Evening star., 1942-09-20
Vast u. ). Air Service
Station Being Built
On British Soil
Speed Of Work Exceeds
Even Expectations Of
Americans Themselves

SPSSA VI W YIN GA@SCA9
Even Expectations Of
Americans Themselves
By the Associated Press
AN AMERICAN AIR SERVICE
BASE SOMEWHERE IN BRITAIN,
Sept. 19-On ground which only a
month ago was a bog there has
risen an impressive nucleus for a
vast United States air service sta
ton for the coming offensive against
Hitler.
Four weeks ago Maj Gen. Walter
Hale Frank, chief of the air service
command, said he wanted the first
units ready for operation by mid
September.
1t was a big, almost impossible.
order for a private aircraft company
and the Army which are doing the
work comparatively. But the bosses
said they'd try.
Today a rangy motor overhaul
section with so many shops you
would get lost without guide al
ready is functioning, with motor
test blocks installed, generator
plant set up, hangers, barracks and
various other repair buildings TAX
ing form.
There was an establishment here
to start with, of course, and some
roads and other facilities, thanks
to the British Ministry of Aircraft
Production, but American speed,
ingenuity and adaptability have
carried the project even beyond the
confidence of the Americans them
selves.
Tremendous Task.
Robert Crouch, production engi-
neer of Hartford, Conn, and Beverly
Hills, Calf, asserted: "It is ire
mendous task and it is being done
tremendously. If you think this
is progress just wait and see what
it'll be like in another two weeks" "
Arthur Lego of Indianapolis, one
of six Indiana men in the motor
repair section, said:7" expense has
been spared. They've put every
thing into it. The equipment is
wonderful. Some of it even is better
than that in use back home because
it is newer"
With Lego are Tony Remington,
George Campbell, Lowell Hale and
Louis Knue, all of Indianapolis, and
Alfred Y. Hardy, Evansville.
They are just a few of the hun
dreds of men who, Notwithstanding
that many of them are skilled me-
chanics, went to work Immediately,
unloading boat after boat, digging
for foundation pouring concrete
and helping in all manner of con-
struction jobs. Most of them had
not done anything of that kind
before.
Personnel Praised.
Gen. Frank declared that both
private and Army personnel were
magnificent"
No real attempt was made to for
malize shifts; when there was work
to be done it was done, no matter
how many hours were required.
Service Mechanic Sterling Neblett,
Houston, Tex, said: THE harder we
work the better we like it. And do
we like to get our hands on this swell
stuff coming over. Some of the men
actually stroke the machinery as if
1t were alive. The men are liking it
over here, too. Living conditions are
good. The only thing is the boys
sometimes get little depressed
when the weather is bad"
Stuart Skidmore, production en-
gineer Of Ferguson, a St. Louis
suburb, said:
"One of the worst things was get
ting used to this strange money.
But we found the best way for the
boys to learn values in British
money was to play poker"
Howard Butler, Hollywood, a serv-
Ice mechanic, asserted, This is an
exciting experience and I want to
stay and do my war job. But the
catch is I'm worried about things
back home. My wife has been ill
In the hospital and she naturally
wants me to be with her. I Just
don't know what ought to do"
Not Complicated by Worries.
On the whole, however, the lives of
these men apparently are not
greatly complicated by Worries
though most all have moments of
inconsistencies. They come from the
West Coast, the South, the Midwest
and the East.
Together with Army men who
share the praise on this project
they represent a cross section of
American industrial and mechani-
cal competence
Service chiefs emphasized that
repair work would be exhaustive,
saying that motors would be broken
down completely here and "a new
engine turned out"
They estimated that at least so
motors could be overhauled in a
week.
The big depot will service all
kinds of American planes, including
those used by the RAF and also
recondition British planes flown by
United States airmen.
Full operation by the first OF the
year is expected.
Civilians In the region still express
astonishment at progress so far.
Several hundred of them, some
travelling more than 100 miles to
work, now are employed on con-
struction Jobs at the base.