Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 July 1950 — Page 17

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By CARL HENN HY far is Indianapolis from Russia? How secure is the capital of Indiana from attack by enemy forces? Residents of this metropolitan area in the heart of the North American continent may think they are separated by half the globe from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In reality, Indianapolis is within 18 hours’ flying time of Russia's nearest known air base capable of supporting long-range bombers. On Wrangel Island, north of the easternmost tip of Siberia, lies a Russian bomber field within the Arctic Circle. On the map, the island may appear to be an icecovered speck of land, inaccessible to any but explorers. ¥ ~ ~ » » » SUCH is not the case. No matter what the difficulties, Soviet Russia apparently has managed to build and supply an airfield from which to launch bombers on a flight across the roof of the world to the United States. There is no certainty such a flight is contemplated by Red airmen. It would be costly, with results open to speculation. No crewmen or planes could be expected

to survive the mission if it were directed against the

Middle West. Yet—it could happen here.

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cal’ areas of the United States demanding all possible protection. Its choice as a target for an A-bomb or Hbomb is unlikely. In war-time, the situation could change. World War III may begin with Russian attempts to strike at our most vital spots with atomic weapons. Military men charged with protecting us are working to prevent such attacks.

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WHAT DO they say concerning the protection of In-

dianapolis? They say Indianapolis, while in a relatively safe posi: tion, is not invulnerable. It is unlikely that Russia (or any nation) has developed guided missiles with an accurate range exceeding 500 miles. The range of such missiles should not exceed 1000 miles in the “forseeable” future.

ELIMINATION ot this method still leaves us open

to attack by air. >

The best heavy bomber known to be possessed by

‘Soviet Russia in quantity today is the TU-4, a copy of our B-29 “Superfortress.” Its range in Russian hands is

to east to reach Indianapolis, Soviet planes would never get here. The distance would be far too great. By the ‘great circle” route, the circumstances

change. »

» » » » » THE MOST direct lines connecting Indianapolis with five known Russian bomber bases lie, not east and west, but almost north and south. The lines cross the Arctic Circle on either side of the North Pole. Wrangel Island is separated from us by approximately 3914 miles . . . and 18 hours. Markovo, in Siberia, where another bomber base is believed to be established, is 4414 miles away . . . 20 hours through the air, Yakutsk, farther to the west in Siberia, has an airfield. It lies within 5437 miles, or 24'% hours, of Indianapolis. In western Russia, bombers can take off from near Moscow, 5344 miles and 24 hours from us, and from Murmansk, which is 4609 miles through the air from Monument Circle, or 21 hours of flying time.

ALTHOUGH range of the TU i is believed varely

enough to reach from Wrangel Island, the nearest point,

to Indianapolis, we have no assurance that improved versions, of our old B-29 have not been developed by Stalin's aeronautical engineers. Another factor, to consider is the possibility of re-

INDIANAPOLIS today is not listed among the “criti- fueling in mid-air.

This operation has been developed to a fine point by the U. S. Air Force, which not long ago sent a B-36 around the world without landing to refuel. To detect the presence of approaching planes while still far from our heartland, the United States and Canada have planned to stretch a radar net along the far northern borders and down each coastline.

- » ~ - . ~ » IF THESE early warning stations were already built and manned, our defenses could be alerted in time to prepare for interception and battle. However, an initial appropriation of funds was not made by Congress until this year, when $50 million was allotted to begin purchase of radar sites. The Air Force says $125 million will be needed to complete the job.

Of the first million, $39 million goes to Alaska. ‘Thousands of radar sites have been chosen. Some stations are being built. |

An inner network of radar stations supplemented by civilian “spotters” to identify and plot the course of hostile aircraft i is being prepared. “a LOCATION of warning and interceptor "stations: is secret. However, control centers will be located at Ross-

Im, N. Y.; Anchorage, Alaska; Billings, Mont.; Schenée-

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Only Rosslyn is operating now. Indiana’s civil defense program—like that of every other state in the union—exists at this time mostly on paper. - ? The Indianapolis Times revealed Tuesday no connecting links have yet been erected between warning stations and key point warning centers. As a result, every man has to be his own air warden. » » = » » » MANY MONTHS before the war broke out in Korea, tentative plans for defense of state and nation were established. First line of defense is manned by U. S. armed services. Second line is held by the National Guard and the third by civil defense workers and, possibly, a new state militia. The air raid warning system is planned to comprise 250 stations throughout the state, each having about a one-mile radius to cover. Each will be manned by civilian personnel trained by the Air Force. In the event hostile planes are sighted, interception will be made by U. S. Air Force and National Guard fighters guided by radar to the enemy. Air battles would be purely fighter-vs.-bomber, since Russia cannot send fighter cover for her heavy planes. ~ ” » » ” » ANTI-AIRCRAFT weapons presumably would be trained on attacking bombers, although no information has been released on locations of the guns. All foregoing probabilities could take place by day or at night. Radar sees through darkness as well as daylight. The anti-aircraft guns we have today are aimed and fired by radar. - But military men do not agree on the time of day and kind of weather Russian air experts might choose in which to send their engines of destruction roaring toward civilian targets. Some say the Reds would choose the worst possible weather in order to -avoid detection and interception. Others say a bright, cloudless day would be picked to aid pin-point bombing, necessary because Russia probably would never get a second chance..

» . . » ~ . WOULD THERE be one plane, or many? A convincing case can be made for a one-plane, sneak

attack. It would have a far better chance to evade de-

tection than an armada of bombers. The lone invader would have opportunity to hit only one city but its effect, no matter where it struck, would be devastating both materially and psychologically.

._.. Not since the Civil War have United States citizens

war really was like on their own soil. Insu-

known what war

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Photo-diagram by John Buicklemire, Heme? E. Glesing p and . Hugh n ODonnet By flying across the frozen roof of the world, Russian TU-14 bombers from known airfields could tireaten the security of Indianapolis and the Mid west

Bombers 18 Hours From Industries Here

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on Chicago, or Detroit—or Indianapolis—might cause panic and hysteria far beyond the stricken city's borders, # w » » ~ . NEVERTHELESS, another body of military opinion holds that a bombing raid would be as large as Russia can muster and would strike as many cities as possible almost simultaneously. : Air Force intelligence officers estimate Russia today possesses no more than 400 TU-4’s, compared to our 1500 B-29's in service and 1000 more in mothballs. Most Soviet aircraft production has been in the field of fighters and attack bombers S capable of tactical troop support. Production of TU-4’s now is believed to average 20 : a month, giving Russia at least 500 long-range bombers by Christmas. No one can say how mAny of them the Red air force is willing to sacrifice—40 say nothing of crews—in order” to strike the first blow if it is possible.

» » » ” » » . A GLANCE at the map above will demonstrate that the bombers, sweeping down in two directions from some or all of the known air bases, could cripple production in the industrial North. The bombers, if undetected or unintercepted, could sweep over Duluth, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee, Chicago, Racine, Gary, Hammond and Indianapolis, to name some of the cities lying beneath the western * ‘great circle” route. Coming over the eastern path, the droning behemoths could destroy the Sault Ste. Marie locks between Lalie Superior and Lake Michigan before striking at Detroit, Lansing, Flint, Toledo, Cleveland, Ft. Wayne . . Indianapolis. With the advent of atomic fission, it became unneoehgary for all the planes in a bombing raid to release their loads over a single target in order to insure destewtih; 2 One bomb to a city—especially true should Rusia £ velop the H-bomb—would be necessary. » ” . » 0» WHAT IF Russian scientists have manufactu a few A-bombs, if any, and no H-bombs so far? They still have explosives capable of causing destruction and fire bombs to gut a city, to say no of gas attacks and waging of biological warfare. The Russian planes, even if refueled on th here, could never hope to return to their bases. this, the pilots might not have to resort to cer at high levels. They sould dive st the.

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