Maj. Gen. Henry 'Hap' Arnold.

Known today as the architect of the American Air Force, Maj. Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold had only been serving as chief of staff of the Army Air Corps for a few months when he spoke to the Los Angeles chapter of the Army Ordnance Association Feb. 8, 1939. The topic of the speech, "The Air Force Spreads its Wings," was a harbinger of things to come as Arnold would over the course of World War II transform the corps into the most formidable air force in the world.

No more sincere tribute can I pay the Army Ordnance Association than to say I long for the day when the Army Air Corps shall have cooperation and support of a similar body devoted exclusively to the promotion of its interests and aims in the solution of its problems. In the meantime, the best possible substitute is to know of the interest of the Army Ordnance Association in those purposes and those problems. It is particularly appropriate to have the Los Angeles Post of the Army Ordnance Association on our side since the importance of Southern California in the airplane industry is comparable to that of the New England states for ordnance materiel.

The president of the United States recently well said, "There is new speed and range to offense, therefore it has become necessary for every American to restudy present defense against the possibilities of present offense against us." Pursuant to the president's directives, we have recently submitted to the Congress a request for more than 3,000 additional airplanes for the Army Air Corps, which would bring our total to about 5,500 planes. This is the first step in our defense plans to meet that new threat.

The efficiency and effectiveness of our Air Force are based upon three considerations: (1) an adequate Air Force in being, (2) an adequate reserve of men and materiel, and (3) a trained aircraft industry of a proper size, well equipped to meet wartime requirements. By an adequate Air Force in being I mean one which is completely equipped with modern planes and which in addition has its full complement of trained combat and maintenance crews, and sufficient completed and well-equipped bases from which to operate and at which are installed the necessary repair, operation and maintenance facilities.

An adequate reserve must consist not only of the necessary airplanes, but also of trained personnel for combat and maintenance crews and for station overhead. Ample productive capacity includes training schools for personnel and industrial...