U.S. AIRCRAFT CRISIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22338, 24 May 1947, Page 5

U.S. AIRCRAFT CRISIS

BEHIND IN RESEARCH SUPERIORITY OF METEOR WASHINGTON, May 21. High officials of the War, Navy and State Departments have met in secret session with leaders of the aircraft industry .to discuss the crisis in plane production. The greatest problem is to preserve the physical equipment of the aircraft plants, and maintain at least a nucleus of a skilled staff. American research is lagging behind other countries, Britain’s new jet fighter * the Meteor, is superior to the PBO (Shooting Star) and the Royal Air Force has almost completely converted its fighter groups to jet planes. An American mission is visiting England to acquire some of Britain’s superior “know how.” German engineers are working in Russia on the Messerschmitt jet . and rocket fighters, and the Soviet has a jet bomber with a 500-mile range, probably a development of the German Arado, of which American air chiefs know little, but which they regard with respect. The Soviet is also turned out bombers based on Super-Fortresses which were forced down in Russia but never returned to America, in spite of repeated requests. The Soviet holds most of the plants where the German type 21 U-boat—far superior to British and American submarines—was developed. It can move at high speeds indefinitely under water General D. Hickey believes that the Russians are ahead of America in tank development and also that they have the majority of German scientists, paying them £IO.OOO to £15,000 a year, plus good houses and special food whereas Congress and _ the press are demanding the expulsion of German scientists working in the United States.