ADDRESS OF WELCOME 
T. J. Killian 
Office of Naval Research 
It is a pleasure and a privilege to participate in opening a meeting that is a landmark 
in the steady growth of a truly international scientific community. Although this symposium 
is the third sponsored by the Office of Naval Research in the field of hydrodynamics, it is 
the first of a whole series, I am sure, to take place in Europe. 
Certainly Europeans have made outstanding reputations for themselves in advancing 
hydrodynamics research. With enthusiastic support from private industry, especially in the 
hydrofoil area, Western European laboratories are coming forth with a steady stream of 
new ideas. 
This week we will have the pleasure of hearing reports on recent progress and the 
latest approaches to the basic problems in this field. I am sure you are anticipating with 
great interest, as I am, the promising papers on the symposium agenda. You will hear from 
the top people in hydrodynamics research on both sides of the ocean. Although there will 
be some emphasis in the development of hydrofoils, other important areas will also be 
discussed. 
In the case of the U.S. Navy, you will hear from specialists in the Bureau of Ships 
which, with the Office of Naval Research have joined together to solve the knotty problems 
of achieving high speed hydrofoil craft. The Office of Naval Research or ONR, as we are 
generally known, is also concerned with basic problems in hydrodynamics. Since ONR is a 
unique organization and not well understood even in the United States and as Chief Scien- 
tist of ONR, I think it would be appropriate to give you a brief review of our operation and 
our raison d'etre. 
The U.S. Navy is well aware that the revolutionary nuclear powered, guided missile 
fleet of the future we now have under construction is more than anything else a product of 
science. We recognize that the design and production of an advanced piece of equipment 
does not begin until the scientist tucked away in his research laboratory has some time 
before worked out the principle in theory. 
This search for new knowledge, which we call basic research, is one of the primary 
concerns of ONR. This organization was established at the end of World War II to make 
certain that the Navy would have the advantage of the latest scientific knowledge in design- 
ing and building its postwar fleet. At the same time, the Navy felt it was essential that 
much of the valuable research undertaken by civilian scientists before the war should be 
continued when the war ended. 
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