Page:Airmobility 1961-1971.pdf/33

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GROWTH OF THE CONCEPT
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events in Washington were occurring which would have a profound influence on the future of airmobility.[1] Some of the events which greatly influenced an increasing use of airmobility included the reorganization of the Army divisions, an increase in the number of divisions, the Berlin buildup and call up of reserves, insurgency operations in general, and additional requirements for Army-type aircraft in military assistance programs throughout the world. The Army found that the requirements for its aircraft outpaced current procurement and deployment of aviation units depleted the inventory in the Continental United States.

In late September 1961 Secretary of Defense McNamara reviewed the Army aviation plans and indicated tentative decisions concerning procurement of Army aircraft and the number of Army aviation companies. Uneasy over his tentative decision in this matter, he sought further information. On 4 October he conferred with General Clyde D. Eddleman, Army Vice Chief of Staff, Brigadier General von Kann, Director of Army Aviation, and Major James J. Brockmyer, Army Aviation Action Office. During this conference he sympathetically questioned the Army program, especially the Bell utility helicopter program, stating that he felt the procurement was strung out too many years. If the Army really needed these helicopters and its design offered many advantages over the current models, he felt the early procurement of large numbers would best serve the national interest.

As a result of this conference and the previous study effort of his own staff, Mr. McNamara sent a short memorandum to the Secretary of the Army on 5 October requesting a study of all Army aviation requirements. As part of this study, he desired an Army evaluation of his previously proposed cuts in the Army aviation program. He asked for a progress report by 20 October and a final report by mid-November.

General von Kann, as Director of Army Aviation, began to compile his own report of the entire Army aviation program and a forecast for requirements for aircraft through 1970. By the time Mr. McNamara's memorandum reached the Army Staff, this report was well underway. General von Kann's report and the reclama of the proposed reduction in Army aircraft procurement constituted the Secretary of the Army's answer to the Secretary of Defense.


  1. ↑ After living with the early problems of airmobility for six full years, it was a disappointment to me that I would be out of the mainstream of airmobility actions for the next exciting two years. I was promoted out of my job was Deputy Director of Army Aviation in the spring of 1961 and served as Chief, MAAG, Ethiopia until 1963, I was then fortunate to return to the Pentagon as Director of Army Aviation.
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