Those who have been around for a while or perhaps study history a bit might remember or know of the "Flying Wing" and the interview Clete Roberts had with Jack Northrop.
In October of 1979, reporter Clete Roberts of Public Broadcasting System (PBS) station KCET-TV conducted an extraordinary interview with Jack Northrop, founder and former president of what was then the Northrop Corporation. In the filmed interview, it is clear that Mr. Northrop was not in good health: His appearance was frail, his eyes watery, and his voice broken. But his mind appeared sharp, and his memory seemed crystal clear. Led by Clete Roberts, Mr. Northrop told his story, clearly and forcefully, for what, he said, was the first time:
The same day that General McNarney[,] who was the chief -- the military chief -- of the Air Forces, came to my office with that additional order for thirty-five airplanes, which he said was a drop in the bucket as far as the ultimate order was concerned, Mr. Millar and I were requested to visit Mr. Symington (Air Force Secretary). At that meeting, he (Mr. Symington by context)...told us that he did not want to sponsor any new aircraft companies entering the business and having to be supplied with business over the years, and that he wanted us without question to merge with Consolidated Vultee, which was then operating a government-owned plant in Fort Worth, building the B-36, as a competitor to the B-35 or B-49 [Northrop's Flying Wing bombers].
After the lengthy diatribe on Mr. Symington's part, I said, "Mr. Secretary, what are the alternatives to this demand you're making of our merger with Consolidated Vultee?" He said, "Alternatives? You'll be goddamned sorry if you don't!"
The Northrop contract was canceled in 1949 but was it because of 'Public Servants' looking for kickbacks or that the 'government' at that time did not want to carry the burden of "cost, schedule, and technical performance." (page one of previous link)
Was Clete Roberts, a well known but faltering in his career News Talking Head at the time, just pushing a story that he knew would raise hackles? - It raised mine at the time... - In fact. My hackles are still raised over the issue. Having heard both sides of the issue I'm still more apt to believe that Symington had expectations of money through the deal...
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Now we have a new issue raised by the MSM through one of it's major players NBC. - Substandard Body Armor. -
NBC accused our government, in particular the Pentagon of purchasing second best for our troops. - Now NBC stands accused of using faulty information in it's report. - Will NBC reply to the accusations or just hope people don't hear about the opposing viewpoint. perhaps they will hope people forget about it and just take the original report as gospel...
One way or the other I've made up my mind concerning the issue.
All I can say about the above linked article is that I would trust Warner Todd Huston more than I would NBC...
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