Pace-Finletter MOU 1952 facts for kids

The Pace-Finletter MOU of 1952 was an important agreement signed on November 4, 1952. It was made between Thomas K. Finletter, who was the Secretary of the Air Force, and Frank Pace, the Secretary of the Army. This agreement changed the rules for what kind of aircraft the U.S. Army could use.

Before this, there were limits on how heavy helicopters the Army could fly. The Pace-Finletter MOU removed these weight limits for helicopters. It also allowed the Army to use helicopters for more types of tasks. However, it also set a strict 5,000 pound weight limit for any fixed-wing aircraft (like regular airplanes) the Army wanted to use. This means that even today, the U.S. Army depends on the U.S. Air Force to buy and operate larger fixed-wing ground-attack planes for missions like close air support, which helps soldiers on the ground.

Why the Agreement Was Needed

After President Truman created the Department of Defense, a big change happened. The U.S. Army Air Forces, which used to be part of the Army, became its own separate branch: the U.S. Air Force.

The Air Force mainly focused on controlling the skies and using powerful long-range weapons. But the Army still needed its own aircraft to help its soldiers on the ground. This led to a problem: both branches wanted air capabilities, which could mean buying the same types of planes. To avoid this, Secretary Finletter of the Air Force and Secretary Pace of the Army met to work things out. Their meeting resulted in the Pace-Finletter MOU on November 4, 1952. This new agreement built upon an earlier one called the Key West Agreement.

What the Agreement Said

The Pace-Finletter agreement was a detailed document that set clear rules for Army aircraft. Here are the main points:

• Purpose: The agreement made sure the Army could use aircraft for its needs on land. It also made sure these Army aircraft would not do the same jobs as the U.S. Air Force.
• Army Aircraft: The Army could use aircraft that helped its ground forces. This included fixed-wing planes (like small observation planes) that weighed no more than 5,000 pounds when empty. For helicopters, there was no weight limit.
• Army Aircraft Jobs: The Army's aircraft were allowed to do specific jobs. These included:
  • Observing enemy positions and terrain.
  • Helping to control Army forces.
  • Carrying out command, communication, and courier missions.
  • Laying communication wires in combat areas.
  • Transporting supplies, equipment, and small groups of soldiers within the combat zone.
  • Moving injured soldiers from the battlefield to treatment centers.
  • Helping with artillery targeting and mapping.
• Air Force Jobs: The Air Force would provide larger air support for the Army. This included:
  • Transporting Army supplies, equipment, and personnel from outside the combat zone into it.
  • Evacuating personnel and equipment out of the combat zone.
  • Moving troops and supplies during airborne operations.
  • Evacuating injured soldiers from treatment centers in the combat zone to hospitals outside it.
• Combat Zone: The agreement defined the "combat zone" as the area where ground forces fight. It usually extended about 50 to 100 miles deep.
• Future Changes: The weight limit for Army fixed-wing aircraft could be reviewed later. This would allow for changes based on new technology or missions.

What Happened Because of the Agreement

Many people believe this agreement was very important for the United States Army Aviation Branch, which was officially created in 1983. Before 1983, different types of Army aircraft were managed by various Army branches. For example, cargo helicopters were managed by the Transportation Corps, and attack helicopters by the Armor Branch.

The Pace-Finletter agreement allowed the Army to really focus on developing and using helicopters. This led to the Army becoming very skilled in helicopter operations.

However, some people also say that this agreement caused the Air Force to pay less attention to supporting ground troops. They argue that the Air Force focused more on other types of missions. One example often mentioned is the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, also known as the "Warthog." This plane is very good at providing close air support for ground forces.

Before the First Gulf War, the Air Force considered getting rid of all its A-10 planes and replacing them with the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. But the First Gulf War showed how valuable the A-10 was for close air support. It also showed that the F-16 was not as effective in that role.