BY JULY U.S. WILL BUILD 250 PLANES A DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 283, 29 November 1941, Page 11

BY JULY U.S. WILL BUILD 250 PLANES A DAY

CALIFORNIA is striving every effort to increase her production of warplanes "for Britain. The numerical superiority in aircraft that Germany enjoyed over Britain's R.A.F. a year ago is fast melting away. Within the next few months it will have disappeared completely. Many competent authorities believe that once Britain, with the aid of American factories, pulls ahead in plane output the Nazis will never be able to regain the lead.

By H. W, Johns

My tour of the California aircraft plant area proved that every factory is working overtime, determined to surpass all records of deliveries to Britain. The great aircraft factories of Consolidated in San Diego now have 28,150 employees and expect to employ 45,000 when peak production is attained. Major Rueben Fleet, president of Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, in a production report, stated that 75 big land bombers and Catalinas had been built in the previous month, with Britain getting the majority of the land bombers and sharing the Catalinas with the United States Government. He said he expected within a few months to double the production. Now Totals 35,000 Yearly! It is stated that the combined output of American and British plants at present is equal to or perhaps greater than that of Germany's factories. One unofficial estimate of plane output in England and the United States is that planes of all types are rolling off assembly lines at the rate of about 35,000 a year. The extremely trying "makeready" period of the American aeronautical industry is about finished. Plane production in tremendous volume is now starting, and it has been estimated by reliable sources that by next July plane plants will be producing 250 planes daily. This figure, which includes fighters, bombers of various types and sizes, observation, liaison, transport and training craft, seems fantastic only to those who have not recently visited the plane factories of America. To see the hundreds of thousands of men engaged in building planes and to witness the hundreds being tested overhead is to know that the output is enormous. Roar of Test Planes I spent three days in San Diego, in Southern California, and every night as well as throughout the day, big bombers and other tyes of warplanes were droning overhead, undergoing the severest tests before getting on their way to Canada, Britain, the Netherlands East Indies and Singapore. On the basis of a five-day week, the 250-plane day would mean 60,000 craft yearly; if a six-day week were worked the figure would mount to / 2,000, or almost twice as many planes as were built in the United States from the first flight of the Wright Brothers to 1937.

There are many indications that an increasingly large proportion of the output will be heavy and medium bombers. England is not pinched now for fighter planes, but her need is for bombers of long range and heavy striking power, and that is what Consolidated is concentrating on. These are the warplanes that can reach out and daze or cripple a possible enemy before he could do any damage. There are scores of young Californians now in the American Eagle Squadrons and daily reports trickle through to California from London of the daring exploits of these adventurers in the air. All this is increasing the sentiment of Americans towards assisting Britain and Russia with everv ounce of their ability in sending plentiful supplies of war materials to the front. Many of these flying fortress type of warplanes delivered from San Diego to Britain cost from £120,000 to £200,000 and are a mass of high technique. Combat planes range in price from a modest £20,000

about 8000 or 8500 units a month. It has been unofficially estimated that peak engine output—to be reached in January, 1943—wi1l be more than 10.000 engines, totalling more than 12,000.000 horse power. As to the quality of American planes in comparison with German craft, there is little doubt, says Frederick Graham, an authority, writing in the New York Times. He says: "America's high-altitude bombers, such as the Boeing Flying Fortress and the Consolidated B-24, probably have no equal in the Third

Reich. Medium bombers built by Martin. Douglas and Lockheed have already proved themselves in battle. "In the matter of pursuit planes America is now building in quantity some of the finest medium-altitude fighters the world has ever seen. The Bell Airacobra, with its heavy fire power, speed and manoeuvrability, need ask odds of no fighter up to its present ceiling, and the ceiling is being pushed higher and higher. The Lockheed P-3S, twin-engine interceptor. likewise can take care of itself among the best of them. "Latest versions of the Curtiss P-40*s are more than holding their own against German Messerschmitts in the Middle East, even though numerical odds against the Ameri-can-built craft are heavy. In addition to the plane types how coming off American assembly lines, there are many improved bombers and fighters almost ready for production. "Nothing official has been said about the new models, but. there are many indications that they will lift the quality of American warplanes even higher.

to £26,000 for fight ars, and medium "Even though the chief emphasis big bombers are from £50.000 to now is on production, the develop£B3,ooo. Engine, propeller and acces- ment of new types of warolanes is sories factories, as well as airframe not lagging in the United States. It builders are building toward peak is fully realised, both here and in output. At the present time there England, that to defeat Hitler the are ten companies making aircraft war must be carried to Germany, engines and five automobile com- That requires long-range bombers of panies are either building or prepar- great striking power, bombers that to enter the field. can go to tremendous altitudes, and Next July, when plane output will fighter planes that can go as high probably be a torrent such as the or higher. Perhaps on some near world has never seen, the engine to-morrow the factories will be turnoutput is expected to amount to ing them out."

In Los Angeles and in San Diego the visitor hears that many new models of warplanes are being designed, and some have reached an advanced stage, but they are being well guarded and, aside from the fantastic stories in circulation as to their striking power and facility of handling, time alone will tell what is in store for Hitler and his legions. What is certain is that American genius is working day and night devising something to surpass the present high quality of American aircraft, in a determined effort to keep the flag of democracy waving.