August 16, 1954

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PROCUREMENT

Industry-amc Partnership Tackles Aerial Weapons Systems Complexity

USAF needs far more than the mere airplane with simple gadgets flown in World War II. Today it buys a weapons system, defined as “an air vehicle together with all the related equipment, both airborne and ground based, the skills necessary to operate the equipment and the supporting facilities and services required to enable the instrument of combat to be a single unit of striking power in its operational environment.”

By Claude Witze23 min

178

PRODUCTION

How An Ama Speeds Weapon Production

In the resolution of these problems through efficient coordination with the aircraft industry, the Air Materiel Command and its lower echelons play an indispensable role. B-47 Teamwork—One example of this teamwork is the B-47 program, the largest single USAF postwar aircraft production job, requiring well-coordinated work of an AMC Air Materiel Area and three aircraft manufacturers.

By Irving Stone17 min

234

MAINTENANCE

Keeping Them Flying Is Big Business

Pyramiding up from the solid base of the Air Materiel Areas (AMAs) and the specialized depots is an infrastructure of management, sprawled out among the pillars and posts that mark the office space in the AMC headquarters buildings at Wright-Patterson AFB.

By David A. Anderton16 min

AMA

Ama: Supply at the ‘grass Roots’ Level

Decentralization of AMC functions, together with emphasis on the weapons systems concept, has brought added importance to these AMAs. The Air Materiel Area, once only a supply depot for Air Force bases within its geographical area, now has acquired four important responsibilities.

By Willam J. Coughlin15 min

MANAGEMENT

AMC Streamlines Management Pattern

AMC’s managerial revolution is aimed at helping to solve two relatively new problems faced by USAF. They are: Necessity for building and maintaining an adequate combat force in being, ready to fight at once. This means AMC must support what is essentially a wartime Air Force within the framework of a peacetime economy.

By Robert Hotz14 min

264

MAINTENANCE

Sam-sac Keeps B-36s ‘ready to Go’

Fort Worth—If the whistle blows tomorrow for an all-out shooting war, this country’s ability to administer immediate devastating retaliation would depend largely on the venerable B-36. As the only heavy bomber now in operational service capable of carrying atomic and hydrogen bombs, the Convair giant shoulders responsibility for spearheading the striking power of the Strategic Air Command.

By Frank Shea14 min

352

AMC

Afr 23-2 Defines Amc’s Mission

The following states the basic mission, organization and responsibilities of the Air Materiel Command as spelled out in Air Force Regulation 23-2—the authority under which the Command operates. The AMC Mission. The mission of the Air Materiel Command, consistent with the provisions of Department of Defense directives and specific Headquarters USAF implementing directives, excepting the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of real property, and other matters peculiar to air installations activities covered by separate directives is to: Provide overall logistical support for all activities and agencies of the Air Force as well as those additional activities and agencies designated by the Department of Defense which are dependent upon the Department of the Air Force for logistical support, including the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.

154

LOGISTICS

Electronics to Streamline Af Logistics

AMC is pioneering the application of electrodata machines to the “world’s largest department store and mail order house” (except possibly for sister military services). Compared with a large department store, which may stock 200,000 different items, or the Sears’ catalog which lists 100,000 (considering a range of sizes as one item), AMC handles approximately 1,200,000 different items.

116

PROCUREMENT

How AMC Fights Fraud, Bribery

Basically, the assignment of the Inspection Office is: Analyze and recommend action on reported violations of the “gratuities clause.” Handle inquiries from individual members of Congress or congressional committees concerning Air Force-wide procurement.

By G. J. McAllister12 min

August 91954

August 231954

August 16, 1954

August 16, 1954