Evening star., 1943-01-23
Riekenbacker Urges
Plan 10 Find Jobs for
Returning Fighters
Tours Detroit War
Plonts in Effort TO
Speed Production
Sy the Associated Press.


DETROIT, Jan. 23.-A picture
Of American soldiers fighting in the
hell holes of the Pacific was left
with Detroit war industry by Capt.
Eddie Rickenbacker today along
with a demand for jobs provision
plan for them when they come
home.
The hero Of two World Wars,
who was cheered in many factory
as he made tour of war plants
yesterday. called both for about
production effort TO help our boys"
now and willingness to help again
on their return from the battle
fields.
Bear in mind that when this
war is over" Capt. Rickenbacker
said, last night in an address before
the Detroit section of the Society
of Automotive Engineers, there will
be more rugged individualists come
back to America from the four
corners of the world than We ever
had at any one time in our history.
They will not accept regimentation
of their lives, or planned economy
They will want the same oppor-
tunities-and will demand them
and will get them-that we have
had, for they are entitled to them."
Contrast i'm Billions.
AT another point, Capt. Ricken-
hacker said; Realize that we have
in the past several years spent bill
lions of dollars to destroy self
reliance, initiative. ina gination and
individuality. trying to plan the lives
of 10000, 900 people by a superior
few. Now we are spending billions
to recreate seE-reliance, initiative,
Imagination and individuality"
Capt. Rickenbacker proposed
three-point program affecting SOL
dlers returning from the battle
fronts.
TT is now time" he said. that
our Congress should provide legisla-
tion to:
"First, on his release or discharge
any member of our armed forces
can be employed by any employer
without having to join any organ
ized labor union.
Second, on his employment. he
shall have equal voting rights with
any other employe in any employe
and management plan of the en-
ployer
Third. his seniority in relation
to other employees of draft age
should date as of the day he en-
listed or was indicted into his
country,s service
Autographs Bomber.
The plant tour included visits to !
the Packard Motor Car Co. factories |
where Rolls Royce Merlin aircraft |
and PIT boat marine motors are
being made, to the De Soto division
Of the Chrysler Corp. the Willow |
Run tFordD bomber plant and the !
Cadillac motor plant where light .
tanks are in production.
At the great bomber plant. where
Capt. Rickenbacker was escorted by
Henry and Edsel Ford and accom-
panied by 1t. Gen. William S.
Knudsen, production expediter of
eiiC war hCpdl kiIISlll. The IlyeT
christened the latest of the big B-24
Consolidated four -engined bombers
to come off the crowded assembly
lines. The big bomber at the END
of the line had Capt. Rickenback-
er's famed hat in -the-ring" symbol
painted on its side. He inscribed
his name in large chalk letters.
Stopping at an unfinished Job
Capt, Rickenbacker climbed up on a
workers platform and wrote on the
fuselage: Our boys in Guadalcanal
need this ship-the sooner the bet
ter" and signed his name.
In press conference the World
War flying ace predicted that with
the coming OF peace aviation would
be the biggest industry in the world.
The airplane, by bringing peoples
of the world closer together, he /
added, would enable them better to
understand each others problems. /
Thus, he said, what now is the ,
greatest instrument Of war, will be- |
come an angel Of peace" |