Evening star., 1942-03-06
School Woodshops
Being Converted 10
Make Model Planes
$500 Croft Expected
To Be Turned Out
For Use by Navy

Woodshop students IN Junior and
senior high schools here are finish-
ing up routine cabinet work this
week preparatory to opening Mon.
day . campaign to produce $500
model planes for Uncle Sam.
In addition. some Of the metal
working shops, finding materials
hard to get and anxious to con-
tribute to the total effort, are max
ing over-just as are the automobile
factories of the country-to join in
the model production.
The planes will be precision built
to scale for the Navy Department,
and are to be used by student pilots
and civilian spotters for training In
identifying planes. The first 20
specifications Of q total Of so have
been distributed to the shops. and
although organizationA preparation
Is not yet complete. work will start
in earnest Monday. according to
John H. williams, woodwork In
structor at Powell Junior High
School, who Is being given charge
of the entire District program.
Navy Ratings to Be Given.
The Navy Department announced
yesterday that rating certtneates,
conferring naval titles on junior
high and high school students, would
be awarded for excellence in model
construction work. A youth who
builds one model plane that meas
ures up to Navy specifications. 1t
was explained, will be awarded q
certificate designating him a cadet
aircraftsman."
Construction OF additional models
of various specified types will win
higher ranks for the maker, such
as ensign. lieutenant Gunior grade),
lieutenant. lieutenant commander,
commander and captain.
To reach the top grade Of cap
tain aircraftsman" the Navy said
student must have constructed
total of 10 acceptable models. rep
resenting planes Of five different ma
tions and covering the following
types: Fighter, scout bomber. OBJ
servation plane. twin-engine bomb
er, seaplane. biplane, twin-fuselage
fighter. torpedo bomber, four-engine
Army bomber and four -engine pa
troll plane.
New to Instructors, Too.
Mr.. Williams said today he plans
to complete organization Of both
the white and colored programs
soon. The boys will be divided into
groups Of fours, under his prelimi-
nary plans, and will work on one Of
the models.
Other woodwork instructors are
to be gathered and discuss the prob
lens Of construction, according to
Mr.. Williams, since the project Is as
new to them as it is to the pupils
Pointing to the need for precision
and exact conforming to specifica-
tions, Mr.. Williams said he hoped for
q so per cent average Of approvals.
After construction, the models are
to be inspected by special commit
tees and be turned over to the Naval
Air Station at Anacostia.
Time is all important observed
Mr.. Williams, who has been with the
schools system 18 years and lost his
left forefinger in model airplane
production. He has supervised
model plane construction for the
Community Center Department and
also for the Playground Department.
Smaller Models First.
The planes to be constructed range
In size from 6fnch to 16-inch wing
spreads, but later plans may call
for a large model.
Work on the first 20 models will
consume about five weeks, accord
ing to his present plan, concluding
about April 7. Work will then be
on the second 20 from April 20 to
May Is, and from May 18 to June
IL the final 10 will be built.
But one thing is in our favor"
he observed, "the boys love the
work"
Mr.. Williams said he thought at
some schools girls might cut out
the template" scales from the
specifications, but indicated he did
not believe girls would be used In
the production of the planes them
selves.
As soon as his position is made
official, probably today, Mr.. Will
liams plans to set up liaison estab-
lishment with the colored schools
and complete the organization work
of inspection committees. He start
ed out as woodwork instructor in
the E. v. Brown School in 1924 and
hae haen at povell for aho,,t -