Evening star., 1939-01-15

with present factory space and deliver
more airplanes than are required under
the 5000 -airplane program, according
to Leighton w. Rogers, president of the
Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of
America, on the basis of a survey just
completed. This can be accomplished
by hiring more labor and installing ma
chinery to prevent "bottle-necks" in
production lines, he said.
Could Go to $500 Planes.
"The 1888 average of $50 military air
planes month was stepped up toward
the end of the year" Mr.. Rogers said.
1T now averages about 200 military
planes q month. If program de-
manded $500 planes year, the indus
try could meet those requirements"
This, he said, is due to the fact that
commercial airplanes could be made
available to participate in the military
program. The industry employs about
$4,000 wage earners today, Mr.. Rogers
reported. A 5,5O0-airplane program
could be accomplished by raising the
total to about $4,000 working three shifts
day. Six months would be required
for trsiring labor and eight or nine
months for tooling up and jig installa-
ton. Deliveries of most military air.
plane models however, could be started
Immediately because they already are in
production. AS plants completed their
tooling operation, deliveries would in
crease progressively
On the basis of existing construction
under the Baker Board program. calling
for 1920 Army airplanes, to be completed
by 1910, plus construction under the
3000-airplane program, it should be pos
sible for the Army and Navy, between
combat airplanes soon enough to assure
this country security in the air, in the
opinion of defense experts.
The special defense program contem-
plates $21 100000 for naval aviation in
addition to S74,00O00O in the regular
Navy estimates, a total increase of
nearly SAT 100000 over current appro-
QrldClOnS 1Or naval dVldIlOQ.
Big Patrol Bombers Emphasized.
The Navy is placing emphasis on the
early development of very large patrol
bombardment airplanes which will be
virtually aerial cruisers. Airplanes~, OF
this general type customarily are flown
from factories to stations across the Pa
cific or at Panama. They have ranged
from Alaska to the Caribbean and are
especially suited for operation from ex-
temporizeG island bases, of the type rec
commended by the Navy, as at Midway
Island in the mid-Pacific and Guam.
Even more advanced types of patrol
bombers are ready for production and
undoubtedly will be included in the new
program in considerable numbers.
The Army Air Corps also is expected
to go in strongly for heavy long-range
bombardment airplanes, of which the
Boeing Bit flying fortress and the
Douglas Bib tWin-engine bomber are
examples. The program also is expected
to include exceedingly fast pursuit air.
planes now nearing the production stage
and formidable high-speed attack types.
The reason for concentration on heavy,
| long range aircraft for both Army and
! Navy is to provide striking force to be
used against any extemporized enemy
base near American shores or to deal
with naval threats far from the coast
lines. The necessity for preventing es-
tablishment anywhere in the American
| Hemisphere of enemy air bases, apart
| from any other moral or political issues,
is behind the continental defense
theory which now is guiding this Ma
| tion's military program.
| OF the balance of $3.50, 100000 for the
Army, the President suggested ALLEGATION
of $110,OOO,000 to provide critical items
of equipment which would be needed i'm
mediately in time of emergency and
which cannot be obtained from any
source quickly and in needed quantities
| Among such items are anti-aircraft ar
tillery, semi automatic rifles, anti-tans
guns, tanks, light and heavy artillery
| ammunition and gas masks. This ex-
penditure, he pointed out, should go faI
to equip existing units of the Regular
Army and the National Guard.
The President also recommended ap-
preparation of $32000,000 for "educa
tional ordery for the Army. These would
enable industry to set up facilities tools
dies and jigs necessary for quantity
production in time of war of military
items which are non-commercial in
character and which are difficult Of
manufacture.
The remainder Of the Army funds
should be used, the President said, TO,