Salt Lake Telegram | 1942-10-05 | Page 4 | Senate, House Probe Committees Disagree on U. S. Air Power

Probe Committees Committees' Disagree on U U. S. S Air Power WASHINGTON Oct 5 UP Investigating UP-Investigating Investigating committees of the house and senate were in sharp harp disagreement Monday over the relative merits of American and enemy fighter fighter- planes I A house military affairs subcommittee subcommittee subcommittee sub sub- committee In a report released release Monday expressed the opinion that American army plants planes armore are ar more than a match for any of th the planes that are now pi pitted ted against them Jiem It cited figures showing that from February 1 to September Septem Septem- ber 20 the enemy had lost planes of all types on all fronts to o IH for tor American army ai air forces Chairman Harry S S. S Truman D. D Mo of the special senate committee committee com com- investigating the war pro pro- gram ram told the senate on September Septem Septem- ber er 14 that the committees committee's previous previous previous pre pre- pre pre- contentions that American fighter planes were inferior to the best British and German fighters had proved to be the truth The committee believes that tha the army should follow the committees committee's committees committee's com com- January recommendation and concentrate on the production of Its best planes Truman said and should give less attention to concocting publicity blurbs in intended intended in- in tended ended to emphasize that poor planes Ianes are better than none at atall atall atall all and can do a worthwhile Job when used by superior r pilots The house committee headed by Dow Harter D. D Ohio said that in in the final analysis it is the box ox score that counts It said that In the day 30 period from August 14 through September 14 the the ratio of enemy planes destroyed destroyed de- de troyed to U U. S S. S losses in combat was 75 to 1 I. Precise figures were vere withheld because the committee committee committee com com- feared that they might be beof beof of f some aid to the enemy Praise raise Bombers One point on which all congressional congressional lonal committees and experts appeared appeared ap- ap eared to agree was in the excellent excellent excel- excel lent ent quality of American bombers Of the Flying Fortresses Harter's committee ommittee report said The B 17 continues today to be bethe bethe bethe the fastest high altitude long long- range bomber In production In the world Its record of defensive combat demonstrates that it Is the most heavily armed bomber in incurrent incurrent incurrent current operation n. n The house committee said Eald it was idle to compare the speed performance performance performance per per- and maneuverability of one plane against another when engaged in war It Is only common sense to say that our planes and our pilots are performing exceptionally well when they are knocking down two or three enemy planes to every everyone one of ours that is lost it said