AMERICAN PRODUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 22, 25 July 1940, Page 11

AMERICAN PRODUCTION

UP TO 3000 A MONTH

IN ADDITION TO PRESENT PROGRAMME

The Minister received his transatlantic telephone call after a conference in Washington between the British purchasing agent and Mr. H. L. Stimson, Secretary for War, and Colonel Knox, Secretary for the Navy. The meeting was called to co-ordinate British purchases of American planes with the needs of the American forces. In the course of further remarks, Lord Beaverbrook paid a warm tribute to all those engaged in the aircraft production in Britain—the men, women, technical experts, and i the ' management. The spirit of the Prime Minister had resounded through the factories and the workshops, he said, and all those engaged in industry had responded. Lord Beaverbrook said he - had recently examined a Messerschmitt 110 which was shot down in battle. It was a fine machine and an example of excellent workmanship. It had two engines. The petrol tank was self-sealing, as was also the oil tank, by means of a composite material made of rubber and leather. But though the oil tank was armoured, the windscreen was not bullet-proof, and there was no armour to protect the pilot. Why wattle pilot not armoured? he asked.

LONDON, July 24. Broadcasting-, Lord Beaverbrook (Minister for Aircraft Production) said that he had just received a telephone message froni the agent of the Aircraft Ministry in the United States and Canada. The agent said that he had been authorised by Mr. Morgenthau, Secretary of the American Treasury, to say that the United States Government had approved a plan, to be put into immediate operation, for the, production of aeroplanes for Britain up to an ultimate maximum of 3000 per month. These plans would be developed without delay. "This is in addition to our present American programme," said Lord Beaverbrook. '' That is news for you."

Lord Beaverbrook added that Britain had purchased 12,115 American engines (he made no reference to the date of purchase or whether orders had been delivered), and he stressed the heartening effect this would have on the workers in the industry in Britain.