Evening star., 1942-08-07
Kaiser Contract
For 100 Cargo
Planes Slated
Work Planned if
ItWon't Returd
CombutCruft
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

Production Chief Donald M.
Nelson announced today the War
Production Board would give
Henry J. Kaiser, West Coast
shipbuilder, a commitment to
build 100 large cargo flying boats,
to be followed by 400 others ION
performance" provided the work
can be done without interfering
with the combat plane program.
Mr.. Nelson said Mr., Kaiser would
report to him on his facilities for
building the planes and materials
needed to do the job. Mr.. Kaiser
also will decide whether the planes
are to be built in his yards at Rich
mond, Calf, or Portland, Greg.
Then, WPB will decide II the work
can be done without disrupting the
ornaments program.
Asked whether he thought Mr..
Kaiser's plans could be carried out
without interfering with production
OF military planes. Mr.. Nelson said:
"1Nhave hopes. At least we can
try"
Would Be Mars Type.
The planes would be of the 7o-ton
Glenn-Martin Mars type. Any con-
tract to be given Mr.. Kaiser pre-
sumably would come from the Navy
Department. The Navy has been
testing the Mars, largest flying boat
ever built, and it was said the tests
had been satisfactory.
That is good news to me-" Mr..
Kaiser remarked when told by The
Star of Mr.. Nelson's decision. II am
sure the job can be done without
interfering with any other program"
Mr.. Kaiser said his first step would
be to work with engineers of the
Martin plant near Baltimore. This
will be done, he said, in cooperation
with the Navy Department.
I'VE will analyze working plans
for the Mars" Mr.. Kaiser said, and
make determination of materials
needed, and then report back to
Government officials. I now believe
the first plane can be turned out
in eight months after the materials
are made available and the working
drawings are placed in my hands"
Mr.. Nelson said the other 400
planes would be built if the initial
100-plane program were accom-
plished successfully in Mr.. Kaiser's
shipbuilding plants. He added that
no other builder would participate in
the program.
2O0-T0nners Held Feasible.
Mr.. Kaiser said he "hAd hopes"
that he would be given the green
light" to build 200-ton cargo planes.
He said he was confident planes Of
that size could be built, adding
that every aircraft man I have
talked to has told me 20O-tonners
are entirely feasible"
Il appreciate the confidence Mr..
Nelson has placed in me and I know
he will not be disappointed" Mr..
Kaiser said.
Has Delivered 100 Ships.
Mr.. Kaiser pointed out that Mr..
Nelson's commitment for a limited
number of planes was In line with
action of the Maritime Commis-
sion when he first started building
cargo vessels.
THE first order we got was for
80 ships" Mr.. Kaiser said. ITO
date We have delivered more than
100. We have 100 more to build, and
We'll get them out in record time.
My plane program has been criti-
cized in some quarters on the
grounds that materials might be
wasted, since I had never built q
plane. Well, a few short months
ago I had never built q ship. I.
think my record pretty well speaks.
for ITSELF"
The shipbuilder declared he did
not think too great a problem was
presented by materials SHORTAGES or.
by the scarcity of aeronautical engi-,
neers.
Yesterday I talked with Govern
ment officials who handle the raw
supply programs" he said.
land from what they told me I
think the materials angle can be-
worked out all right. In addition, I
have employed a large stah Of
geologists who are securing the
country for untapped materials
sources. Every day or so they como
up with find"
Reports Some skepticism.
Mr.. Kaiser said that while he had
received splendid cooperation"
from most of official Washington,
"the American public and the news
papers" there were some skeptics'
around who did not think he could
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