Evening star., 1940-05-20
Planes
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fIQneS
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plication of the setup at San An
tonic, Tex.
He said the first of the new cen,
ters probably would be openee
about September /, and the other!
would follow about November l, Feb.
ruary /, 1941. and April /, 194l.
Gen. Arnold said each of the foul
new centers would have a capacity
OF 1900 pilots annually-the same
as the Army Air School.
BOmbers Needed Most.
BY giving the graduates of the
Army Air School a course as in.
structors, and by acquisition of g..
200 new training planes, Gen. Arnolc
said the Army would have facilities
by year from June to turn out ap.
proximately 5000 pilots annually.
In reference to the proposed pur.
chase of 200 more four-engineo
bombers, Gen. Arnold said the
European war had demonstrated
that 'the power of the bomber is
what we need most"
He also recommended that the
number OF Reserve pilots and flying
cadets be increased to 5000 each.
Glle Robb Wilson, president of the
National Aeronautical Association
told a Senate commerce subcommit-
tee that development of a national
airport policy was "as necessary as a
larger number of planes or trained
pilots for the United States Sc
curity."
Mr.. Wilson, supporting legislation
to authorize expenditure of S125,-
100000 for airport development, de-
clared I'VE have just learned air.
ports can be sunk as effectively as
battleships."
Small Companies Included
The Treasury Department avia-
ton conference, called only last Fri
day, was attended by leaders Of the
aeronautical industry from every
section of the country, many of
whom flew here yesterday and last
night to discuss details of a pro-
gram which is, expected to tax to
full capacity every plant in the Ma
ton capable of making combat air.
planes, engines or parts.
1t was significant that for the
first time representative of the
smaller aviation companies, some of
which have been building not more
than a score of airplanes a year,
were summoned to Washington to
JOIN forces with the giants of the
industry in an all-inclusive attack
on an air defense problem without
precedent in history.
After the preliminary session of
less than an hour, the conference
adjourned at noon to meet at 2 pm.
in the Office of Gen. Arnold in the
Munitions Building.
Nothing was accomplished at the
opening session, it was said, and
some of the manufacturers ex-
pressed disappointment at the ap-
parent lack of program for the
conference. Army officials admitted
that the conference had been so
hastily arranged that they had been
unable to work out definite pro-
gram, but expected this would be
ironed out during the course of the
afternoon.
Types and Numbers Problem.
One of the most serious problems
facing the Army and the conferees,
it was admitted, is that of determin-
ing the types and proportionate
numbers of aircraft to be built. This
will mean an examination, in the
light OF developments abroad, of the
whole defense plan of the United
States. Should the British fleet be
eliminated as a factor in the At
lantic, it may become necessary for
this country to build increasing
numbers of heavy long-range bonn
bardment airplanes to protect the
East coast.
Even though leaders of the avi-
alton industry had pledged CO.
operation Of every element of the
industry insthe Presidents program
to build up American air defenses
on scale unequalled even by Nazi
Germany, Federal officials were sur
prised at the turnout for today's
conference. The meeting was moved
hurrledly from the conference room
OF the Budget and Improvement
Committee on the ground floor OF
the Treasury to a larger Office room
on the second floor overlooking the
White House.
Even so, it became necessary to
limit the conference to one repre-
sentative of each company to reduce
the assembly to more manageable
size. This was done after pre-
liminary addresses had been made
by Secretaries Morgenthau and
Woodring, Acting Secretary of the
Navy Lewis Compton, Robert H
Hinckley, chairman of the Civil
Aeronautics Authority and Assistant
Secretary of War Louis johnson.
Morgenthau Sees Aim Possible.
Mr.. Morgenthau, welcoming the
manufacturers, told them that he
was confident that the Presidents
defense aims could be achieved
through the cooperation of gov
ernment and industry. and pledged
that no effort would be spared on
the part of the Government to as
sure national security.
Secretary Woodring hailed the
Unexpectedly large attendance as
evidence Of your co-' ration and
willingness.
Acting Secretary Compton, assert
ing that in national emergency of
the kind now faced by the aviation
industry ssthere is no substitute for