First I recommend that you direct a memorandum to the Joint War Production Committee suggesting that planes of the Burnelli type be put on the integrated program of requirements.

As I see it, any attempt in Canada or here to build either experimentation models or to build quantities on order for any of the United Nations will be disapproved by the Joint War Production Committee unless this is done. Lack of this already, in the case of the MB-2 stopped MB-2 development(see first paragraph p. 3).

Take the necessary steps to secure from an American company (Burnelli preferably if he shows facilities and evidence of control of the patents) one or more MB-2 planes as a "hedge" should the C-76 program prove impossible.

Take steps to secure a prototype of the 220,000 lb. all cargo land type plane reported upon by Munk provided this fits in with a program of the Air Transport Command.

It may be advisable to specify that except for the motors, accessories, and appliances these orders must not interfere in any manner with the present production program; also, these two planes might afford an opportunity to try out what the British call "private venture procurement" which worked out so successfully with the Mosquito.

Again, if Wright-Field is preoccupied and unable to take this, Civil Aeronautics would be glad to do so. In the event C.A.A. is entrusted with a task, recommend it to be done on what you have worked out before satisfactorily with them on "Certificate of Airworthiness" basis.

In making these recommendations I submit that you will, by so doing, be making an attempt to (a) -- secure safer airplanes, (b) -- obtain less expensive aircraft.

With respect to (a) -- Safety, wing loading has been going up at such a dangerous rate of late that an effort of some kind must be made to stop it. With increased wing loading the impact in a crash, from greater speed, mounts up so rapidly that the chances of passengers surviving diminishes about as the square of the increased pounds per square foot loading, something most distressing which few seem to appreciate. (b.) Cost, aircraft, already so expensive when compared to the cost of automobiles is actually mounting up with quantity production. In speaking of the Navy plane recently in the Senate during the debate on Naval Appropriations ( in May 1943) Senator Thomas referred to one airplane which has been production for three years in the Navy, as an example citing for it a cost of $75,800 in 1941 to $112,000 in 1943. Hasty calculations would seem to indicate that this airplane, after modifications, is costing close to $20.- per pound as compared to automobiles at $0.15 per pound -- over 100 times as much!

The structure of these Burnelli planes permits the use of wood, common alloys of steel, and magnesium. There actually is a surplus of magnesium at the present moment, -- 40 million pounds being produced monthly with indications that 50 million will be produced monthly by the first of January 1944.

Construction of these planes should not in any manner embarrass the present production program. In fact, there appears to be everything to gain and nothing to lose by encouraging both in Canada and here, the building of these airplanes.

Respectfully submitted,

Harold E. Hartney, Lieutenant Colonel (inactive)