Evening star., 1941-09-11
Ford Defense Work
Seen at PrevieW
OF Auto Models
Writers View Operation
Of Giunt Aircraft
Engine Plant
BY DAVID L. WILKIE,

DETROIT, Sept. 11.-Henry Ford,
who believes that war never settled
any dispute among the earth's peo-
pies, showed large group of news-
paper and trade magazine writers
today few phases of the huge part
he is taking in the automotive in-es
dustrys. s2,00O,O00,OOO armament5
program. u
At the same time he presented
for private previewing the 194z
model automobiles his company viii
make in sharply reduced volume
during the coming year because of
the defense emergency.
Ford long ago explained the ap-
parent paradox of his hatred Of
war and his factories in full blast
on war materiel manufacture.
Il hate war; he said, so I'm
fighting like the devil to end it."
Motor in Production.
The Ford Motor Co. has arma-
ment enthusiastically for bomber
planes and aviation engines-total-
ing more than half billion dollars.sI
Already in production is a Pratt 81
whitney radlal, air-cooled aviations
motor; in early prospect is mass pro-
ductlon of the gigantic Consolidated
Bad bomber planes and in experi-
mental testing is a 12-cylinder,
V-type, hquid-cooled motor with an
injector fuel system and an exhaust
operated super charger.
Shown today was the Pratt &
whitney engine in production in
the new S37,O0O00O aircraft engine
plant Ford has built within the
River Rouge factory grounds. The
aircraft production program con-
templates the delivery of 40 engines
day by next spring. Currently the
assembly schedule is one engine
daily. The initial order to Ford is
for 4,238 of the big double-row radial
engines for the United States Army. !
Also shown today was the huge
SAT 1000 1000 bomber plane factory
under construction day and night
east of Ypsilanti and some Is miles
west Of the main Ford factory in
suburban Dearborn.
In this plant, which will include
mile-long assembly line as well as
flying and testing field Ford ex-
poets to build not only sub-aSSem-
blies for the four-engined. 28-ton4
attack planes, but also complete
bomherS ready to fly. The plane
factory, described as potentially the
biggest Of its type in the United
States represents the major phase
of the Ford defense undertaking.
1t is expected to be ready for occu-
pancy soon after the first of next
January.
Goal Set Next Spring.
A s480,000,000 contract awarded to
Ford calls for subaSsemblies for 100
planes and rs completed bombers a
month, a program expected to be
attained late next spring.
The Ford war production effort in
cludes also new magnesium foun-
dry for making lightweight castings
for airplane engines; the assembly of
small "jeep," or Army reconnais-
sance trucks: Red Gross wagons and
mobile field kitchens. The latter, of
which Ford has presented a large
number as a gift to Britain. are
equipped for feeding the people of
bombed areas on short notice.
The new model automobiles shown
today included the new six-cylinder
engine vehicle as well as the various
types Of Lincoln, Mercury and Ford
units. Announced as new optional
equipment on the 1912 Lincoln and
Mercury cars is a newly perfected
automatic gear shift called the
'liquamatic drive" Distinctive new
frontal designs have been adopted
for the entire Ford line.