The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-05-02
1000 Radio
Stations
In Malleuver
~ vERN HAucLAND
AP Aviation Reporter


WASHINGTON LH - More than
leo radio stations took part early
Saturday In the nations first large
scale test Of emergency facilities
tor broadcasting civil defense in
structions In case of atomic at
hack.
Next month airplane-spotting sta
hons In n states will start oper-
sting on q round the-cIock basis.
The Defense Department, which
srdered both developments, de-
scribed them as part Of the regu-
lar defense training process, not
10 be construed as evidence Of any
tightening Of international tensions.
Nevertheless, they demonstrated
mat the nation is moving ahead
ID the building and strengthening
81 its air guards. AT the same
lime there have been these recent
indications 1T progress In offense
developments IS well:
/. The disclosure that the Con-
vair B-36 heavy bomber has sue
eessfulIy ''mothered. an F-Sz JET
fighter, BY carrying the smaller
plane aloft and launching II in
flight.
2. Confirmation Of the existence
ok three new Air Force projects
involving planes that fly far faster
than the speed OF sound---thc North
American F-1oO, In the 800 miles
per hour class, and the McDon-
nell F-101 and Convair F-102, said
10 be even faster.
.. Maiden flights this month Of
ne two long-awaited high.speed
heavy bombcrs. the first pure JET
nircraft of that Size--the Convair
B-60, 4 development Of the B-36,
and the Bocing B.52. 4 larger mod
u Of the 6-jet BAT.
(. Disclosure Of plans 70 rcfuel
ne B-52 in flight.
The B.52. Ike the B.6o, has eight
Jet engines. Pure jets have such
. high rate of fuel consumption
that their range Is limited. Refuel-
Ing In flight, however, could give
The B.S2 the range Of the B.s6.
The latter has six piston. engines
and four jet engines and can carry
10000 pounds of bombs 5000 miles
y . target and then return.
The s5s .o0o.pound B.s6 il gener.
ally rcvarded IA The potential No.
carrier. for the Air Force. 81
atomic bombs. However, It's top
speed Is in the "over ass miles
an hon. class. well below that 81
Iet figiaEers.
The Republic F.gi fighter.bornb.
er has q Top speed Of more .ihan
900 miles IN hour, weighs I'D to
$4,000 pounes and can carry up
TO 1000 pounds Of bombs.
The Defense Department an
nounced last week that Consoli.
dated Vultee Aircraft Corp, Fort
Worth, Tex, Il conducting expert.
ments in the air launching az F.s4s
and that the F-ss had been
launched from the B.ss.
There were reports that the B.
% also had been observed nom
The ground in the act of recap
turing the F-s4. Defense officials
declined to comment on this.
One speculation concerning the
BIS nothering project was that
the F.sS might carry . small atom.
e bomb, and might be dispatched
20 the target because of lis su.
perior speed and lis better chance
Of escape.
While one fighter would hardly
give much protection 10 one B.ag
three dozen fighters dropped from
as many B,36s could provide d for.
midable defense screen.
An obvious disadvantage Ia =
B-s6, 10 earting along al F.Ss in
is belly, would be It's resultant
loss 10 bomb-carrying capacity.
The radio station exercise. from
l:so am. 10 3 am. local times
Saturday, was designed to test the
ability Of all stations 10 remain
unidentified while hroadcastinr
over either Of two prescribed chan.
nelx.
Using special equipment t,ae
stations broadcast emergency civ.
y defense Instructions ii such =
manner that enemy bomber would
have been unable to use the radio
beams as navigational aids.
The ground observer stations
were ordered 10 2s.hoar duty for
IN indefinite period starting NAY
II.
Eventually defense planners
nope e have ao.co1 posts. manned
~ 10000 civilian volunteer spos.
iers, u The system known As ire
ground observer corps.
The observation posts Would be-
slghs miles apart. ca The average
NE corps now has Only about 80 !.
oa members in ~ states.
a dramatic Demonstration Of the
manner IL MICH tie postwar air.
plane snotsars htmnts.,v. -.