Evening star., 1951-01-08
Plane Output Rising
To 10 Times Rate Of
June, McCone SAYS

American war plane production
Is being stepped up to 10 times
its rate as of last June, the month
the Korean fighting began, ac-
cording to John A. McCone, un-
dersecretary of the Air Force.
The new production rate tar
get has been set for May, 1852,
when the Air Force expects to have
sufficient groups and planes to
complement total armed force
OF 3.5. million men. This means
substantially more than the "a
groups announced as the goal for
the earlier planned force of 2.s
million.
At the same time, MFR. McCone
said. aircraft producers wilr be
tooling up at a pace which would
allow a doubling of the aircraft
production in case the world situ-
alton demands it.
Truman Calls for $4,000 Yearly.
In his State of the Union
message this afternoon Presi-
dent Truman said the Nations
industry must be geared to pro-
duce $4,000 military planes and
$4,000 tanks year,
MI. McCone would give no exact
figures on production but indica-
tions were that the aircraft indus
try would be capable of turning
out 20 times the pre-Korea output
by May Of next year. He said that
whell the peak of the present
buildup is reached, the production
will be held at the top level
through the remainder of 1852.
Should there be no increase in the
total armed forces by January
1858, he said the production rate
probably would be scaled down to
meet only requirements and
peacetime attrition.
The undersecretary told the reg
ular Fentagon press brieflng today
that the Air Force is speeding
plans for a new heavy bomber to
replace the B-36. He gave no de-
tails except to say the new aircraft
would be an all-jet plane.
Takes Note of Complaints.
Mr.. McCone took issue with
several aircraft company officials
who estimated that production by
the end of this year would bel
only two and q half times that
of last December. He said I'VE will
have to reach to attain President
Truman'S figure of a five-fold
rise in plane output" by next
December but that I'VE expect to
approach it closely"
Taking note of aircraft indus
try complaints that some plane
orders are being placed with
automobile companies, Mr.. Nc
Cone said:
1--WE are making the fullest
utilization OF operating aircraft
plants, but our requirements ex-
ceed their capacity.
Rather than put Shadow
plants back into operation or
build new ones at this time, which
would mean the recruitment OF
thousands of new workers, the 1
setting up of schools. the creation
of housing shortages and the like,
the mobilization plan calls for the
use of labor pools created by cut
backs in civilian production and
shortages of materials.
S3.4 Billion Committed.
On the matter of the buildup OF
machine tool supplies for aircraft
plants, the Air Force official con-
ceded there would be the problem
of freezing types" but he argued
"this device will greatly acceler-
ate subsequent mobilization"
should that become necessary.
Mr.. McCone also made the fol-
lowing disclosures:
/. The Air Force already has
committed $3.4 billion this fiscal
year for procurement of complete
aircraft. He said an important
part of this money was spent on
planes not now operational.
2. There is serious problem in
accelerating production of both
aircraft engines and electronic de-
vices.
3. The B-36 sis and will con-
tinue to be" the Air Forces heavy
bomber until the new one comes
into production. There will be
a substantial increase in the out
put of B-36s at the Fort Worth
plant.
4. The Marietta (Ga) plant,
the biggest and most modern OF
the unused aircraft factories, will
soon be busy with notifications
of B-29s and other types and later
will produce a bomber of unspe-
CITED design.