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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1836.PDF
FLIGHT JULY 22ND, 1943 Fortresses, in daylight raids on Europe, have brought down more than 1,100 enemy aircraft for an ammuni- tion expenditure of about 300 tons, or something over 6£ million rounds. That appears to work out at more than 6,000 rounds fired for each aircraft brought down. The Truman ReportS EVERAL very interesting facts emerge from such fragments as have reached this country of the report on American aircraft production by the Truman sub-committee of the Senate. Certain allega- tions of inadequate engine inspection at the Lockland, Ohio, works of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation have been vehemently denied by the president of the cor- poration, as reported on p. 95, and comment must be deferred until all the facts are available. If the Truman Report has been correctly quoted, i: appears to us that it is slightly unfair to the much- discussed and abused Ford Willow Run factory. According to extracts from the report quoted in this country, one. passage read as follows: — '' The production line was set up similar to an auto- mobile assembly line, in spite of the warnings of many experienced aircraitmen. This resulted in slower progress at the beginning, but should result in increased production at a later date, providing there are not too many modifi- cations and changes." It may appear impertinent of us to venture an opinion without having, had an opportunity to inspect the Willow Run factory. We need hardly say that nothing could be farther from our intention; but we have had the view expressed to us by those who have made a close study of Willow Run that there is little to be seen there which is not perfectly normal and orthodox '' parent'' aircraft factory practice. The automobile influence is seen mainly in the lavish scale of the tooling-up, not in manufacturing methods. Criticism of the Martin Marauder relates chiefly to its take-off and landing characteristics, which are said to be "difficult" in the hands of other than specially trained pilots. It appears likely that if there had been no other criticism the type would have been continued, but the report refers to it as being costly to produce and maintain, and the combination of these features has resulted in a decision by the U.S. Army to taper off the production of the type. CONTENTS The Outlook - War in the Air - Here and There - Germany's Naval Aircraft - - - New K.L.M. Service - Handley Page Halifax Mk.II, i.A - Thermocouple Plugs - Aircraft Characteristics ... Behind the Lines - Plywood and Plastics ... Correspondence Service Aviation - 81 83 86 87 91 92 94 96 98 99 103 104 The Dive BomberT HAT the Truman Committee should have reported that the U.S. Army has decided that it will have little need of more dive bombers need cause no surprise. Experience has shown that against ground targets the dive bomber is vulnerable unless it has com- plete air cover and the ground targets are inadequately equipped with anti-aircraft defence. The report states that "the programme will be greatly reduced, both be- cause of the Army's opinion that the dive bomber is not valuable for most Army purposes and because of the inability of the company to date to produce usable planes." The U.S. Navy does not quite agree with the Army about dive bombers. That, again, is scarcely surpris- ing. The dive bomber has given good results against targets at sea, although, as the report states: "'Skip bombing 'may prove to be more satisfactory than dive- bombing." The Navy, therefore, is still of the opinion that it should continue its dive-bomber programme. The committee appears to be in some doubt. :/ 4 In the series of articles on dive bombers which began in our issue of June 10th this year "Helldiver " chal- lenged the view that the dive bomber is dead. He came to the conclusion that improved types might change the picture. SAVING THE SINKERS : An R.A.F. Catalina picking up the crew of a Coastal Command Fortress who had been forced down on the Atlantic six days previously after sinking a U-boat. During the long Air/Sea Rescue search a U.S. Navy Catalina was wrecked while trying to alight.
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