HINDUSTAN'S WILLIAM D. PAWLEY
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In the industrial desert of India, American enterprise has produced one first-class airplane
factory, shown for the first time on this page. It is William Pawley's Hindustan Aircraft, Ltd., and naturally it
is in India's most progressive state, Mysore, which has plenty of electric power, steel and semi-skilled labor.
This one plant saves the U.S. and Britain millions of tons of shipping space in their effort to supply air power
on the continent of Asia. Its very existence is a total surprise to most Americans.
Its founder and president, William Douglas Pawley, is the same mystery man who agitated the famous
Flying Tigers into existence. For seven years he owned China's only plane factory and sold China $30,000,000 worth
of planes and service. When the Japanese last bombed his plant near the border of Burma, he had already moved the
machinery and equipment out to Mysore. He is also president of Intercontinent Aviation Corp. in New York, which
sold its Florida plant to Vultee last autumn. The factory in Mysore assembles Vultee and Curtiss-type ships and
produces Harlow trainers. In a little less than two years it has equipped itself to repair any type of American plane
and has dug out a channel for flying boats. William Pawley's flair for being at the right place a few minutes before the
right time has come in handy again for the United Nations.
American staff is presided over by mustached Briton in white in front row, Sir John Higgins, board chairman,
ex-chief of India's Air Force. Left of him is William Pawley.
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Indian staff is recruited from the alert young men of progressive Mysore, where education is free. The plant
goes in for inter-departmental hockey, dramatics and much team spirit.
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Vultee aircraft are being turned out by assembly in the background. The naked fuselages at left evolve into
further advanced job at right. Latest Vultee is a serviceable dive bomber with an air-cooled engine, bought by
British and U.S. air forces.
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Repair work is done on all American-type planes in overhaul hangars. In the foreground is a Lockheed Hudson;
behind it a B-17D; some Catalinas in left background. These shops are a tremendous asset to the American air effort
in India and China.
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Head men are (from left) 23-year-old Maharajah of Mysore, President William Pawley and Board Chairman
Sir John Higgins, ex-Air Vice Marshal. In next group come E. P. Pawley and the Prime Minister of Mysore. Plane is a
Dutch Catalina.
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ASSEMBLY LINE OF HINDUSTAN AIRCRAFT NEAR BANGALORE, MYSORE, TURNS OUT HARLOW TRAINERS.
COMPANY HAS TRAINED 12,000 NATIVE WORKERS, RUNS SCHOOL.
