Evening star., 1941-03-17


of planes. But abroad, where the
factors that count are speed, carry
ing power and maneuverability, the
fact that the British have been
able to down the Nazis on a ratio of
at least one R. A. F. plane lost to
two NaI planes destroyed, the kind
of aircraft Is more important than
numbers.
The American people do not know
as yet the amazing contribution
which already has been made to
the battle for democracy by the
American aircraft engineers, de-
signers and builders Nor is there
any widespread appreciation of the
fact that when the battle is over
It is not the number of planes that
Hitler had but the kinds that will
tell the story of his defeat.
From time to time criticisms OF
American aircraft have been cabled
over from the other side. The cry
has been either for more armor-
plate or guns But this is not a
criticism of American planes at all.
1t is a manifestation of new needs
uncovered by the exigencies OF bat
tie. Considering the long delays
which have occurred in advising
American manufacturers of changes
found necessary as a consequence
of the battle experience, it is re-
markable how many adjustments
and changes in design already have
been made.
Will Ferry RnmherS Over
The average American may Won
der how all the aircraft is going
to be shipped abroad. The truth is
there isn't ocean tonnage enough
to transport all the airplanes being
manufactured for Britain and never
could be for years to come, even If
submarine losses stopped tomorrow.
The space needed for the shipment
of all the aircraft America plans
to supply to Britain is beyond COM
prehension as shipping problem.
What will happen, of course, is that
the bombers will fly across the At
lantic, as indeed many already have
done, and there will be, in good
weather, mass flights of some pursuit
planes over short hops from some
Atlantic bases or the decks Of air.
craft carriers operating as a ferry
boat service.
There seems to be no doubt that
the shortage in freight space will
not effect the steady stream of
planes Of all kinds destined for
British areas. incidentally the avia-
ton experts say something of the
same problem of moving large guam
titles of planes at any one time faces
the Nazi air command, too Many
people have wondered, for instance,
why Herr Hitler doesn't send into
the air 5000 or 10000 planes, since
he is reported to have huge num-
bers. The physical task of supplying
the millions of gallons of gasoline
and synchronization of the trans
portation thereof from Germany to
any of the bases in France means
such an immense ground crew and
truck operation for the Nazis that
1t is considered impracticable.
So since the number of planes
which can be put into the air at
any one time is limited and since
the quality of fighting planes and
the range and carrying power of
the bombers can more than offset
mere numbers, the contest for air
supremacy reVolves around the
quality of the planes built.
Industry Could Expand.
Americas aircraft manufacturers
have not constructed many planes
in the last 20 years, and such a
thing as mass production in the
sense in which the term is used in
the auto industry is still considered
absurd, but the principles of mass
manufacture through the farming
out OF parts and assembly of GER
tam major parts are being rapidly
applied.
The United States fortunately has
had an aircraft industry which
could expand. The appropriations
Tor expansion are being made avail
able now in almost unlimited
amounts. There is no longer any
need for the aircraft manufacturers
70 worry about orders as they have
In past years. Plants are being
enlarged to 10 times, but the
job OF expansion would not have
been possible but for the many
years which the aircraft companie
nave put into the making of plars
Tor the major countries OF lie
world. Our engineers are fan,lar
with what other countries haye)een
doing. The aircraft eXecutiv will
tell you there really aren't many
secrets in airplanes, but here is
such thing as quality ofproduc-
ton and skill in design,
Auto Industry HIPS.
The automotive industy has lately
come into the pictursco help out
with the making of arts and en-
gines. The automole companies
have no engineering experience in
aircraft making sq5hey are copy
ing models workedout by the air.
craft companies al engine makers,
which is not onlya way to supple
ment production but a means of |
cooperation this will help the air.
craft industry maintain its pio-
neer position 8 the real designers
and makers c the newer types of
aircraft SO tsential to changing
war conditiob.
And whepthe job is done, there
will be glor enough for all. The
need for CAUTIOUS statement at the
present nlment concerning num-
bers anf ypes is obvious, but the
AmericA people will have reason
TO be f,ud of what has been ac-
complJted thus far. While the
headIes will not tell whose planes
the J A. F. happens to be using
each(night in the Mediterranean
andbver Germany, the public can
resVassured that already America
haSplayed a mighty part in swing
tngthe tide of battle to the side of
" democraeies. |