Evening star., 1941-02-23
Aircraft Production Expected
Reach Full Tide Next Year
y. S. Is Seeking to Accomplish in Two Years What
Germany Did in Seven and Program
Is Vastly More Complex
By Joseph S. Edgert0n.

After months of feverish preparation,
the United States at last is at the eve of
a tremendous aircraft production effort
which is expected to rise steadily through
the coming months to a full tide next
year.
The impression made on one visiting
factory after factory, many Of them
erected on what were grain fields and
orchards last summer, is that there are
waves of neutrality-suspicious. Of ma
chimes, of tools, of factories of raw ma
terials and of trained artisans - which
are slowly but steadily mounting and
gathering into tremendous tidal wave
of aircraft production. The wave is
gradually gathering momentum in the
face of difficulties of a most complicated
nature.
This production, obviously, is not going
to be attained overnight, nor is it going
to be attained without the most strenu-
Gus industrial efforts this Nation has yet
made-efforts which must be backed by
high, firm morale in the ranks of in
dustry and the general population, and
by loyal, wholehearted support of in
dustry, labor and Government.
There is no room for false optimism
Of the sort which was prevalent earlier
in the American defense effort and which
already has led to disappointment and
criticism from the public, and even from
members of Congress, of the whole de-
fense program.
1t must be realized that the United
States is attempting to do in two years
what Germany took seven years to &C
complsh. The German military effort
is based on four years of factory and
machine construction, which began soon
after Adolf Hitler became Reichsfuehrer
followed by three years of engine and
airplane production.
Program Is Difficult.
The United States is attempting stimuli
taneously TO build up factories, machin-
cry and tools, supplies of raw materials
and personnel and to carry on produc-
ton, all within a space of two years.
The result is a program vastly more
complex than that which the Germans
undertook. That it is being accomplished
in considerably less than half the time
is a testimonial TO American enterprise
resourcefulness, energy and loyalty.
In huge factories. some of which have
risen from the open fields of peaceful
farming country in as little as 40 days,
armies of American workers. many of
whom have mastered special skills of a
high order in remarkably little time, are
operating acres of new machines and
tools to produce the thousands of indi-
vidual parts which go into the modern
warplane and its engine.
The American automobile industry,
with world records of mass production
behind it, also is preparing to take its
part in the warplane production pro-
gram. Preparing. advisedly, because the
automobile industry has not yet attained
production stage, nor will it do so for
months to come. Even with all the
knowledge, skill and productive capacity
of the automobile industry it cannot
swing into the new and much more deli
cate and exacting manufacture of air
craft without months of preliminary eff
fort, which now are rolling by.
1t should be realized clearly by every
American. to prevent future disappoint-
ment and misunderstanding, that the ex-
listing aircraft industry is going to have
to carry the load of aircraft and engine
production for nearly another year be-
fore the rising tide of production from
automobile factories can contribute i'm
portantly to the swelling tide of air
strength.
1t Takes Time.
Factories cannot be built, new ma
chimes and tools designed and con-
structed. new sources of raw material
supplies tapped and personnel recruited
and trained within few days or a few
weeks. Regardless of the pressure of
time and events, months are required for
accomplishment of these preliminaries to
actual production.
There are not going to be any sudden
jumps in production of airplanes or en-
gines. Production will increase surely
and steadily and will begin to attain i'm
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