Evening star., 1942-01-04
j. :, 10 Concentrate
On Giant Output Of
Select Combat Planes
'SuperIotive' Models
O. (. IA. Lists Include
'Fostest SineIe-Engined'
Continued From First Page)

Continued From First Page)
cally in the o. E. M. summary in
cluded:
The Army's P-38. a low-wing, two
engine monoplane built by Lockheed,
described as the fastest military
plane in the world with speed
well in excess of 400 miles an hour"
The P-38 weighs about the same as
the PAT and is armed with 37-mm.
cannon and .50-caliber machine
guns. It's two 12-cylinder super
charged engines are rated at 1,l50
horsepower each.
The P-39, known as the Bell
.Airacobra," a single-place. single
engine pursuit ship that weighs
about 5000 pounds. Heavily armed
with 37-mm. cannon and so and
40 ealiber machine guns. LAS a
middle altitude fighter, as well as
for attack on ground targets. this
plane has no equal" the Q. E. M.
said.
The Flying Fortress Bit and the
Consolidated B-24, both four-englne
bombers which have been used ex-
tensively by the British.
Bombers Surpass All Others.
The Martin BPS and the North
American BIS. both medium bomb
ers. whose range, speed and bomb
carrying ability is greater than any
similar bomber in any other air
force"
The Douglas A-20A. twin-engine
lipht attack bomber. The O. E. M.
said at this point that there have
been reports that our bombers. IN
the four-engine as well as two
engine class, can complete tnelr
mission and outrun certain highly
vaunted foreign fighter planes that
have attacked them"
The A-24, the Douglas dive bomb
Or which the o. E. M. quoted avia-
ton experts as calling the nnest
In existence"
Later models Of the Curtiss P-40,
which already has done such merl-
torious work for the British IN tne
Middle East"
other types of fighters which are
being produced for the British out
have not vet been used by American
forces, including the Republic war
rior." the Vultee vanguard, the
North American Mustang" the
Brewster Buffalo" and the Grum-
man "Martlet."
Services Made Selections.
The O. E. M. said that the re-
sponsibility for the selection OF tne
models to be concentrated on reSS
with the Army and Navy.
This concentration on the pro-
duction of fewer types will not mean
khat improvements to current models
will be eliminated or that there will
be no new planes" it was made
clear. Research and experimental
ton will continue at an accelerated
rate. But limitation on the num-
Der of different planes OF similar
purpose will make it possible to
produce more of the chosen few.
Mass production of automobiles was
made possible by such production
methods"
The o. E. M. continued: "1t is
the considered opinion of our mill
tary experts that the planes rolling
of production lines of American
aircraft factories are the finest Of
their type in the world. From the
viewpoint of quality the Army has
the best air force in existence TO-
day and the air arm Of the Navy
is second to none.
1T is the real job Of American
industry to produce so many OF these
high quality planes that our all
forces will outstrip the Axis aerial
power in numbers as WE'LL
The summary explained that the
bombers mentioned specifically were
named merely as better known
examples.
Better Types Coming.
while these are being completed
and sent to swell the numbers of
our far-flung garrisons," the o. E.
M. said, newer bombers are COM
ing out of the blueprint stage. These
planes will be faster. larger, have
greater load ability and more range
than the ones already the finest in
the world"
Actual production figures are
military secrets and cannot be made
public, the o. E. M. pointed out,
"but it can be stated that the daily
output of military planes today is
greatly increased and is increasing
month by month"
In addition to the future concen-
tration of plane output. the o. E. NJ.
noted these additional trends" IN
American military aircraft produc-
ton:
Increased pooling of facilities
within the aircraft industry, and
between it and the automobile in
dustry.
Fuller coordination of existing
facilities so that stoppage OF produc-
ton because of plant damage Will
be held to minimum by the trans
fer of operations to standby
plants.
Greater emphasis on the produc.
ton of bombers, the long-range Of
fensive striking force Of the Army
and Navy.
To Draw On Auto Plants
AS an example of the pooling
process. the o. E. M. pointed out
that the mid-western bomber as.
sembly program will draw upon the
resources Of the largest automobile
companies to supply parts ana sub
assemblies for the several types ol
bombers. In making the huge Con.
sondated B-24 one large automobile
manufacturer will supply parts fol
its own assembly plant being bull
and for other new plants now goinl
up. it was said.
Curtailment Of automobile pro.
duction will release the major par
Of the enormous automotive indus.
try to the aircraft production pro.
gram. Already the automobile in.
dustry has made approximately
$1,000 100000 worth of military
equipment. including airplane parts
the o. E. M. stated. Notable amonl