Evening star., 1940-05-17

the Munich crisis Of September,
1898, raised the threat Of air power
before the eyes Of q troubled world.
Immediately after the fall OF
Czecho-Slovakia the President dis
cussed with military leaders the
advisability Of building up q 10000
airplane air force for the United
States.
The idea, at the time, was startling
In view Of the fact that the Air
Corps objective then was only 2320
airplanes. Leading aircraft manu-
facturers were summoned to WASH
ington, and in conference with Mr..
johnson and other officials, it was
decided tentatively to work up a
10,00o-plane project. This total,
however, was reduced to approxi-
mately 5000, and Congress author
ized building to this limit when it
passed the 5000, ,000. 900 Army Air
Corps expansion appropriation last
year.
AS result of our Army and Navy
contracts and allied war orders, the
American aircraft industry now is
IN the midst of a plant develop
ment and personnel-training pro-
gram which Is expected to increase
its annual production capacity to
approximately $1,000 military air
planes by next fall.
Orderly Expansion Possible.
THAT part of the Presidents
message which contemplates in.
creasing our production capacity to
$4,000 military airplanes per year
means rapid expansion of all manu-
featuring branches of the industry,
including planes, engines, propellers
and accessories" Col. John H. Jouett,
president Of the Aeronautical
Chamber Of Commerce OF America,
trade association of the American
aircraft manufacturing industry.
said today.
Fortunately, the entire industry
Is in the best possible position to
undertake this expansion in an
orderly manner. OF our IS airplane
plants, % already are working on
military orders. The rearmament
program which started last year and
quantity orders from the allies dur
ing the last several months have
developed our production capacity
and so changed manufacturing tech
nlque that a further expansion is
relatively simple matter. In other
words, we have had nearly a year
OF experience in expanding produc-
ton: The bottlenecks that threat
ened increased production several
months ago no longer exist"
100000 Now Employed.
Ihe aircraft industry now has
100000 employees in the airplane, en-.
gine and accessory plants and is
spending large amounts training
new employees, Col. Jouett reported.
From preliminary study" he said,
the program outlined in the Presi-
dents message would seem to in
volve slightly more than a three
fold increase in the number of en-
ployes, with the plants working on
full-shift basis; at the same time
tripling floor space of the airplane
manufacturing plants and doubling
the floor space of the engine plants
1T should be realized that norma
peace time procedure in Government
procurement of aircraft equipmen,
must be somewhat modified in ordel
to speed up production. Certain de.
partmental interpretations of exist.
ing laws probably will have to b,
changed in order to develop the sub
contracting system to the fulles
possible extent"
Leaders of the aircraft industry
interviewed in various parts of tn,
country by the Associated Press
were in general agreement with tn,
head Of their trade association.
Donald w. Douglas, president O,
the Douglas Aircraft Co., Santa