Evening star., 1940-02-18
NayyLighfer- -Than-Air
5-Year Plan Includes
Two DirigibIes
Board Recommends
Croft Bigger Thon
Akron and Macon

The Navy Department policy to.
ward lighter-than-air craft over the
next five years is expected to follow
closely recommendations included ir
q report made public yesterday by
Secretary Edison, authoritative
sources indicated.
The f1ve-year program would cost
$10,100,00 and operate on a gradu-
ated scale of yearly increases. Next
year, for instance, two blimps would
be constructed and yearly thereafter
three or four would be built.
Construction of more naval dirigi-
bles and Government aid for COM
mercial airship lines were among
the recommendations.
Large lighter-than-air craft have
military and commercial possibilities
which the United States alone can
exploit because Of its virtual monop-
oily of -inflammable helium gas
q special two-man board reported
Two Big Dirigibles Asked.
Urging a resumption Of American
airship developments which were
interrupted by the loss of the naval
dirigibles Akron and Macon, the
board recommended construction "at
an appropriate time" Of two dirigi-
bles larger than the Akron and
Macon, designed for use as long
range aerial scouting cruisers and
aircraft carriers which would be
"immune from mines, torpedoes and
summarizes"
Federal subsidies, through an
agency such as the Maritime Com
mission or the Civil Aeronautics Au-
thority, for commercial airships
which in time of war could be con-
verted to naval uses, also were urged.
The naval airship recommended
for immediate construction would
be craft of 100000 cubic feet to
replace the decommissioned Los
Angeles. Congress authorized con-
struction in 1888, but $500 900 ap-
preparation was permitted to lapse
after President Roosevelt stated a
controversy over designs had raised
questions of safety.
Would Increase Personnel.
During the course of the flve-year
program the number of officers and
enlisted men devoted to lighter
than-air craft would be increased
For the coming year IS officers and
100 men would be assigned to this
specific duty and the following year
a. officers and 125 men would
move into the training and expert
mental program. BY 1945, accord
ing to the proposal, rs officers and
800 enlisted men would be detailed
yearly. During the five-year period
then, 276 officers and $50 enlisted
men would have had personal train
ing and contact with this branch
OF the naval service.
Composed of Rear Admiral Ernest
j. King and Capt Garland Fulton,
the board recommended that Lake
hurst Air Station in New Jersey
be continued as the Atlantic Coast
airship base. For the Pacific side
of the country, airship activities
would be centered at Sunnyvale,
Calf. <EsR
The report also suggested that the
Government maintain at least par
tial facilities in the Hawaiian
Islands and, If opportunity offered,
provide bases in the Canal Zone, the
Caribbean area and in the North
west.
First Years Cost S950,000.
A breakdown of the proposed five
year budget shows that next year
S35O,O00 would be spent on blimp
construction and $250,000 for rigid
ships. An additional $780, 900 would
be spent for maintenance and op-
erations, bringing the total cost to
$500 for the first years opera
tion of the plan.
In 1912 the costs would be nearly
tripled and include expenditures of
100000 for experimental prototype
construction and 100000 for addi-
tional shore facilities. Rigid airship
construction costs would be raised to
81 100000 and the blimp costs would
be nearly doubled.
The third year of the program
would reach the peak in expendi-
lures, $3200,OO0, with more money
going into rigid ships. The last two
years of the program would be lev
eled off approximately at 81 500, 900
Meanwhile, however, the personnel
devoted to the program would con-
stantly be increased. The report
also suggests the use of reserves on
active duty for the work.