Construction of Air Base Here
To Be Started Within Month

Oklahoma City's chance for obtaining the army's $8,400,000 research engine laboratory are becoming increasingly bright. Construction at Municipal airport for the thirty-seventh air base, recently designated here, will start within a month, calling for an initial expenditure of $1,000,000.

These were the reassuring statements made to the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Friday by R. A. Singletary, its Washington manager, who called from the national capital.

Col. F. M. Kennedy, in charge of the land and materiel division of the air corps, told Singletary that the quartermaster general's department would establish headquarters in Oklahoma City within a week or 10 days.

The construction quartermaster assigned here will have offices in the city hall.

Blueprints to Be Ready

He will have specifications and blueprints on the air base construction projects, which will be let on a competitive basis. Singletary said he had been assured work will be started within a month.

On the list for initial construction are 34 barracks, eight mess halls, two supply stores, six administration buildings, and one big shops building.

The base will bring here a personnel of 40 officers and 700 men, including a quartermaster specialty division on chemical warfare.

Singletary said it has been specified that planes of the 48th Bombardment quadroon, which will be stationed at the base, will be staked out until "satisfactory arrangements" have been made.

Underground Hangars Considered

Underground hangars are being considered for the bombardment group's planes.

The 48th Bombardment group will consist of 75 airplanes, 160 officers, and 1,500 enlisted men.

Singletary notified the chamber that he has conferred with J. S. Victory, secretary of the national advisory committee on aeronautics and chairman of the board that will designate the site of the board that will designate the site of the contemplated research engine laboratory. The board recently inspected Oklahoma City facilities.

The board has had one meeting this week and will meet again next week, Victory said, but it may be several weeks before final decision is made. He told Singletary, however, that Oklahoma City is one of the few cities still being considered.