e on the vine. We make a big subject of
giving the taxpayers the maximum amount of protection for each
dollar spent, then turn around and support an organization that
would contribute little or nothing in an emergency. It is my own
opinion that it is an unnecessary drain on our national
resources, but for political reasons I presume the organization
must be retained. Therefore, my next recommended solution is to
transfer all of the colored personnel from the Wing Headquarters
staff to the Tactical and Service Organizations within the Wing
structure and replace it with a completely white staff.[11-50]

[Footnote 11-49: Ltr, Brig Gen J. V. Crabb to Maj Gen
Robert M. Lee, Hq TAC, 19 May 48, Hist of Ninth AF,
AFSHRC.]

[Footnote 11-50: Ltr, CG, Ninth AF, to Maj Gen R. M.
Lee, TAC, 18 May 48, Hist of Ninth AF, AFSHRC.]

It is difficult to estimate the extent to which these views were
shared by other senior commanders, but they were widespread and
revealed the tenacious hold of segregation.[11-51]

[Footnote 11-51: For discussion of these views and
their influence on officers, see USAF Oral History
Program, Interviews with Brig Gen Noel Parrish, 30
Mar 73, Col Jack Marr, 1 Oct 73, and Eugene
Zuckert, Apr 73.]

The Ninth Air Force's deputy commander offered another solution: use
"whatever colored officers we have" to run Lockbourne. He urged that
Colonel Davis's absence at the Air War College be considered a
temporary arrangement. Meanwhile, the general added, "we can carry
Lockbourne along for that period of time by close supervision from
this headquarters."[11-52] As Davis later put it, cost effectiveness, not
prejudice, was the key factor in the Air Force's wish to get rid of
the 332d. The Air Force, he concluded, "wasn't getting its money's
worth from negro pilots in a black air force."[11-53]

[Footnote 11-52: Ltr, Brig Gen J. V. Crabb to Maj Gen
Robert M. Lee, Hq TAC, 19 May 48, Hist of Ninth AF,
AFSHRC.]

[Footnote 11-53: Interv, author with Davis.]

The Tactical Air Command's use of black troops is always singled out
because of the numbers involved, but the problem was common to nearly
all commands. Most