Britain’s Amazing Aircraft Production

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 3

Britain’s Amazing Aircraft Production

(Received 1 p.m.)

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, September 26. Sir Stafford Cripps, speaking at Newcastle declared that victory now seemed certain and added: “It is only the time and the cost in human life that is still in doubt. How long that time will be. and how great the casualties are must now depend largely upon the efforts of those on the industrial front in Britain and America. A sustained, increasing effort may bring us earlier victory with all that it means in saving human lives.” Pointing to the enormous expansion in aircraft production and production of all those multifarious devices which assist the fighter and bomber, Sir Stafford said: “If the figures for the first six months of 1940 for the structure and weight of aircraft produced is taken at 100, then the corresponding figures for 1941. 1942, 1943 —in each case the first six months—are: 161, 244 and 364. This shows hokv great is our production now compared with those six months of 1941-1940, when we were making planes which fought the Battle for Britain.

“But this is not in itself enough. We still need more aircraft to make good our heavy losses in offensive fighting today and prepare for that even greater offensive which must come before the end is reached.”