Evening star., 1940-11-20
Aircraft Production
Pointed 10 Spring
'B|itz' byBritish
Offensive on Lund Of
France, os Well as in
Air, Is Indicated
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

American aircraft production ID
being pointed toward a large-scald
spring offensive by the British Roya
Air Force which may turn the NazI
blitZkreig against its authors on all
battlefronts.
Although United States airpla ane
and engine factories are not expected.
to reach peak production much be-
fore the end Of next year, they are
expected to be turning out war
planes in impressive quantities by
spring and the industry is StrainingI
every effort TO meet British require
ments for the anticipated spring.
drive against Germany and Italy.
Although general British offen-|
Slve involves a matter of grand
strategy which cannot be officially
discussed, there are many clear ind
dicatlons that such a drive is in|
preparation and that 1t Will come|
of if British aircraft factories canI
continue production through the|
winter and American production
continues to increase as anticipated
Land Attack in France Hinted.
There are indications that the
British are considering both a land
ana air offensive in France and am
other in the Near East. toward
which the whirlWind of war now is
blowing with increasing fury.
National defense and aircraft in
oustry officials here attach inn
portance TO the return of Arthur
PurVis of the British purchasing
mission to England, in connecticut
with the plans for next spring. I'd
Is understood that Mr. Purvis va
recalled to report in detail on the
status OF American aircraft PRODUCE
tlon and the maximum assistance I'D
can be counted on to furnish by
spring.
Even more significance is al
tached to the action OF the BRITISH
Air Ministry this week IN shaking
up the high command OF the r. A. Fl
ana especially in the assignment cd
Sir Hugh Dowding R A. F. fighter
commander to the United States ton
! special, unexplained duty
Air Chief Marshal DoWding. ac1
cording 10 reports from England
may have as part of his mission
the duty OF advising United State
military and aircraft experts of RI
A. F. combat experience. with Al
view 10 standardlzing American and
British alrplanes, improving designl
construction and equipment, and
facilitating mass production.
Other Appointments.
Other appointments pointing to-
ward a British assumption of the
offensive are those of Air Marsha \
Sir Arthur Sheridan Barratt. COM
mander OF r. A F. forces in France
early IN the war, as commander Of
new army cooperation command
which apparently is designed to pro-
vide special air force to work with
land troops on the offensive; Air
Vice Marshal o. T Boyd to the post
Of deputy air officer commanding 2
the Middle East air command. with
rank OF air marshal, and of All
commodore John Henry d'Alblac al
chief OF a separate British air force
! command in Greece.
Although American aircraft pro7
duction now is being speeded up aS
rapidly as possible and little further
acceleration can be expected. leaders
Of the industry are studying the
possibility of a temporary squirt
through closer coordination of the
many complex factors involved.
BY creating temporary "emer-
gency" condition it should be Dos
sible temporarily 10 speed up final
assemblies late in the winter or early
in the spring, it is believed, even
though this might be at the expense
of a brief letdown in production
following the emergency period.