Senate Unit Calls F‐111 a Fiscal Blunder And Criticizes McNamara and Gilpatric
Sen Investigations Subcom rept submitted by Sen McClellan charges F-111 program is 'fiscal blunder of worst magnitude'; charges former Defense Sec McNamara with repeated mgt errors and deliberate attempts to conceal the truth, and former Deputy Defense Sec Gilpatric and USN Sec Korth with conflict of interest in awarding contract to Gen Dynamics; charges Govt's interest was completely unprotected in contract and says co made early corporate decision to deny there were aerodynamic problems and to conceal enormous growth in craft's weight; says of 500 planes to be built fewer than 100 will come reasonably close to performing as originally intended and that long delays in getting craft to combat units have had adverse effect on nation's defense posture; says US will end up paying $7.8-billion for 500 planes whereas original plan called for 1,700 planes for substantially less; Sen Muskie charges subcom fails to adequately recognize decision makers' problems of balancing promises held out by competing contractors, says errors lay in performance objectives estab by mil and in attempt by contractors to 'push state of art too hard'; McNamara declines comment, citing his position as World Bank pres; Gilpatric denies charges; rept discussed; craft illus
