military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (10/18/89)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Wednesday, 18 October, 1939 In Stockholm, the Kings of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, and the President of Finland meet in the Four Powers Conference. Issues include Hitler's peace proposals and Russia's overtures toward Finland. It is widely felt that yesterday's German counteroffensive in the Saar region signals the onset of a "real war." Others suggest that it instead is a preliminary to a new peace offer from Berlin. This week's Time magazine includes an assessment of the Armee de l'Air, the French air force. France's monthly aircraft production is reported as only 200. The Amiot 143-M bomber, a 1935 design, equips some six French bomber groups, and is known to its pilots as "the plane with the built-in headwind" (capable of only 190 mph), though better models are now in service. Also damning is that France retains in service many old-model US aircraft, including about 200 P-36's, which have already been superceded here. Time speaks in glowing terms, though, of the RAF. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "These "carriers" are well-armored battle wagons carrying machine guns and rifles of various types suitable for firing on anything, including infantry, tanks, and airplanes." - Harold Denny, NY Times reporter, referring to his visit with British mechanized forces in France.