The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17
Americas Achieve
ment in Building
War Planes

II Is Mr.. Theodore M. hnappens De-
lief. voiced in his Book. Wings OF
War" "a. p. Putnam's Sons. New
York;, that Americas achievements
In the aircraft programme developed
during the world war were highly
creditable" instead of being the out
standing industrial fiasco they have
often been painted. Although the book
is frankly a defence of American ef-
forts to place an adequate air fighting
force in France, 1t does not attempt to
gloss over obvious shortcomings. but
rather to explain the reason for them
1t is comprehensive survey Of the
entire subject in which the difficulties
met and overcome are clearly set forth.
The mass Of criticism hurled at
those responsible for the development
of the air programme was due In part,
SO Mr. Knappan thinks, to the unwise
publicity which led the public to ex-
pect far more than 1t was humanity
possible to accomplish. Everything
considered, wonders were performed,
he says.
This was the problem, says Mr..
Knappen, that confronted America
after we entered the war and a pro-
gramme calling for the production OF
%, 500 machines was decided upon:
The manufacture of that many
planes without definite knowledge as
to what the different types should be.
The establishment Of a system of
training, training schools, technical in
struction and training fields.
The expansion Of peace time
organization of less than $500 persons
into war time organization of more
than 100000.
The enlargement Of the country's
aircraft, manufacturing capacity about
three hundred times.
The creation of large engineering
and technical force.
The ascertaining of the materials
needed and arrangements for produc-
ton.
Mr.. Knappen gives detailed story of
each step taken, explaining the rea-
sons for the various decisions made by
those in authority and drawing his
own conclusions, most of which are of
favorable nature. The designing
and manufacture of the Liberty motor
he halls as an achievement of the first
rank. Aircraft production was so new
in this country that there was room
for wide divergence of opinion as to
the best course to follow, Mr.. KNAPP
pen says. The publicity was ''fiam-
boyant and exaggerated" on one hand,
he declares, and insufficient on the
It'll T.. "a ID
manufacturers underestimated the
time it would take to produce in guam
tity, and there was lack of a thor
oughly coordinated and efficiently
functioning organization of the air
service as a whole.
Now that the situation is better
understood" says Mr.. Knappen, "the
public is beginning to understand that
the aircraft producers did a great
work greatly, and time has confirmed
their Judgment and their confidence in
the ability of American manufacturers
successfully to apply quantity produc-
ton methods to aircraft making"
What Mr.. Knappen calls the basic
natural fault" was in not preparing
for what 1t was fairly apparent was
coming. We were potentially leading
the world in quantity production OF
aircraft at the time of the armistice.
Most of the machines used during the
war will soon be obsolete. so Mr.. KNAPP
pen thinks that we have only to adopt
and maintain an aeronautical policy
corresponding to the size and resources
OF the country from now on to take
and maintain the first place In the
air. The Jump" in the next war VIII
be enjoyed by the nation with the SUI
perior air service, he warns.