PUBLIC LAWS-CH, 343 -JULY 26, 1947 Rank of Chief of list of the Army, Navy, and Air Force: Provided, That nothing in Chief of Nval Oper- this Act shall have the effect of changing the'relative rank of the ations. present Chief of Staff, United States Army, and the present Chief of Naval Operations. Tnransfer of person- (C) All commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted men, commissioned, holding warrants, or enlisted, in the Air Corps, United States Army, or the Army Air Forces, shall be transferred in branch to the United States Air Force. All other commissioned officers, war- rant officers, and enlisted men, who are commissioned, hold warrants, or are enlisted, in any component of the Army of the United States and who are under the authority or command of the Commanding General, Army Air Forces, shall be continued under the authority or command of the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, and under Status of personnel. the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force. Personnel whose status is affected by this subsection shall retain their existing commis- sions, warrants or enlisted status in existing components of the armed forces unless otherwise altered or terminated in accordance with exist- ing law; and they shall not be deemed to have been appointed to a new or different office or grade, or to have vacated their permanent or temporary appointments in an existing component of the armed forces, solely by virtue of any change in status under this subsection. No such change in status shall alter or prejudice the status of any individual so assigned, so as to deprive him of any right, benefit, or privilege to which he may be entitled under existing law. (d) Except as otherwise directed by the Secretary of the Air Force all property, records, installations, agencies, activities, projects, and civilian personnel under the jurisdiction, control, authority, or com- mand of the Commanding General, Army Air Forces shall be con- tinued to the same extent under the jurisdiction, control, authority, or command, respectively, of the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, in the Department of the Air Force. ery, re of propds etc. (e) For a period of two years from the date of enactment of this Act, personnel (both military and civilian), property, records, installations, agencies, activities, and projects may be transferred between the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air . Air Forc. Force by direction of the Secretary of Defense. (f) n general the United States Air Force shall include aviation forces both combat and service not otherwise assigned. It shall be organized, trained and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The Air Force shall be responsible for the preparation of the air forces necessary for the effective prosecution of war except as otherwise assigned and, in accordance with integrated joint mobilization plans, for the expansion of the peacetime components of the Air Force to meet the needs of war. EFFECTIVE DATE OF TRANSFEBS SEC. 209. Each transfer, assignment, or change in status under sec- tion 207 or section 208 shall take effect upon such date or dates as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. WAR COUNCIL SEC. 210. There shall be within the National Military Establish- ment a War Council composed of the Secretary of Defense, as Chair- man, who shall have power of decision; the Secretary of the Army; the Secretary of the Navy; the Secretary of the Air Force; the Chief of Staff, United States Army; the Chief of Naval Operations; and the 504 [61 STAT.
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