Evening star., 1940-05-04
American Bombers
Far More Accurate,
Senators Are Told
Photographs Are Used
To Show Superiority
Over Europe's Best
BY the Associated Press.


The bombers of Europe's warning
nations, Photographic evidence in
dicated today, have failed by wide
margin to approach the accuracy of
the United States Army Air Corps
Maj Gen. H. H. Arnold, Air Corps
chief, exhibited comparative pictures
at closed session of a Senate ap-
preparations subcommittee, whose
members said they appeared to show
a definite edge in craftsmanship for
American pilots.
The Photographic evidence, COM
mittee members asserted, gave the
Army much higher accuracy rat
ing in precision" bombing-or
aimed hits-than European aviators
have attained by pattern" bombing
Or sowing bombs over the imme-
diate area of target on the theory
that one may hit the objective.
The apparent American margin
of superiority was generally credited
to the countrys closely guarded
secret bomb sight.
American Planes Speedier.
Gen. Arnold, it was reported, also
told the committee that American
military planes had proved speedier
under actual combat conditions,
more maneuverable, safer and more
economical of fuel. With the i'm
provements the war has suggested
he expects them to be the best in
the world, it was declared
The Senate committee, however,
was reported to have prodded the
Army to seek full restoration of the
S20,000000 for aircraft which the
House cut from the S785 10000 War
Department bill when it approved
that measure.
Chairman Thomas, Democrat, of
Oklahoma said plans for construc-
ton of q new bombing planes cost
ing about Sl0000,0OO probably would
be laid before the committee Mon
day as result of members inquiries
as to why the Army had not sought
the full amount of appropriations
recommended by President Roose-
welt in his budget message last jan
uary.
The budget originally proposed
Sl86,000,000 TO rthe Air Corps, but
the House cut off $4,000, 900 by vot-
Ing to construct only 81 of the 496
replacement planes the Army sought.
Later the War Department. asked
the Senate committee to restore
SlOOOO,OO0 of the House slash, boost
ing the plane total to 166.
Senator Thomas said it was sug-
eested in committee that it might
be well for the Army to ask for the
remaining $l0,OOO,0OO, bringing re-
quests up to the original budget
total. He said this suggestion ap-
peared to be prompted by the desire
on the part Of some members for
speedy construction of planes which
could compete on an equal basis in
combat with Europe's best.
Improvements in New Craft.
Gen. Arnold testified previously
that German improvements in
armament, self-sealing gasoline
tanks and other devices had caused
the Army to make drastic changes
In plane equipment. He was quoted
rs saying yesterday that by July
i, 194l, 1900 first-line fighting
planes incorporating all of these
improvements would be delivered
to the Army.
Following his testimony yesterday
Gen. Arnold left on 12-day in
spection of Western Hemisphere
aerial defenses which will take him
to the northern part of South
America. He set out in an Army
plane from Boiling Fled enroute
to the Panama Canal by way of
Mexico.
Four other officers were in Gen.
Arnold's party: Maj. w. R. Carter,
Maj. Benjamin w. Chidlaw and
Capt. Eugene H. Beebe, the pilot,
all of the Air Corps. and 1t. Col.
D. N. w. Grant of the Army Med
ical Corps.