COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 155 



TESTIMONY OF CAPT, THOMAS J. WHITE, CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS, 

 U.S. NAVY, DISTRICT PUBLIC WORKS OFFICER, FIRST NAVAL 

 DISTRICT, ACCOMPANIED BY REAR ADM. W. C. G. CHURCH (CEC), 

 U.S. NAVY, ASSISTANT CHIEF FOR CONSTRUCTION, BUREAU OF 

 YARDS AND DOCKS; GORDON EDWARDS, CONSTRUCTION MAN- 

 AGEMENT ENGINEER, BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS; JAMES 

 AYERS, UNDERWATER CONSULTANT; AND CAPT. WILL J. DAVIS, 

 U.S. NAVY, LEGAL OFFICER, BUREAU OF YARDS AND DOCKS 



Senator Sitsnnis. We are glad to have you here, Captain. Do you 

 have a prepared statement? 



Captain White. Sir, I have not. 



Senator Stennis. All right, with the consent of the committee, do 

 you wish to make an opening statement. Captain? 



Captain White. No, sir, other than to introduce myself. I am 

 Capt. Thomas J. White, civil engineer, officer in charge of construc- 

 tion in the 1st Naval District with headquarters in Boston. I am a 

 graduate engineer. 



Senator Stennis. How long have you been the officer in charge of 

 construction ? 



Captain White. I have been district public works officer, sir, since 

 January 1, 1960. Prior to that time, going back to August 1957, I 

 was the deputy district public works officer to Captains Plichta and 

 Husband. 



Senator Stennis. Now, proceed with your qualifications, your pro- 

 fessional qualifications, sir. 



Captain White. I am a graduate civil engineer, 1932, from the 

 Virginia Polytechnic Institute, with a degree of bachelor of science 

 and a civil engineering degree. 



Senator Stennis. That is very fine. That is a good start in life. 



Captain White. Thank you, sir. 



Mr. Kendall. Captain, at what point in time did you first have 

 any connection with the Texas tower program? 



Captain White. In August 1957, when I reported in as deputy 

 district public works officer. 



Mr. Kendall. Since January 1960, you have been the district pub- 

 lic works officer, is that correct ? 



Captain White. That is correct. 



Mr. Kendall. Have you had since that time any correspondence 

 with reference to Texas tower No. 4? 



Captain White. Yes, I have. 



Mr. Kendall. Did you receive by mail a copy of a teletypewriter 

 exchange dated March 1, 1960, which originated from the 551st Air- 

 craft Early Warning and Control Wing? 



Captain White. I received a copy of a dispatch which had been 

 sent from that wing to the Air Force installations representative. 



Mr. Kendall. What generally did that cover, that is, what was the 

 subject matter and the contents ? 



Captain White. I have a copy of that, if you would like me to read 

 it, but it covered generally the fact that an underwater survey had 

 been made of Texas tower No. 4, and it indicated that some repair 

 work was necessary and that this work was of sufficient urgency in the 



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