Evening star., 1939-04-14

beIeSsS HtuCI Uuy-AULe7ICUS
greatest aviation effort since the
World War;
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
The Army Air Corps expansion
program, accepted by the United
States as an inevitable result of
the challenge of foreign develop
ments which threaten the security
of the world, is one which will make
heavy demands on the national avi-
alton industry and American youth
not only for the period of the pro-
gram but through as long a period
as present unsettled conditions con-
tinue to exist.
Every phase of aviation, many
lines Of industry and educational
institutions in every part of the
United States will be affected pro-
foundly. The program calls for ex-
penditure of 5000, 900 900 in two years
to build our air force up to
strength of between $500 and 5000
airplanes by June 30, 194l.
To carry out such a program re-
qutres. first of all, an expansion of
the trained factory personnel in
the aeronautical industry. The pres
ent total of 27,000 must be approx
imately doubled; in case of a major
emergency it probably would have
to be increased 10 times. The ad-
ministration is now studying plans
for training thousands of aviation
mechanics in high schools, while
it is carrying on its 2O,0O0-pilot
program in colleges and universities.
The plan would involve Federal SUBJ
sides to specialized high schools.
Independent Programs.
These programs are entirely in
dependent of the Army Air Corps
programs for training pilots and
combat crews and enlisted mechan-
les and ground crew personnel to
operate and maintain the new air
planes. Approximately 1000 flying
cadets will be started in flying
schools and $4,000 men will be en-
listed and 10000 Of them trained
as mechanics and technicians.
To handle its pilot training with
out expanding the great Air Corps
Training Center in Texas, the Army
plans to utilize civilian flying schools
for the primary training, under rigid
Air Corps supervision, of all its flying
cadets. They then would finish their
training in half the time now re-
quired at the Air Corps Training
Center, thus doubling the effective
capacity of that center.
The Air Corps mechanics training
program will necessitate great ex-
pansion of the present Air Corps
Technical School at Chanute Field,
Rantoul, Ill, with great new
branch at Lowry Field, Denver, Colo.
Plans call for the use of Scott Field,
Ill, for primary technical training
Of the enlisted technicians.
Five New Air Bases.
Five great new Air Corps bases
will be established and others en-
larged. New bases are planned in
Puerto Rico, Alaska and Panama.
marking new day in American mil
itary history.
Greatly expanded aeronautical
research is required to keep up the
quality Of our combat airplanes and
to make them the equal in fighting
power Of those of other nations. The
administration. in conjunction with
the military aviation program, is un-
dertaking expansion of the basic re-
search laboratories of the National
Advisory Committee for Aeronau-
tics at Langley Field, Va; the ap-
piled military research laboratories
of the Air Corps at Wright Field,
Ohio, and of the Navy Bureau of
Aeronautics at the Naval Aircraft
Factory, Philadelphia, and is foster
ing expansion of the applied indus
trial research facilities in various
colleges and universities.
The expansion program, far from
being undertaken for aggressive pur-
poses. is planned as the minimum
essential to guarantee adequate pro-
lection of the continental United
States and its military lifeline, the
Panama Canal. against possible ag-
gression of existing potentially hos
tile air powers.
Great Benefit Expected.
Within this limit. however, the
program is expected to be of great
benefit to our country, apart from
the matter of military security alone.
1t Is expected to strengthen and
stabilize our aircraft and aircraft
engine manufacturing industries
and, with them, a long chain of
subordinate industries; to result IN
the training of thousands of young
men as military and civil pilots and
of many thousands more as both
and civil aviation mechanics
and technicians; to broaden the
vital field of aviation research, es-
sential for both military and nom
military advancement, and to stimu-
late interest in aviation and the de-
of Drivate and rouo,,..