COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 129 



Mr, Kendall. January 1, 1957 ? 



Cominander Foster. Yes, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Who were your immediate superiors ? 



Commander Foster. They varied. Captain Kandig, the district 

 public works officer, was my principal superior. His deputy was Cap- 

 tain Plichta. 



Mr. Kendall. Were there any othei'S during your tour at Boston ? 



Commander Foster. Upon Captain Kandig's retirement in June 

 1957, Captain Plichta was elevated to the position of officer in charge 

 of construction. Captain Thomas Wliite became the deputy, al- 

 though I am not certain that this occurred simultaneously. Captain 

 Plichta later retired and was relieved by Captain Husband. 



I would like to refer here for the date, sir. I do not have that in 

 my head. 



Mr. Kendall. I think that will be sufficient, Commander. 



Did your authority as the officer in charge of construction include 

 the approval or disapproval of requested change orders in design and 

 construction procedures ? 



authority or ofeicer in charge of construction defined 



Commander Foster. My authority, sir, was rather defined in the 

 negative. It was all of the authority possessed by the officer in charge 

 of construction except that which he was not allowed to delegate by 

 law. These items concern matters other than of a technical nature. 



Mr. Kendall. If you will excuse me, Commander, that answer to 

 me is not responsive, because I do not know what the duties of the 

 officer in charge of constraction are. 



Commander Foster. I am sorry. Counsel. 



Mr. Kendall. So if you will answer specifically as to whether or 

 not your authority included the power to approve or disapprove 

 change orders requested during the course of construction, I will 

 appreciate it. 



Commander Foster. I believe that the change order itself was 

 signed by the officer in charge. However, the preparatory work in 

 connection with it was done by myself. 



]Mr. Kendall. Did you have the authority to make that decision 

 yourself without reference to higher authority ? 



Commander Foster. I considered that I did, and in those cases 

 where I did, it was never questioned. 



Mr. Kendall. Now, you had nothing to do with the change whereby 

 the temporary platform was eliminated and the permanent platform 

 was substituted ? 



Commander Foster. I did not, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Did you have anything to do with the change 

 whereby the driven pilings were eliminated ? 



Commander Foster. ISfo, sir. 



Mr, Kendall. The principal change, as I understand it, which 

 you approved, was the increase of the tolerances in the pin connec- 

 tions, is that right ? 



Commander Foster. That was one, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. What were the other principal changes that you 

 approved ? 



