AIRCRAFT BUILDING

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21036, 12 February 1940, Page 7

AIRCRAFT BUILDING

LARGE BRITISH ORDERS OUTPUT DOUBLED (Official Wireless) RUGBY, Feb. 10 The disclosure that orders to the value of some £6.000,000, covering production of the latest type of aircraft, had been given to the greatlyextended group organisation, which was established in Canada after the mission to that country in 1938, was made by the Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood, in a speech at Bristol. The British output of aircraft had been doubled in a year, Sir Kingsley Wood revealed. During the Arctic weather of January, aircraft of the Coastal Command flew close on 1,000,000 miles. The first half of January provided the most severe flying weather every known, yet throughout the bitter spell not a single day’s halt was called in the vital work of the Coastal Command, and not a single day passed without fighter patrols taking off to guard Britain’s shores. Referring to co-operation with France in air operations, Sir Kingsley said there was a comprehensive scheme of pooling information. Secret equipment was exchanged and new developments were shared. As a practical test of all this, on more than one occasion German reconnaissance aircraft approaching Britain had been pursued and shot down by French fighters. OTTAWA, Feb. 11 It is understood that the first machines to be manufactured under the new £6,000,000 order will be Hampden bombers. Later it is likely that four-motored Sterlings, the most modern bombers, will be produced. GESTAPO ACTIVITIES DALADIER’S DISCLOSURES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrigii? PARIS, Feb. 9 Before the decision to hold a secrei session M. Daladier said there were still many spies about. He disclosed that during their searches the police found a Gestapo questionnaire to German agents in France asking the strength of the police force, who were M. Daladier’s friends and enemies, the attitude of the French people towards England, details of France’s Arab and coloured troops, and whether the Chamber had confidence in Daladier and so forth.