Evening star., 1932-07-03


The agreement of last year between
the Army and Navy that the problem
of aerial defense of the coasts Of the
United States shall be intrusted to the
Army Air Corps places a heavy respon-
sibility on the bombardment squadrons
of the Air Corps They would be the
chief weapons of defense against at
tacking enemy naval forces and troop
transports.
The immediate loss to the Army and
Navy of combat planes would be heavy.
The Army Air Corps today has approx
mately ll0 bombardment planes out OF
a total of less than 1000 tactical planes
on active status. The Navy has some
i40 torpedo bombers out of a total OF
approximately l, 900 useful planes.
Virtually all types Of Army and Navy
planes are equipped for bombardment,
though with all but the bombardment
types, bombing is Of secondary impor-
tance Army pursuit and Navy fighter
types on occasion are used for bombing,
usually being limited to a few light
bombs. Observation ships also may be
equipped for bombing. Bombardment is
one of the strong offensive weapons OF
the Army attack planes. each OF which
also carries six machine guns.
The scrapping Of bombardment
planes, therefore, would be of little i'm
portance unless coupled with an abo-
iition of aerial bombardment. Unless
bombing were abolished, designers could
work out plans for new bombing planes
bomb sights and bombs which. in
emergency, could be turned out by COM
mercial airplane factories and NUM-
tions plants, or bombing operations
could be carried on from planes OF
other types, though not without loss OF
effectiveness.
The bomber, as aviation's chief strik-
ing weapon. is depended upon in case
of war to destroy enemy bases and re-
serves before the foe can strike de-
cisive blow.
without consideration of all the other
details of the Hoover proposal, it is ap-
bombardmentS alone constitutes Sc
rious effort to reduce military strength
Naval Aviation Suffers.
A heavy blow has been struck at ma
val aviation and, through it, at the air.
craft industry, by the economy pro-
gram as applied to the naval appropria-
tions bill which has just become effec-
tive Not only Is all naval aviation ex-
pansion halted, but the combat squad
rons are destined to lose strength.
The new aircraft carrier, U. S. S
Ranger, now building, will have nc
| planes when it is completed unless one
of the other carriers is laid up. The
/ economy program threatens the leader
| ship of United States in naval aviation
among the world air powers and reduces
the United States from fourth-place
air power to what may become sixth
place soon if the aviation programs OF
other nations are continued
The airship Los Angeles has been laid
up as an economy measure and stripped
OF helium, engines and gear. Total air.
planes of the Navy are being reduced
! Immediately from 1000 to 965. The
! amount available for purchase and con-
! struction Of airplanes for the Navy has
been reduced to 81 200, 900, as contrastec
with the sic, 6,3000o total in 1929 anc
the contract authorization payable il
the fiscal year 1884 has been reduced tC
4 only S5,715, 900.
/ Fully as serious as the immediate
/ effect on naval aviation is the ultimate
| effect on the aircraft industry. Due tC
/ the depression, the leading aircraft
manufacturing plants of the country
have been dependent to very large ex-
/ tent on military airplane orders for the
/ business necessary to keep them alive
II this business is withdrawn the effect
is going to be crippling of the indus
/ try which is so vital to national de-
! fense.
If there is to be speedy production OF
! fighting planes in case of national emer-
gency, the plants necessary to under
take such production must be kept alive
An aircraft production plant is too CON-
! plicated an organization to be created
in hurry. They must be maintained
or national defense will suffer.
Collision Preventer" Sought.
The widespread increase of blind
| flying" in the United States, which
resulted recently in the first solo blind
takeof and landing. by Capt Albert
F. Hegenberger, Army Air Corps, has