The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-12
Debunking Of Nazi Aviation Bogey Calms Jittery Britons
Col. Lindbergh Presents Facts Of Interest To U. s. Air Forces
BY MILTON BRONNER NEA Service Stan Correspondent

London, May 12-1f Col. Charles I,indber9h has been able to give American authorities an accurate wotd-picture of Germanys military air force and aviation industry, he has disposed of something that the statesmen and military leaders of England and France would give their back teeth to know.
 The democfacies of western Eu- rope are not overly worried about the Germany army. France herself has a strong army, plus 8 Magi- not line. They are not worrying about the German navy. England could tackle that with compara- tive ease, except for the ever- present submarine puzzle. But the German air force is the bogey that is causing gray hairs in France and England.
 Last September, when war seemed such near thing, people in this eight million town of Lon- don conjured up horrid Maxim Spired vision of wave after wave of German bombers dropping their fatal loads on the metropolis.
 Each wave was to contain from 15O to 200 bombers. Each wave was to appear at two hour inter- vals. In short time the town would be shot to pieces with thousands of dead, tens of thou- sands of wounded and morale ter ribly shaken. It would be part of the lightning war" the Ger mans have in mind.
 It was said Germany was 50 far ahead of England in planes that the British could never catch up, because the Nazis had also achieved q mass production that could not be overhauled.
 FINANCIAL JOURNAL
 IS LESS PESSIMISTIC
 The London "Economist", fa- nous financial journal, noted for it's conservatism and accuracy, is not quite SO pessiinistic about what Nazi-land has achieved. It says Germany has about 5l factories for planes, with IT more making en- zines. The number of employees Is l7O00, vol ing from 52 to SO hours weekly. At the official rate of ex- change of German money, the skilled workers get about 32 cents an hour.
 At the end of 1888 Germany had about 2S0 squadrons. nominally consisting each of nine machines with three in reserve. So that if all su,ladrons were up to full strength. first line fighting planes numbered S36o. The police had about 500 more.
 There were also 800 transport planes and TOO single-seater planes for training fighter pilots. The total of lighting planes of first line quail ity that could be mustered would be wen over $500, to which would have to be added 75o taken from the Cxechs.
 The real front line strength for war purposes, however, would only be 42OO, of which 2500 are bombers. Aasiiast this, Britain in March probably had 2s70 machines Of first line strength in the home force.
 HOLDS PRODUCTION
 FIGURES EXAGGERATED
 Germany was sometimes said to be tJroducing from 300 to 1000 planes per month. The Economist thinks the real figure is nearer 600. Brit aims output was 400 and since has increased rapidly. The tendency in Germany is for fighters to get larg- CT and bombers smaller, and for both to get faster. The Germans are building twin -ensined bombers of shorter range and lesser carrying capacity, but with higher speed than their earlier models. The English are building long range bonibers.
 In a comparative table giving all the facts that are known, the s.Economist" shows that the Brit fish fighters are, as rule, faster than the German. The top speed for the Germans is 320 miles per hour. The fastest British planes make $50 or more. On the other hand, the German bonbers are usually faster than the British types. But there is one remarkable excepticn-the new Bristol -Blen- helm, which England is now making and which has a speed of 29S miles per hour and range of 1900 miles The fastest German bomber has a speed of 292 and a range of 1490.
 The German air force has 900 airdromes at its disposal against 400 in Great Britain. The mair, German air fleets are four: in Berlin for the East, Brunswick for offerse against Britain in case Of war; in Munich against France and Vienna for southeastern Eu-