TO BE DOUBLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 101, 2 May 1938, Page 7

TO BE DOUBLED

Production Of British ’Planes EXPANSION OF AIR FORCE Received May 1, 6.30 p.m. RUGBY, April 30. The further expansion of the Air Force, which was recently predicted by the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, has now been authorised and the measures of acceleration and development in the aircraft industry to supply the additional equpiment are immediately to be put in hand. It is understood that the plans, which were prepared by the Air Ministry after consultation with the Society of British Aircraft Manufacturers and now approved by the Government, will aim at doubling the production of aircraft within two year::. The Air Ministry has announced the personnel of the supplies committee of seven, which is charged with the supervision of production, under the chairmanship of Lord Winterton. It is stated that the increase in the current financial year will be so marked that the revised estimate of officers and men required for the Royal Air Force will be the biggest of any post-war year. Extra squadrons will be formed and in some squadrons the first-line strength of aircraft will be raised. The members of Lord Winterton’s committee will include Air Vice-Mar-shall W. L. "Welsh (Air Member for Supply and Organisation?, Air Marshal Sir Wilfred Freeman (Air Member for Research and Development), Air Vice-Marshal Peirse (Deputy Chief of the Air Staff), Mr. A. H. Self (Second-Deputy Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry), Sir Charles Bruce Gardner (chairman of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors) and Mr. E. E. Bridges, of the Treasury. A statement on the new 'planes will be made in the House of Commons withm the next fortnight.