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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0518.PDF
206 FLIGHT MARCH 5TH, 1942 BEHIND THE LINES Service and Industrial News from the Inside of Axis and Enemy-occupied Countries Teutonic Fitness TT is still frequently believed that •*• the only positive contribution of the Nazis to the German people was their care for the well-being of the younger generation. Parades of sun burnt, stripped-to-the-waist youth de lighted many a visitor to pre-war Nazi Germany. But how misleading is the outward appearance is revealed by a Nazi medical periodical. There it is stated that Nazi soldiers who grew up from 1931 are inferior in medical stan dards and cannot stand the strain of war as well as those whose vital years of growth were in the period between 1925 and 1931. This clearly shows that in the days of the Weimar Republic the general health and nutri tion level was much better than that produced by the "Strength through Joy " and " Guns for butter." Indeed, the German medical weekly is alarmed by the growing fatigue and the reduction in physical fitness of the general populace, and suggests long periods of rest. That such frank revelation could be overlooked by Goebbels' censors is, perhaps, in itself an indication of the growing fatigue among the Nazis. Made in Italy "C^RANTIC efforts are being made in •*• Italy to improve the types of air craft and engines. From the frequent visits of German experts to Italy, and other indications, it appears that there is an increased tendency to subordin ate the Italian aircraft industry to German experts, to concentrate on the production of German types and on some selected engine types which have been approved by the pooled research resources. Among such engines the following two appear to have found the approval of the German mentors: — The Fiat A.82RC42, an 18-cylinder air-cooled twin-row radial. Take off power at 2,400 r.p.m., 1,400 h.p. ; in level flight and at 2,300 r.p.m., 1,090 h.p. ; normal output at 2,300 r.p.m. and at 13,800ft., 1,250 h.p. ; diameter, 52.7m.; length, 65.4m. ; frontal area, 15.15 sq. ft. ; bore, 5.8m., stroke 6.5m. ; cylinder volume, 2,875 cu- in- Reduction gear ratio, crankshaft- airscrew, 8 to 5. Crankshaft and air screw rotate anti-clockwise. Com pression ratio, 6.75 to 1; gear ratio of the single-stage centrifugal blower, 3 to 8.65 ; 87 octane fuel; lubricant pure castor oil. Normal oil pressure, 100 to 114 lb. /sq. in. Dry weight, in cluding accessories, 1,920 lb. Two drives (for the revolution counters at half crankshaft speed); two universal drives (9/8 crankshaft speed) ; two for the synchronisation of guns (half crankshaft speed). Com pressed air starter with direct fuel in jection ; carburettor with automatic altitude correction. Constant speed Hamilton-Fiat c.p. airscrew. Alfa Romeo 135RC32 18-Cylinder twin-row radial, an improved version with the take-off power increased by 100 h.p. Take-oft power, 1,600 h.p. at 2,400 r.p.m. Rated power, 1,400 h.p. at 2,400 r.p.m. at 11,150ft. Dimensions, length 5.88ft. or 7.55ft., depending on gear; diameter, sifin.; frontal area, 14.65 sq. ft. Weight, dry, 2,140 lb. Bore, 5fin. Stroke, 65/15m. Swept volume, 2,942m. Com pression ratio, 6 to 1; airscrew reduc tion gear ratio, 2 to 1 (gears for both senses of rotation as well as for two oppositely rotating tandem airscrews). Co-operation Tpo increase the output of aircraft in occupied France, the Nazis have '' helped '' to reorganise the in dustry. A central organisation, the " Groupement d'Organisation *de l'Aeronautique " (G.O.Ae.) was estab lished for this purpose. The organisation has separate divi sions controlling engine, airframe and accessories production. Leadings Frenchmen who are associated with the management of the institution are:—M. Henri de L'Escaille, Paul Mazere, Eugene Heral, Gaston Chaus- son, of the S.A. Chausson, and Pierre Latecoere. The anxiety of the Germans to mobilise this industry for their needs is best shown by their consent to the establishment of new plants in un occupied France. This clearly gives the Nazis the advantage of drawing on the production resources of a non-belli gerent country. Quite a number of French firms have availed themselves of this opportunity to run parallel enterprises. Thus Louis Breguet have their headquarters at Villacoublay, nr. Paris and in Toulouse; the Gnome- Rhone Engine Company has plants in Paris and at Limoges. The Hispano are producing at Bois-Colombes, nr. Paris and at Tarbes in the Pyrenees. The Potez Company continue manu facture in their old works near Albert in the occupied zone as well as in a new plant at Le Rayol, Var. The industry, controlled by the G.O.Ae., is to concentrate on the pro duction of the following types : —A single-seater fighter Dewoitine 520; a twin-engine fighter Le045, and a four-engine transport Bloch 161.• i (Above) The Alfa Romeo 135RC32. (Left) Fiat A.82RC42 which is installed in the Fiat B.G.A. two-engined bomber.
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