France Feb-40

[cardboard_killer]

80 years ago:

 

" After heated arguments with the bomber advocates, Ministre de l’Air Guy La Chambre implements Plan Vbis, which will boost fighter production to 500 per month by summer, focusing on the De-520 and Arsenal VG-33. Medium bomber production is reduced to free up factory capacity. MS-406s will be converted to more powerful MS-410s but no new ones built. MB-152 production shifts to superior MB-155 but these are intended to be in turn phased out by end of 1940 in favor of the MB-157 with a 1,580hp Gnome-Rhône 14R engine. Large numbers of P-40, P-39, and P-38 fighters will also be purchased from the United States.

- This will create a better balanced air force with fighters comprising 50% of strength by late 1940. The Armée de Terre had wanted two thirds of the Air Force to be bomber and reconnaissance groups and until now, had prevailed. "