Evening star., 1943-07-11
Truman Report Lifts
Some Of Secrecy on !
Newest U. 5. Planes
BY the Associated Press.

Inc truman COmmlCCee yeSCer.
day lifted some of the secrecy sur
rounding Americas newest war
planes and at the same time made
a critical appraisal Of older types,
finding some excellent, some in
ferior. Generally the verdict was
favorable.
In a 30-page report on aircraft,
the committee discussed several
planes heretofore in the hush -hush
category and told Of revisions in
others to improve their perform
ance.
The committee unveiled a new
Navy fighter capable Of excep-
tional performance" In the Grum-
man F6F, known as the Hellcat,
presumably the successor to the
noted F4F, called the Wildcat.
In telling OF the Hellcat, the COM
mittee mentioned the Vought-
Sikorsky F4U (Corsai) which has
been in action in the Pacific for
some time. The committee called
the Corsair "a fine naval fighter" /"
but said Vought- -Sikorsky had not
made as good a production record
as Grumman.
New Planes Mentioned
New Army planes mentioned by
the committee included:
The Douglas AIS, ian improved
version" Of the Douglas A-20
(Havoc). Versatile enough to per-
form manifold tasks, including
night fighting, low-level bombing
and strafing. The havoc, as a night
fighter, helped win the Battle Of
Britain. With different equipment,
the same plane becomes the Boston,
and has been widely used for cross
channel bombing missions, and in
many other parts of the world.
The Northrop Psi, a two-engine
fighter, intended for use at night.
The committee noted, however, that
progress on this plane has been
slow and 1t is far behind schedule.
While limiting Of bigger and bet
ter bombers, the committee said
that for reasons Of security 1t could
not refer in a public report to
matters with respect to four-engine
bombers and improvements thereon" !"
That recalled recent statement
by Charles e. Wilson, executive
vice chairman of the War Production
Board, that a super bomber is on
the way. Mr.. Wilson likewise gave
no retails.
THE Tr,,v,, a >, ,ro,,y> fo,pd ,,o fo,,y{
with the Boeing Bit Flying Fort
ress) and the Consolidated Liber-
ator (B-2D, the Army's present
four engine bombers. remarking
that their performance lis well
known"
Airacobra Being Improved.
Among the single-engine Army
fighters, the committee called the
North American Psi (Mustang)
superior to either the Curtiss- Wright
P-40 (Warhawk) and the Bell Air
acobra P-39), but disclosed that
an improved version Of the Aira-
cobra is under construction. while
the Warhawks will be discon-
tinued except for replacements and
trainers.
The Republic PAT CThunderbolt), g,
which recently has seen considerable
action over Europe, was called "a
good fighting plane, especially at
high attitudes" and the report
added: y
THE Army was slow to recognize
the value of this plane, because of
the Arny's primary interest in low
altitude planes, such as the P-40.
After belated recognition was OBJ
tanned, difficulties were experienced
in perfecting it for production. which
have now been overcome. 1t has
been used in the past several months
in England against German fighters.
and the committee is informed its
performance is good
The two-engine Lockheed P-38
lightning, which has seen action
on many fronts. won the committees
full approval: 1T has proved to be
a very fine plane"
Turning to two-engine bombers,
the committee found the North
American BIS CMitchelD "a valu-
able plane, and the rate OF produc-
ton is very substantial" and dis
closed that the Army plans to taper
off the production of its running
mate in the medium bomber field,
the Martin B-26 (Marauder) at
Martin plants in Baltimore and
Omaha in order to use facilities Ito
produce other types of planes"
Marauder Output Cost High.
The committee said the Marauder
had accomplished many important
mission, but difficulties with the
plane and the high cost of produc-
ton and maintenance" led to the
decision to taper off production.
Because of "unsual difficulties" in
landing and take off. the committee
said, it had been necessary to espe-
cially train pilots to the fly the
Marauder.
Another disclosure was. that the
Psi Is being equipped with Pack
ard-built Rolls-Royce two-stage en-
SlllC, dlio Wltll tilAo PO"Si pAoiV La
"a good medium altitude pursuit
plane" The Mustang, when equip
ped with an Allison engine, was
called a good-low altitude recon-
naissance fighter and bomber.
Complaining that greater emphasis
had not been placed on the Mustang,
the committee mentioned that 1t
had been characterized by both the
British and the Army Air Forces "as
the most aerodynamically perfect
pursuit plane in existence"
Although this plane was more
recent plane than the Curtiss P-40,'
the committee remarked, "it was in
production in 1941. In the opinion
of the committee, 1t would have been
preferable to increase the produc-
tion of Mustangs and decrease the
production of Curtiss Warhawks.
The committee said the Russia
esaee Nae8 f4H8 Es4& naea3 4oo6