Evening star., 1943-07-11
Gross Laxiiy' Laid
To Curiiss-Wright
In Truman Report
Continued From First Pageo

Kundsen supported its stand that
the inspection was thorough.
Nearly Billions in Orders.
Curtiss- Wright, the committee
said, has received more war con-
tracts ($4,7l7,500,o0 from June /,
1910, through March /, l943) than
any other firm except General Mo-
tors.
Expressing disappointment at "the
overall performance OF CurtiSs-
Wright" the report continued:
"It (the committee) believes that
through the excessive ability and
zeal OF its salesmen and the extent
and nature of the relations 1t had
built up with the War and Navy
Departments through the years pre-
ceding the war. 1t received too many
contracts, with the result that It's
engineering departments and skilled
personnel were spread too thin"
In an accompanying statement,
Senator Wallgren, Democrat, OF
Washington, declared that Curtiss-
Wright has produced hundreds of
millions of dollars worth of war
goods. He said, some Of its products
have been exceptionally good and
its performance, taken as whole,
has been creditable."
Committee Recommendation.
The committee had this recon-
mendation next:
THAT the Army and Navy oficials
interest themselves more earnestly
In the procurement of quality ma
terial for our fighting services than
in trying to bolster up the produc-
ton at the expense of quality Of
plants that fail in this respect, re-
eardless Of the long past history Of
the parent corporation"
Touching on the mechanics of Its
investigation, the committee, COM
planned that some Army inspectors
"too often seemed to be motivated
by a desire to protect the company
and its interests" It said these
officials, apparently led by 1t. Col.
Frank c. Gruench," made specific
and material Misrepresentation"
and "misstatements under oath"
Col. Gruelich, it said, is chief in
spector of the Army Air Forces.
After recounting evidence which
It said indicates that engines were
built at the Lockland plant and
sold to the Government, which were
leaking gasoline, and charging forg-
ing and skipping of inspection oper-
ations, the Senate group assured
the public that extensive steps"
have been taken to obtain proper
inspection and make certain that
defective parts will not be placed
in engines.
u. S. Plane Output Unequalled.
The 3o-page printed report dealt
comprehensively with American war
plane production which. on the
whole, was described as "unequalled
anywhere else in the world"
Predicting a vast increase over the
output of $4,000 planes in the year
ended June 80, the committee de-
clared:
Our enemies have not yet felt
the full weight of our airpower.
Coming months will bring
an r-increasing food Of destruc-
ton"
Nevertheless the committee was
critical of several aspects.
Many tens of millions Of dollars
have been wasted" the report de-
clared, in production of the He'll
diver dive bomber for the Navy at
Curtiss- Wright plants. To date, the
committee said, Curtiss-Wright has
not been able to build single one
which the Navy considers to be usa-
BILE as a combat airplane.
Army Discounts Dive Bombers.
Further, the report continued, the
Army has virtually written of dive
bombers as a modern weapon
against land forces, but the Navy
still believes they may have sub
stantial uses and wants to buy many
more Of them. The committee said
it is a fact that the present type
dive bomber may soon become OBJ
solete.
Other highlights OF the report and
recommendations:
The number of models should be
reduced and production concen-
trated on proved models.
The Navy should be censured"
for It's "ofacial indifference" to the
helcopter, which the committee
praised as a valuable new device
with vast possibilities as a military
and naval adjunct.
The BPS Martin Marauder, two
engine Army bomber, has unsafe"
landing and takeoff characteristics,
and its production will be tapered
OF.
Army Doesn't Like Gliders.
The Army is mot enthusiastic"
about gliders, and the program has
been cut back.
Glenn L. Martin, president of the
Baltimore aircraft firm bearing his
name, said the report told only
half the truth about our Marauders,
and the worse half at that" He
said the Marauder, or BIS, had
performed "singularly valuable serv-
ice in Africa and 1t figured largely
in the Eight Army's ultimate de-
feat of Rommel."
Fully half of the lengthy report
was filled with allegations OF short
con1ings of Curtiss- Wright and its
subsidiary at Lockland.
Senator Wallgren, who submitted
the report on behalf OF the COM
mittee, said in his statement:
Although the committee is dis
appointed in the overall perform
ance of the Curtiss- Wright Corp.
and the difficulties which 1t has
encountered with respect to the
Helldiver and the 1920 engine at
the Lockland (Ohio) plant, the COM
mittee realized that Curtiss-Wright
Corp. has made signal contributions
to the war effort.
"It has produced hundreds OF mil
lions Of dollars Of war goods, IN
cluding engines, airplanes and pro-
pellers which have been Of great
value at the fighting front. Some OF
its products have been exceptionally
nnod and 3te y,Arfnrrnarce taken as