-15- construction for the National Maritime Board. Moreover we look to the industrial energy of the Republic for a reinforcement of our domestic capacity to manufacture combat aircraft. Without that reinforcement reaching us in a substantial measure, we shall not achieve the massive preponderance in the air on which we must rely to loosen and disintegrate the German grip on Europe. The development of the Air Forces of the Empire provides for a total of nearly 7000 combat aircraft in the fighting squadrons by the spring of 1942, backed by about an equal number in the tralnlng units. But it is abundantly clear that this programme will not suffice to give us the weighty cuperiorlty which will force open the doors of victory. In order to achieve such superiority it is plain that shall need the greatest production of aircraft which United States of America are capable of sending us. It is our anxious hope that in the teeth of continuing bombardment we shall realize the greater part of production which we have planned In this country. But not even with the addition to our squadrons of tho aircraft which under present arrangements, |