One Billion Dollars Lost in U S Aircraft Scandal
A historical announcement details massive air program waste during World War I. It cites investigations led by former Justice Hughes and Senate and House committees, alleging Congress funded flying corps while no American front line planes existed. It notes 11 425 US and France service personnel with few functional aircraft and broad factory idleness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Congress
France
Supreme Court
Charles K. Hughes
Senate
House
Patrick
United States Army
America
United States
Frear
Baker
Air Service
The Flaming Coffins and the Rickenbacker Story
An wartime exposé recounts the Liberty engine and its aircraft as dangerous failures. Captain Rickenbacker describes a dogfight against four Fokkers, while pilots condemn unreliable tanks and call the Liberty planes “flaming coffins.” Witness testimony from Field Kindley and R. L. Lee Murphy criticizes the program and its costs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Metz
Richthofen
Germany
Meuse-Argonne
Rickenbacker
The Airplane Shortage and Waste During the War
In the final days of the war about 2,000,000 U.S. troops were in France with 1,250,000 in field armies and a need for 3,400 planes. Actual front line planes were few including DH 4 observation craft, limited American combat and bombing aircraft, and 44 allied purchases. The Aircraft Production Board, staffed by inexperienced members, bypassed regular manufacturers and squandered about $1 billion on ill directed contracts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
Patrick
United States Army
Wright Company
Curtiss Company
New York
Chicago
California
Aircraft Production Board
Why the Curtiss Company Could Have Filled the War Order
On September 19 1917 the Curtiss firm the largest American aircraft maker received an order for 3 000 fighting Spads the request was cancelled November 7 1917 Vice President Keys testifies before a congressional investigating committee He says Curtiss employed 18 700 men and could deliver 100 planes daily if contracted in September 1918 The piece criticizes Baker and the aircraft board and notes alleged corruption and ignorance among board members including Edward A Deeds and John D Ryan.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Curtiss Firm
America
Keys
Curtiss Company
Congressional Investigating Committee
Frear
MR. Keys
Curtiss
Navy
Baker
Aircraft Board
Cash Register
Dayton
Edward A. Deeds
Hughes
Judge
Senate Committee
Reed
John D. Ryan
William (. Potter
MR. Ryan
Senator Reed
Potter and Assistants
Baker and Associates to Startle World with Liberty Motor
Five craftsmen Deeds Coffin Walden Montgomery and Potter ignored aircraft experience to pursue a new Liberty motor using the Delco ignition system. Colonel Deeds held United Motors stock and later claimed to have severed ties, but records show transfers to his wife occurred later in 1917.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Coffin
Walden
Montgomery
Potter
Baker
United Motors Corporation
Colonel Deeds
Deeds
Delco
Secretary of War
Liberty Motors Fail to Fit Planes in Turbulent Experiment
The Liberty Motor designed by Packard aimed for all aircraft types but failed to suit any model. Trials showed no existing airplane matched the engine, leading to modifications of French and British aircraft. Conflicts over contracts and internal disputes hampered progress as major designs were abandoned.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
Baker-Deeds
Packard Motor Company
Curtiss Company
Padi
War era aviation missteps and phantom aircraft promises
The fragment discusses early 20th century aviation during World War I, mentioning Baker and Deeds, La Guardia, Georges Cy, Liberty motors, Curtiss, Hispano Suiza, Simplex, and French government efforts. It critiques misled promises of 20,000 fighting planes, blaming strategic errors and propaganda that left troops outmatched by German fliers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Baker
Deeds
la Guardia
Georges Cy
Liberty Motors
Curtiss Company
Simplex
Sam
France
Soldier Blood and Blunder in War Commentary
A wartime polemic condemns crafters and incompetents at home who try to wash their hands of profiteering by clinging to Allied sacrifice. It argues soldiers and officers won the war through courage, while blaming Democratic leadership for political gain from a war record.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
America
Argonne
Washington
Belleau Wood
Wyoming Narrative on Costs and Fort McKenzie
The State Tribune notes enormous costs over two years raising taxes and questions misused funds in Wyoming. It cites Fort McKenzie as idle and dismantled with fixtures moved, and recalls $500,000 spent moving troops from Fort Russell to camps before return to Atlantic ports.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sheridan
Fort McKenzie
Fort Russell
California
Texas
Atlantic Seaboard
The
State Tribune
Also Mentioned on This Page
Mead
Kettering
Talbot
MR. Baker
Grand Pre
Aviation Department
Grand Pro
Field K. Kindley
Sixty- Fifth Squadron
R. L. Lee Murphy
Lexingto
Twentieth Aero Squadron
T Hat
Curtis Company
Baker and Associates
Startle World
Wyoming
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