Evening star., 1942-09-07
y. S. Air Survey Shows Weakness in Fiqhters,
But Bombers Are Making Remarkable Showinq
Need Is for Fortress
Plane Able to Garry
Double Present Load
By RICHARDL. STOKES.


debated in the United States today
in Congress and press, by radio anc
in popular discussion, is the quality
of American combat aviation. Bat.
tle-front accounts of opposite tenor
varying from rosy applause to furi.
Gus condemnation, have provoked
national bewilderment and disquiet
On the one hand, cables from
the South Pacific bring reports oi
fabulous numbers of Japanese plane.
shot down by American pilots with
minimum loss to themselves. From
Europe, the Mediterranean, Aus
tralia and China pour triumphant
sagas on the prowess of American
heavy bombers.
1t. General Henry H. Arnold
commander of the Army All
Forces, declared in a recent press
conference, without reservation, or
the factual basis of eight months
of war" that a great part of our
air equipment "is better than good;
it is superior in quality and per-
formance" A famous ace of World
War I, Capt. Edward V. Ricken-
hacker, asserted in radio polemic
week ago that American war
planes are superior to those of
the enemy" and that this superb
ority has been proved by the bloody
record of war itself"
On the other side, correspond
ents returning from the Pacific the
ater quote American pilots as pro-
testing that Japanese Zero pursuits
"can fly rings around" such Army
fighters as are available in that area !;
while dispatches represent Ameri-
can airmen VINO took part in the
Dieppe raid as congratulating them
selves that they few Spitfires rather
than Airacobras and P-40s. Brig,
Gen. Claire L. Chennault, COM
mander of the "F1ying Tigers" is
said to have been compelled to pre-
pare his group "for the harsh real
ity that Jap planes could climb
faster and turn quicker" than their
own; and that ''one P-40 against
one Jap Is outnumbered three to
one"
Charges by Seversky.
In the current American Mercury,
the noted designer and analyst, Maj.
Alexander P. de Seversky, maintains
that the public, with at ieast the
tacit consent of our military author
tiles" Is being misinformed about
the merits of our aviation equip
ment. He urged that the full truth
be told in order to prevent danger
Gus delusions of superiority" "The
glory of our gallant pilots" he de-
cided, "is that they are doing superb
work despite inferior equipment"
The last straw was heaped on pop
ular concern by recent structures of
British experts" against the Boeing
Bit Flying Fovtress. idol and most
characteristic achievement of the
American air arm. 1t was contended
that the Fortress, with a relatively
feeble bomb load, is unsuited for the
au-out demolition required to para
lyze Hitler's war industrial plant.
In this hubbub of conflicting opin-
ions, what are the actual facts?
Within the limits Of censorship on
numerous figures and specifications,
the Post-Dispatch undertakes here
with to present the unbiased truth,
with entries on the credit page fairly
recorded and those in the debit
column inscribed with realism. The
article will deal principally with
Army warplanes, since these are the
ones in controversy. The material
was drawn from War and Navy de-
partment sources, and from the
writer's eye - witness observations
during last Mays newspaper tour OF
munition plants, by arrangement
with the National Association OF
Manufacturers. Following is an at
tempted summary Of the present
situation:
There is no criticism of American
attack and medium bombers. Or
the contrary, they have won un-
stinted praise for battle perform.
ance. The Armys fast, agile Dougla.
A-20 is celebrated here and abroac
as combining the best features of ar
attack plane and a swift. low-flyine
bomber for cooperation witt
ground troops. Both American anc
British commands have used the
single-engine Douglas A-2o in pre-.
ference to dive bombers.
Medium Bombers Superior.
1t is generally believed that the
Axis Is now building nothing to riva
American medium bombers in theil
own field. Rugged, heavily powered
and stoutly armored, these two.
engine craft are protected with
formidable guns and carry two ton.
OF explosives at speed better thar
300 miles an hour. Two are famed
for epic accomplishments, the NORTH
American B-25 Gen. Mitchell ant
the Martin B-26 Marian, known t,
the British as the Marauder. tn,
first bore Gen. Doolittle and hi
heroes in the raid against TOXIC
the second won new laurels b
doubling in brass" as a torped
plane in the Aleutians and battle O
midway 1SlanQ.
OF high British repute are thre
American medium bombers bull
under lease-lend and not so far use
in this country. They are the Lock
heed Hudson and Martin 167 Mary
land and 1877 Baltimore. The Hud
son is employed for Channel wor
by the British, who call it tn
boomerang" because sit alway
comes back
The Army's two heavy bomber
are the Boeing Fortress and Cor
solidated B-24 Liverator. The
range of about 5000 miles is SUI
passed by the Navy's Consolidate
BP2Y Coronado patrol bomber, wit
nearly 5000; and the German Heir
kel 1T. with an estimated range
7,o40 miles, which has been use
chiefly for anti-convoy operation
over the Atlantic and which az
peared for the first time last wee
in daylight raids over England. B,
the BIZ and B-24 outf1y Britain
newest four-engine craft, the Hal
fax, Short Stirling and Arvo-Lal
caster, by 500 to 1000 miles.
The Fortress carries three and
half tons of bombs and the Libe
- - GxYN !