Show Air Base on Mobile Bay in Use by 1941 I Work Starts This Thus Fall on I Huge Army Project MOBILE Construction Construction here of a gigantic United States Slates army air bate with base with an initial cost COlt of ot 0 11 10 It expected to begin In Septem ber bar Mobiles Mobile's harbor facilities played a major part In the selection of this city for tor the site she of the new base by Secretary of War Wood Woodring ring who said that the location was acct chosen with regard to the storage and nd dl of all types of ot air corps material and nd the heavy repair and end maintenance requirements pertaining pertain ing to the air ale forces in the southeastern south eastern section lecton of the United States The base will be established about one mile southeast of or the city and will cover a large expanse of bay bay- front land Woodring said that accessibility ac to deep water was an Important factor In view of ot the necessity ne nc of serving the army's air forces In the Caribbean sea lea Establishment of the depot Is part of the air corps' corps expansion program which Includes the building of airbases air airbases airbases bases In Puerto Rico Panama Alaska and one In the northeastern northeaster I section of ot the United States Stales Initial funds for the base bas were I provided In an appropriation for forI forthe forthe I the war department June 30 but army officers say additional funds fund will be requested later The base will have barracks for 2000 enlisted men and officers In addition to It Its I operating facilities The depot will be used for the storage torale of planes and other equipment and for maintenance and repair A main building an en gin gine test stand tand a supply warehouse and various other buildings will be constructed Plant Plans also call for grading seeding paving runways taxiway barracks barrack water systems system and a hospital A year two construction construction con period Is ii expected Coupled with the proposed base bale are extensions of the Garrow Darrow Bend ship hip channel two miles north of or the base ba so 0 that the large lare planes plane which the depot expects expect to handle can be brought to |