The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-04
u. S. 5 YEARS
LATE IN ARMY
AIR PROGRESS
Corps Lacks Personnel and
Equipment, Survey
DiSCI0SeS.
Continued From Page One)

this system, either because of lack
of funds or failure by those in COM
mand to realize the Importance OF
such training.
Navy Force Rated as Best
10. The United States naval air
force. while also under strength as
to equipment and personnel, is gen.
orally rated as the best in the
world, and operates with minimum
of friction and internal dissension.
The military air services of the
nation represent a large Investment.
The government spent, directly and
indirectly, more than $l,400,000,000
for military aviation in the period
from July l, 1919, to June 80, 1888.
Viewed alone, the figure seems large,
but actually it represents only
small proportion of the total bill for
military defense.
Tables are published in an adj
joining column showing how the
army spent $122, 233, 85O.47 during
this period for construction of new
heavier-than-air equipment, while
the navy was spending $113, 1876 ,867.4 As
for the same purpose. The army
expenditure was larger because the
1926 national deefnse plan author
lied the air corps to have 1900
planes in 1881 compared to the
naval bureau of aeronautics' 1000
planes. The navy attained this mark
but the army still is short of it.
Air Corps Has 1,199 Planes
The air corps on March IS had
1,199 airplanes within the terrific
rial limits of the United States. In
addition, there were 211 planes in
foreign possessions and 139 assigned
to the national guard. These guard
planes general are old and nearly
obsolete.
The 1,199 planes of the regular
army ranged from primary trainers
to high-hpeed, multi-engined bocm-
ers. A study of them shows that
there were only AS fighting planes
pursuits, attacks and bomberS.
But not all of these planes &C
tn ~ we're with tactical units, that
is with groups prepared to go i'm
mediately to the defense of the ma
ton. Scores were assigned to
schools for advanced training of
students. Others were used in adj
ministrative work and many more
were experimental models, either
undergoing test or already tested
and found not suited for produc-
ton.
so Per Ceit of Planes Available
Thus probably not more than so
per cent or about 265 of the army's
total of fighting planes were avail
able for emergency defense.
FURTHER study shows that most
of the fighting planes are relatively
slow and inefficient compared to the
ships now being built.
The government naturally keeps
secret information concerning its
new military planes. 1t does not
want to inform foreign powers OF
new developments. Neither do for
eign powers want the nited States
to know what they have.
Foulois Drops Hint
But occasionally the military men
drop a hint about their new planes.
For instance, Major General Ben
jamin D. Foulois, chief of the air
corps, recently told house COM
mittee that the Martin bombers
proposed for purchase with public
works administration funds will
have a top speed of POT miles an
hour at 1000 feet" Some of these
planes, on a prior order, have been
delivered and are now in use.
General Foulois also mentioned
two-seater pursuits at 256 miles an
hour at $4,000 feet altitude and at
tack planes at 207 miles an hour.
Fast Pursuits Available
Major C. w. Howard told another
subcommittee that pursuit planes
are available today with speeds in
excess of 260 miles an hour at about
10000 feet.
These figures on official records