Armed forces

While endorsing plans to build up the Air Force to 66 groups, Secretary of the Army Kenneth Royall told the Senate Appropriations Committee that an enemy nation does not need a large fleet to seize bases in Alaska or the Azores from which to attack the United States by air. From: Beth Gore

Frank Pace, Jr., (right), is sworn into office as the new Secretary of the Army by Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson (left), as witnessed by Left to Right, background: Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snyder; Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson; former Secretary of the Army Gordon Gray and Secretary of State Dean Acheson (barely visible).