52 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 



Captain Albers. Tlie award was made by the Bureau of Yards and 

 Docks, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. You were not personally responsible for the 

 awards ? 



Captain Albers. No, sir. I was responsible for the taking and the 

 receiving of the bids, however, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. Who was responsible to see that the contrac- 

 tors did their work well ? 



Captain Albers. That was my responsibility, or the responsibility 

 of the officer in charge of construction. 



Senator Saltonstall. Now, Mr. Anderson testified this morning 

 that his firm did not go down there to see if the work was being 

 properly done. 



Do you agree with that testimony ? 



NAVY HAD responsibility FOR QUALITY CONTROL 



Captain Albers. That is correct, sir. It is customary for us in the 

 Navy to have resident officers in charge with an inspection staff to see 

 that the contract is completed as designed. 



Senator Saltonstall. And that was done in this instance? 



Captain Albers. I presume so. I w^as not there for the construction 

 of this particular Texas tower No. 4 after it was started. 



Senator Saltonstall. What was your change in assignment ? 



Captain Albers. The staff of the commander of the Striking Force, 

 Southern Europe, in Naples. 



Senator Saltonstall. I didn't get that. 



Captain Albers. Commander, Striking Force, Southern Europe, in 

 Naples. 



Senator Saltonstall. So before this tower No. 4 was constructed, 

 you were out of Boston ? 



Captain Albers. That is correct, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. Who took your jDlace ? 



Captain Albers. A Commander Foster. 



Senator Saltonstall. And he was responsible, then, for the con- 

 struction of Texas tower No. 4 ? 



Captain Albers. That is correct, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. And is Commander Foster here ? 



Captain Albers. No, sir. I understand he is in Guam, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. We will have him at a later date, Mr. Chairman. 



Senator Saltonstall. Now, Counsel, unless you want to change 

 your plans and ask questions, we will see the movie. I suggest we 

 proceed with the movie. 



Mr. Kendall. Before they start the movie, let me ask you this 

 question : Did the Air Force have any responsibility for the construc- 

 tion of either the superstructure or the structure supports? 



Captain Albers. That was a Navy responsibility. 



I was quoted in the morning testimony as saying the Air Force was 

 responsible for the superstructure. The Air Force was the customer, 

 and they were quite interested in, and had a right to be, in the layout 

 of the facility insofar as location of living facilities, messing facil- 

 ities, the amount of power, and the utilities required for their radar, 

 and so forth. 



