Evening star., 1941-08-18
Pan American
To F|yCraft
Going 10 British
Commercial Service
Also to Be Afforded,
White House Reveals
BY JOHN c. HENRY,

President Roosevelt announced
late today that arrangements
had been made for the Pan
American Airways system to fer
ry fighting aircraft from the
United States to West Africa, and
thence direct to British armed
forces in the Middle East. The
West African terminal was not
specified in the announcement.
1t was revealed a transport service
will return the ferry personnel to
the United States and will be avail
able for general commercial use, pro-
viding direct air service from New
York or Baltimore to Africa.
The ferry system and the trans
port services provide direct and
speedy delivery of aircraft from the
arsenal of democracy to a critical
point in the front against aggres-
Sion," the White House said. The
importance of this direct line of
communication between our coun.
try and strategic outposts in Africa
cannot be overestimated."
U. S. Personnel to Operate.
The White House said that Gov
ernment-owned planes will be used
by Pan-American for the supple
mentary transport service. and that
operation will be by American per-
sonnel. The route of delivery has
oeen planned to avoid zones of actual
warfare, the announcement said.
Following closely momentous con-
sultations at sea between President
Roosevelt and Britains Prime Min
ister Churchill, this newest plan for
speeding aid to the fighting foes of
the Axis is believed to have been
agreed upon by the British Amer
lcan officials. 1t is considered prob
able, too. that other important steps
IN American plans for all-out aid
will be forthcoming soon.
1t is believed that, until now. de-
livery of American-manufactured
airplaneS to the British has been
almost entirely by the North Allan
tic route. Many American pilots
have been under contract to the
British Government to fly planes
from Canada to Britain, but there
has been no official American super
vision of this project such as is now
contemplated in the program of re-
inforcing British forces in the Mid
die East.
Text of Announcement.
The White House announcement
follows:
The President announced today
an important step to speed delivery
of planes direct to the British
forces in the Middle East.
agreements have been concluded
under which the Pan American Air
days System will ferry aircraft
from the United States to West
Africa, and will then ferry those
planes on to the Middle East.
In connection with the ferry
system, Pan American Airways is
establishing an air transport service
from West Africa to the Middle
East, and plans are under way for
a transport service from the United
States to West Africa. Planes
owned by the United States Gov
ernment will be used by Pan Ameri-
can, and they will be operated by
American personnel. The route of
delivery is so arranged that it will
nowhere pass through the zone of
actual warfare.
'The transport services will sup
plement the ferry system by return
ing ferry personnel and carrying
spare plane parts and items essential
to effective delivery of tircraft to
the Middle East. The route will also
be available for general commercial
use, providing direct air service
from New York or Baltimore to
Africa"