BOMBERS FOR R.A.F.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20384, 22 October 1940, Page 7

BOMBERS FOR R.A.F.

LOCKHEED DELIVERIES HUGE ORDERS SYDNEY, Oct. 4. During the six months ended June 30, the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation Burbank, U.S.A., delivered 139 Hudson general reconnaissance bombers to the British Air Ministry. The company also delivered 26 ccmmercial or private aircraft, according to an official statement which has reached Sydney. The company has (received huge orders from the British Air Ministry for Hudson and Lodestar bombers and for a new twin-engined fighter. The profits for the six months totalled 2,022J319 dollars. Total sales of completed aeroDlanes, spare parts and assemblies were 19,268,434 dollars, and at June 30 unfilled orders amounted to 169,845,415 dollars. Of this huge backlog, 6.368,481 were United Stales military orders, 135,686,738 were foreign (mostly British) military orders, and 27,772,194 dollars were commercial orders.

Since the beginning of the year, the Lockheed Corporation has received orders from the British Purchasing Commission for 1200 aeroplanes. Deliveries for the first half-year were well below maximum possibilities, it is stated, because certain critical items of material and component parts were not available. But this is being rapidly corrected. The large expansion programme recently announced and a rapid increase in personnel, should make for larger and speedier deliveries during the ensuing six months.

Since June, materials totalling 12,000,000 dolars have been bought, and plant and buildings ordered and under construction exceed 6,000,000 dollars. Several thousand new employees have been added to the payroll, bringing the total to more than 12,000.