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AIR FERRY TO RUN BOMBERS TO AFRICA
New Service in South Atlantic Being Organized to Parallel Northern Delivery
ROOSEVELT STUDIES PLAN
Reported Route Will Be From Florida to Trinidad to Brazil to Gambia

Washington, June 16 - All-air delivery of American planes destined for British forces in Africa was discussed today as plans moved forward for perfection of the new Air Force ferry command.

While there was no official description of the plan to start flights across the South Atlantic similar to those over the Northern route now used to ferry bombers to Great Britain, it appeared probable that planes would be flown to a Brazilian coastal point, thence to a port in Gambia or to Freetown, African port south of Dakar.

Heretofore planes destined for the British-American forces have been shipped by freight vessels to Gambia, over a route which is expected to become increasingly hazardous for shipping.

The trans-ocean flights would not be made by American Army or Navy pilots, but presumably by civilian pilots such as the British have hired for the North Atlantic ferry service.

It was understood here that bombers and long-range fighters would be flown from Florida to Trinidad, then on to Brazil, and thence across the ocean.  They would be flown from Gambia to air fields in Egypt, as it is done at present with the airplanes shipped via surface vessels.  This method of delivery would accomplish the dual purpose of avoiding t he danger of loss by ship sinking, and speed up deliveries.

Plans are already under way to ferry fighting planes, which have a much shorter flying range than bombers, from Newfoundland to Britain by a series of short jumps over the North Atlantic.  These plans involve stops at Greenland, Iceland, and possibly the Faroes of Scotland.

The South Atlantic ferry project came into discussion coincident with a White House conference this afternoon at which the ranking members of the War and Navy Departments discussed with President Roosevelt the development of the ferry command into a major phase of the British aid.

Among officials at this conference were Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War; James V. Forrestal, Under Secretary of the Navy; Admiral Harold R. Stark, chief of Naval Operation; Major Gen. Henry H. Arnold, deputy chief of staff for air, and Rear admiral John H. Towers, chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics.

The White House discussion was understood to have been tentative.  It foreshadowed, however, action in the near future looking to a considerable increase in the delivery of American aircraft to British forces, including both bombers and the smaller pursuit and observation types.

A final decision is understood to await the anticipated arrival from Great Britain within a few days of Air Vice Marshal Bowhill.