JAP PRODUCTION OF PLANES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 204, 30 August 1943, Page 5

JAP PRODUCTION OF PLANES

ABOVE ALLIED ESTIMATES (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.l’.A.) Recd. 7.40 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 2’J Japan is now producing nearly 200 J aeroplanes monthly, most of which arc available against General MacArthur and Admiral Halsey, reports Jack Turcott, New York Daily News correspondent in this war theatre, citing a Chinese military official. He says that Allied estimates of 500 to 600 monthly as the limit ol Japan'.-, plane production were based on faulty pre-war espionage. Combat planes constitute nearly 65 per cent, of the Japanese aircraft output, enabling the enemy to sustain the terrific losses in New Guinea and the Solomons, while continuing to send up a steady stream of replacements. The Chinese official added that the quality of Japanese aircraft is improving. German technicians and machine-tools were arriving in Tokio in greater numbers. As consequences Japanese planes now had better streamlining, heavier guns and additional armour. The Japanese were also reducing the number of plane types from over 50 to 18 in order to facilitate mass production.