148 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4^ 



Senator Saltonstall. So that during the period between July 1, 

 1959, and January 1961, you do not know whether the Navy had any- 

 thing to do with it or not ? 



Commander Foster. No, sir; I regret that. I should have clari- 

 fied that. I was speaking only within the period that I was there. 



Senator Saltonstall. Mr. Chairman, I cannot recall w^hether we 

 have had any testimony on that, but I think it would be very im- 

 portant to find out, through correspondence, memorandum, or any- 

 thing else, if the Navy performed any additional work or whether de- 

 ficiences were called to the Navy's attention after July 1959. 



Senator Stennis. Gentlemen, you have heard the observation of 

 the Senator. Would the Navy check its files to see whether any ad- 

 ditional work was done ? 



Commander Foster. I understand that the Secretaiy of the Air 

 Force made such a statement. 



Senator Stennis. We shall check with the Air Force, too, but if you 

 will check, we would appreciate it. 



Captain Davis. Sir, if I may make a point, the Undersecretary of 

 the Air Force, when he testified, stated that from that time on, the 

 Air Force took over contact v»'ith tlie contractors and entered into 

 the contracts for repaii-s. 



Senator Saltonstall. So that from May 1959 the Navy did nothing 

 further on this tow er ? 



Captain Davis. At the site. We may have been consulted at the dis- 

 trict public works offices on various things. 



Senator Saltonstall. You made no examination, no recommenda- 

 tion, for repairs or anything else? 



Captain Davis. No, sir. 



Senator Stennis. I think the Senator's inquiries are very per- 

 tinent. 



Commander, if you have anything covered by the Secretary's state- 

 ment, that is all right. 



Senator Saltonstall. But the Navy did certify that the Govern- 

 ment accepted that tower in November of 1957. When this tower be- 

 gan to shake, the Navy was called back and recommended and super- 

 vised repairs. So that in May 1959, the witness, the commander, 

 again certified that the tower was safe ? 



Captain Davis. Yes, sir. 



Senator Stennis. Admiral Church had indicated he w^ants to say 

 something on that point. 



Admiral Church. Senator, I only know from hearsay and my own 

 review of the records in connection with this that the Navy had 

 nothing to do after the May 1959 certification. But I believe that 

 Captain Wliite, who is the next witness, is in a better position to abso- 

 lutely certify to the committee on that matter, sir. He was a district 

 public works officer and a deputy since that time, sir. 



Senator Saltonstall. May I ask one more question ? 



Senator Stennis. Certainly. 



Senator Saltonstall. Why did the pin tolerances deteriorate as 

 much as they did if it were not due to tower motion or pin slap, if 

 you want to call it that ? 



Commander Foster. Well, I think in my previous statement, I men- 

 tioned only impact. Certainly tower motion w^ould contribute to any 



