to exceed 75 percent. Each child's compensation ceases when he dies, marries, or reaches the age of 18, or, if over 18 and incapable of self-support, becomes capable of self-support. Payable until the child dies, marries, or reaches the age of 18, or, if over 18 and incapable of self-support, becomes capable of self-support.

For the first child, 35 percent plus 15 percent for each additional child, not to exceed 75 percent, the payments being divided equally among the children. Each child's compensation ceases when he dies, marries, or reaches the age of 18, or, if over 18 and incapable of self-support, becomes capable of self-support.