Global Transportation 87 



cruising speed for economy of operation, and low weight per 

 horsepower. 



The Army's Air Transport Command 



Foreshadowing the cargo-carrying wings of the future is 

 the Army's Air Transport Command. It is bigger than all the 

 prewar air lines of the world combined, as to both route-miles 

 flown and loads carried. 



The ATC establishes and maintains bases wherever neces- 

 sary for the transportation by air of cargo, personnel, and 

 mail both within the United States and abroad. In early 1943 

 ATC's planes were operating over more than ninety thou- 

 sand miles of transport routes, which were being extended as 

 fighting fronts required more supplies in a hurry. 



All sorts of cargoes are carried by the ATC. In cases of 

 emergency, light tanks and jeeps are transported across the 

 oceans by air. About the bulkiest objects commonly carried 

 are airplane engines. These and plane parts of all kinds are 

 frequently handled by ATC planes. Speed is the keynote of 

 ATC operations. One ATC plane flew from Australia to 

 California in the record flying time of thirty-three hours and 

 twenty-seven minutes. Medical supplies and blood plasma are 

 flown to their destinations. A complete hospital was flown to 

 Alaska in thirty-six hours, replacing one that had burned to 

 the ground. 



Planes which fly vital war supplies to the fighting fronts 

 usually do not return empty-handed. They come back loaded 

 with strategic materials for war industry. Planes have brought 

 block mica from India; platinum from the Persian Gulf; beryl 

 ore, quartz crystals, industrial diamonds, and mica from South 

 Africa. Crude rubber has been flown from Brazil and balsa 

 wood from Central America. A certain type of Fiji Island 

 beetle was "drafted" and flown to Honduras to make war on 



