AMERICAN PLANES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 5

AMERICAN PLANES

26,000 FOR ROYAL AIR FORCE.

PRIORITY FOR NEW ORDER SOUGHT. ‘'SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION' ’ (United Press Association —Copyright.) WASHINGTON, October 30. Mr Roosevelt announced that he was clearing the way for Britain to reinforce the Royal Air Force with 26,000 American-made aeroplanes, comprising 14,000 already on order, and aft additional 12,000 for which Britain has asked. He had asked the Defence Priorities Board to give the “most sympathetic consideration” to Britain’s requirements. He said that as a result, additional plant facilities were needed to make the United States the strongest air power in the world. He reiterated that Americau youths would never be sent to the European war.

Mr Roosevelt said that in spite of three months of aerial blitzkrieg, the Royal Air Force was actually stronger to-day than at. the beginning of the attack, largely because of American replacements. “The British have now asked for permission t<s'negotiate again with American manufacturers for 12,000 additional aeroplanes.”

Mr Roosevelt said that his unove to send more aeroplanes to Britain was premised on the objective of attaining a productive capacity of 50,000 aeroplanes a year in the United States. , “In taking these order's for planes to go overseas, we are following hardheaded self-interest,” he added.

Mr Roosevelt said he was also giving approval to large additional British orders for artillery, machine-guns, rifles and tanks, with equipment and ammunition.

IJhe productive capacity of the United States would not fail, he said. In 10 months aeroplane engine output had increased 240 per cent., and brand new plants for aeroplanes and engines Avere being built in the Middle West.

“When these additional orders are approved, they will bring Britain's present orders for military aeroplanes from the United States to more than 26,000. They will require still more plant facilities, so that the present programme both of the United States and Britain will not be interrupted.” International circles interpret Mr Roosevelt’s approval of the project to supply Britain with 12,000 more aeroplanes as an indication that Britain hopes soon to take the aerial offensive. It is understood that the United States exported 500 aeroplanes .to Britain in October, and the monthly average is expected to reach 800 in December. The “NeAV York Times”- says that the War Department has prepared plans for submission to Congress requiring 2,000,000,000 dollars to build 20,000 bombers, in addition to the present programme. It is assumed that Britain will get a large proportion of these bombers, which will consist of 8000 twin-engined, probably dive-bomb-er types, 8000 medium bombers, and 4000 heavy four-engined bombers similar to the “Flying F'ortresses.”

Tho plan is virtually tantamount to the introduction of mass production in aviation, in which the latent automobile industry is likely to play an important part.