“I definitely do not agree with that attitude, but the Air Force will really fight to keep it as a mission, though the Army is more than willing to take it over”
To be clear, the Army already does. . .Apache and Cobra helos, for example.
Or are you talking about fixed-wing CAS? Totally different story and no, the Army would not want to take that on, as fixed wing, even the A-10, requires an airfield and significant logistics and support.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_West_Agreement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pace-Finletter_MOU_1952
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson-McConnell_agreement_of_1966
http://m.theredstonerocket.com/military_scene/article_6d0ec1c6-2b78-11e3-a27e-001a4bcf887a.html
The Army’s fixed wing aircraft were placed under a unified command in the early 1980s. In 1983, fixed wing became part of the Aviation and Troop Command in St. Louis. In 1995, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decided to relocate the Aviation and Troop Command to Redstone Arsenal as part of the Aviation and Missile Command. That move was completed in 1997 and the Program Executive Office for Aviation was established in 2001, with the addition of some fixed wing assets in 2004.
In 2010, it was decided to have all of the Army’s fixed wing assets managed by one entity. In 2011, the Fixed Wing Project Office became the eighth project office within PEO Aviation. Since then, it has grown from 256 aircraft and six contracts to 380 aircraft and 38 contracts. It includes 48 aircraft designs and 11 distinct missions, including transporting personnel, reconnaissance operations and homeland security.