Evening star., 1935-05-12

hand, the United States trails behind
France, Russia, the British Empire
and Italy, and that only Japan and
Germany. Of all the world air powers,
are under this country in strength.
AT the beginning OF 1885" it was
reported. American squadrons we're
equipped with the best planes, type
for type. in the world. Their pursuit.
fighters, actually in service and car
rying full service loads, could fly at
230 miles an hour and perform the
most advanced aerial acrobstics. in
cluding power dives. Experimental
military and naval planes had much
higher speeds. The United States
i~6 al nations in the performance
Of its service planes and had under
development machines designed to
maintain that superiority. provided
the development was not stified. But
the air forces did not have enough
planes
The Army Air Corps. 1t was found,
is short more than 800 of the 1900
planes allotted to 1t under the five-
year building program started in
1926 and now uncompleted nine years
later. 1t has been generally agreed,
the chamber reported, that the Air
Corps should have at all times at
least 1920 planes, the greater number
Of combat types. Actually, the Air
Corps and its reserves had on hand
less than l,500 serviceable airplanes
at the beginning OF this year, Of
which approximately 1000 might be
termed combat machines not actually
obsolete"
The combined Army and Navy air
forces Of the United States at the
beginning Of this year, it was found,
had approximately 1850 combat air
planes, about 1900 modern enough
for an emergency"
They represented less than half
the combined strength necessary to
place the United States on anything
like an equal footing with other air
powers, in view Of American areas
to be protected" it was stated.
The chamber reported that Great
Britain plans to spend about s55,-
100000 for new aircraft equipment
In 1885; that France intends to
spend $65,000,000 for new aircraft
and sl6,500, 900 in the relocation Of
airplane factories: the German pro-
gram contemplates expenditure of
$50, ,000,0 900 for air defense In 1885;
Italy plans an expenditure Of about
sl00, 10000 on the air forces in 1885,
and Japsn,s expenditures for new
aircraft will total about e30, 0,000, 900.
1t remained for modest-mannered,
soft-spoken Kansas City manufac-
turer of optical instruments, turned
amateur aviator for his own diversion,
to receive the most spontaneous aero
nautical tribute Washington has paid
any aviation figure in many months.
The most brilliant aviation gather
ing Washington has seen this year was
assembled during the week at lunch
con in the Mayfiower Hotel to honor
DR.. John D. Brock on the occasion Of
his 2.000th consecutive daily airplane
flight. The gathering included the
leaders Of every branch of Federal
aviation activity. airline oficials. and
aviation celebrities Of international
renown. assembled to see and hear q
relatively obscure business man who
has to his credit an achievement not
even remotely approached by any
professional pilot in the world.
There was nothing stilted and for
NAL about the affair. 1t was a gen.
uine tribute accorded by those who
knew the enormous difficulties DR.
Brock had to overcome in setting up
his unique record and could appre-
ciate the courage and unshakable de-
termination Of the man. Time and
again the Kansas City doctor, who
looks anything but the dashing. dar-
ing aviator Of popular conception, has
taken of into weather which grounded