Evening star., 1947-07-28

advice of an industry committee,
headed by Donald Douglas, airplane
manufacturer, set up to review the
Kaiser project.
Chairman Ferguson said he could
not understand why it had been
deemed necessary to get the RFC or
some other Government agency to
provide money for a project that
was found to be fantastic
ing words used by Mr.. Meigs.
May Have Been Long Chance.
Senator Ferguson said:
Here we have the Army and the
Navy, the Maritime Commission, the
War Production Board and the in
dustry saying the project was fan
tastic, that there was nothing about
it that had been accomplished by
publicity.
"Why was it necessary to get
money from the Defense Plant Corp.
for project about which there
was this sort of advice?
Something must have come into
the picture, or else why would the
Government go into this project"
The witness replied that maybe
it was thought wise to take a long
chance in the hope that they might
do a miracle"
Later, he added that it was the
current opinion" it was wise to
give the industrialist the chance to
go ahead with the project.
The report of the Industry Ad-
visory Committee, Mr.. Meigs said
had no effect on Mr. Nelson. The
witness said he seemed deter
mined" to get the Kaiser flying boat
built.
Met Hughes in 1912.
Mr.. Meigs said the first and only
time he had met Mr.. Hughes was
OH September 27, 1912. Mr. Hughes
at that time was very tired and
very worried young man." the
witness said, reading from notes he
had dictated for his diary, following
a conference.
Mr.. Hughes had told him, Mr.
Meigs said. that he knew he coulo
not produce the big flying boat sin
less than two years" and that If he
failed to do so it would reflect on
him CMr. Hughes.
Mr.. Meigs said he had told Mr.
Hughes "the public and the poll
ticians" would expect him to do the
project within two years.
Il asked him why he was taking
on such a project when he must
know, from his experience as an
engineer, that he couldn't do it, in
the time allowed, the witness con-
tined.
He said Mr.. Hughes gave him the
impression that he had been sold
on the idea that 1.-The impossible
could be done" He was imbued with
the enthusiasm of Mr.. Kaiser, Mr.
Meigs said.
Recalls Considerable Confusion.
| Mr.. Meigs earlier told the COM
mittee there had been considerable
confusion at the inception of the
project as to just what aid was to
be extended to Mr.. Kaiser in de-
yeloping the big cargo flying boat,
at the inception Of the project al
to just what aid was to be extended
to Mr.. Kaiser in developing the big
cargo flying boat.
He said this had been clarified
by Mr.. Nelson after Mr.. Douglas
a member of the industry review
committee, had sent him a tele.
gram asking for more specific in
structions and declaring the Other
manufacturers could not help Mr.
Kaiser make designs for the huge
flying boat unless ordered to curtai
other Government orders.
The work of designing the flying
boat, Mr.. Douglas warned, accord
ing to the witness, alone was q
colossal project that would require
100000 engineering hours" of work
Or 40 competent and available
engineers for one year."
1t was brought out that at that
time all the Douglas plants were
using only 10000 engineer hours g
year on all their work
Plans Were Rather "Nebulous."
Mr. Meigs said aircraft manufac.
turers who served on the industry
committee set up to preview the
Kaiser project including Grover
Looming and Glenn L. Martin.
Though hard-pressed with pro.
duction work of their own, Mr.
Meigs brought out, members Of tht
Industry Committee made trip tt
California to study the prospects o.
the Kaiser idea.
i When Senator Ferguson asked i
Mr.. Kaiser planned to built flying
boats in his shipyards, Mr.. Meig!
replied that the plans were rather
nebulous."
They did look over the shipyards
he added, but the aircraft. manu-
facturers decided the assistance they
could lend the Kaiser project wa!
negligible. .
/ AS the hearing recessed until
e pm. Chairman Ferguson made tn
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