INQUIRY INTO THE COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 



WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1961 



U.S. Senate, 

 Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee 



OF THE Committee on Armed Services, 



Washington^ D.O. 



The subcommittee (composed of Senators Stennis (chairman), 

 Symington, Bartlett, Jackson, Bridges, Saltonstall, and Smith) met, 

 pursuant to notice, at 10:10 a.m., in room 235, Old Senate Office 

 Building, Senator John Stennis presiding. 



Present : Senators Stennis (presiding), Symington, Jackson, Salton- 

 stall, and Smith. 



Staff members, Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee : James T. 

 Kendall, chief counsel ; Stuart P. French, professional staff member. 



Senator Stennis. Members of the subcommittee, if we may, the 

 subcommittee will please come to order. 



Members of the subcommittee, and Mr. Secretary, the chairman 

 has a very brief written statement to make and then a very brief oral 

 addition to that statement. We will then be glad to hear from Dr. 

 Charyk. 



facts surrounding the collapse of TEXAS tower no. 4 



Following an extensive investigation of the facts surrounding the 

 collapse into the Atlantic Ocean of Texas tower No. 4 on January 

 15 of this year, the Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee, today, 

 begins a series of open hearings on the matter. 



What the subcommittee wants to know from sworn testimony of a 

 number of pertinent witnesses is whether Texas tower No. 4 was 

 properly designed, constructed, and kept in repair, and what were the 

 circumstances which may have led to the collapse of the tower by 

 which 28 persons lost their lives. 



CONSIDERATION TO SAFEGUARDS FOR TWO REMAINING TEXAS TOWERS IN 



ATLANTIC 



It is important to remember that we still have two Texas towers 

 Standing in the Atlantic, both of which have civilian and military 

 crews aboard. We must give consideration to all safeguards which 

 may need to be taken regarding these remaining radar platforms to 

 avert another possible tragedy. 



The subcommittee members are aware that the Air Force is con- 

 currently investigating charges which have been preferred against 

 three of its officers and against whom court-martial proceedings may 

 subsequently be instituted. 



