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operate land-based aviation, and thus duplicate functions and operations allocated to the Army by the first clause, for, as already pointed out, this would defeat the main purpose of the enactment - indeed, render it practically ineffectual for any purpose. I find nothing in the third clause, or in the proviso as a whole, that restricts the Army in any way in its establishment and maintenance of land bases, whether coastal or inland, its establishment and maintenance of air forces thereat, or its projection of control of aerial operations from Army land bases, whether the maintenance of such bases is deemed necessary for operations in support of the Army alone, or also, in part, for joint Army and Navy operations; with the sole exception that the Army, being prohibited from controlling aerial operations from bases other than land bases, is, therefore, in effect, restricted to the establishment of maintenance of aviation designed for operations from land bases. 

9. The specific questions presented by the letter in reference are repeated below, and, in harmony with the views above expressed, answered as follows:

a. Has Congress exceeded its constitutional powers in prescribing that the Army Air Service shall control all aerial operations from land bases, and Naval aviation shall control all aerial operations attached to a fleet, including shore stations whose maintenance is necessary for operation connected with the fleet, for construction and experimentation and for the training of personnel?

Answer: Interpreted as above suggested, the enactment does not infringe the constitutional powers of the President, and, therefore, does not exceed the constitutional powers of Congress.

b. Does a proper interpretation of the statutes restrict the President of the United States and/or the War and Navy Departments in their control of the forces raised and provided by Congress?

Answer: It does not, except in so far as it defines and limits the purposed for which the military and naval air components, respectively, may be employed.

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