NEW ENGLAND THE CRADLE OF AMERICA S INDUSTRIALIZATION SPEAKER ANTOINE GAZDA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R000500380056-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 1, 2002
• Sequence Number: 56
• Publication Date: April 23, 1947
• Content Type: SPEECH

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AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AND
R. I. SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
R. I. Society of Professional Engineers Inc.
Providence 6. R. 1.
195 Angell Street
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First 20mm. Oerlikon A. A. Cannon
Switzerland 1936
Mr. Antoine Gazda, experimenting with the f i r s t rapid
firing 20mm. Oerlikon A.A. Cannon, initiated by him and
developed with the Oerlikon Machine Tool Works,
Zuerich-Oerlikon, as the "RIGHT ANSWER FOR THE
COMING DIVE-BOMBER MENACE."
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1947, AT 8:00 P. M.
PROVIDENCE ENGINEERING SOCIETY AUDITORIUM
JOINT MEETING
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS
CHARLES A. MAGUIRE, PRESIDENT
AND
R. I. SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
CHARLES E. BLAIS, PRESIDENT
SUBJECT
"NEW ENGLAND, THE CRADLE OF
AMERICA'S INDUSTRIALIZATION"
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INTRODUCTION OF MR. ANTOINE GAZDA BY RISPE PRESIDENT CHARLES E. BLAIS,
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1947, AT JOINT MEETING OF RISPE AND ASCE HELD AT
PROVIDENCE ENGINEERING SOCIETY AUDITORIUM.
Officers and Members of the Rhode Island Society of Professional En-
gineers and Officers and Members of the Providence section of the American
Society of Civil Engineers, distinguished guests and friends. As you all know
this is a joint meeting of the RISPE and the ASCE one of many such meetings
that have been held during the course of the current year between the RISPE
and other affiliated engineering groups. Under the original joint meeting plan,
arrangements provided for the opening of the meeting by the Chairman of
the ASCE and the presentation of the distinguished guest speaker by the
President of the RISPE. I am sorry to advise that the Chairman was inad-
vertently called to Washington on urgent business and due to his inability to
preside at the opening phase of our interesting program, I have responded to
a request made by the officers of the ASCE to pinch hit for him. At the outset,
I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to serve both
Societies in this dual capacity. I deem it an honor and a pleasure to be called
upon for the purpose of presenting a distinguish fellow engineer whose fame
as an international inventor and industrialist is world wide.
The guest speaker of the evening came to this country from Switzerland
early in 1940 for the purpose of manufacturing a most effective defensive
weapon to combat the deadly and destructive dive bombing tactics of the
Huns. At the outset of his search, he had a good opportunity to appraise New
England's capacity for producing this much needed precision built weapon,
that was developed in Switzerland in 1936. Accordingly, the Oerlikon Cannon
was produced in the United States in vast numbers for the British Admiralty
which was in sore need of this new weapon. Following our entry into the War
the program of production which started in Rhode Island 18 months before
Pearl Harbor had reached a high level of efficiency particularly in Rhode Island
where exceptional facilities had been provided for making a supreme con-
tribution for fulfilling the demands of the United States Navy's requirement
for a superior war weapon. At this point with your kind permission, I wish
to digress slightly to personally express to our guest speaker my sincere and
heartfelt thanks for his mighty contribution that so effectly neutralized the
dive bombing attacks of our ruthless enemies and hastened the termination
of hostilities.
I am especially grateful to our guest speaker because through his efforts
the duration of the war was materially shortened and I like many of you who
suffered through months of fearful anxiety regarding the fate of our loved ones
was once again rewarded by their return to us. It is my firm conviction that
when history finally reveals the complete story of the war that our guest speaker
will be presented to us as a truly great man whose mighty efforts did so much
in so little time to forever efface the threat of our diabolical enemies. In the
post war world our guest speaker is diligently employed in producing equip-
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ment for peace time needs important among these is the jet-propelled heli-
copter, he is a strong supporter of this type of flying machine and anticipates
its use extensively in a post war world. Although his principal peace time
interests are concerned with civilian aviation in which he has had over thirty
years experience, he is still engaged in armament research for the U. S. Gov-
ernment. He is a great booster for Rhode Island, his conviction is firm in
the belief that the precision mechanics and master craftsmen are found in
great numbers within the confines of Rhode Island and herein lies our success-
ful future.
Gentlemen, it is an honor and a privilege to present to you our guest
speaker of the evening, a great man, a humanitarian, a great industrialist and
a fellow engineer, Antoine Gazda. - Mr. Gazda.
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Lecture given by Mr. Antoine Gazda before the
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AND
RHODE ISLAND SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS,
on. April 23, 1947.
Mr. President, Gentlemen :
It certainly is a great honor for me to be with you tonight,
and I was happy to be able to accept Mr. Blais' kind invitation to
address this distinguished gathering.
Not being much of a speaker, and my Austrian mother tongue
still struggling with my English, I felt a little uncomfortable when
Mr. Blais asked me to address you. As a matter of fact, I felt like the
Duke of Wellington before the Battle of Waterloo, when he was
asked what his chances were and what he thought. about his Gen-
erals; he answered, "When the enemy is as afraid of my Generals as
I am, then I shall win the battle". And he did.
Another problem for me was the subject on which to speak
to you.
Being in New England, the cradle of the great American
industry, and having myself been connected for a life-time with
patents and industry, I decided to talk to you about New England
industry, particularly in Rhode Island, where I settled in 1940 to
organize a new branch of industry.
You may be interested to know why I chose Rhode Island.
I came to this State in 1940, although this was not my first
visit to America. As a matter of fact, I had been here eight times
before, each time-fascinated anew by the tremendous and exciting
strides in ideas and production methods made by America's justly
famous engineering talent. I was already very familiar with Amer-
ican mass production - especially in the automotive and aviation
industries, in which I had many friends, having previously visited
their plants from the East to the West Coast.
When I flew to the United States in May, 1940, a few weeks
before the collapse of France, I carried with me all the manufactur-
ing drawings of the 20-mm. Swiss Oerlikon cannon. This new
weapon had by then been recognized by the British as the right an-
swer to the dive-bomber, against which they were now engaged in
a life-struggle, and it was my intention to organize the production of
this cannon in the United States for the British Admiralty. After my
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arrival in 1940 I traveled all over the States, renewing my friendships
with industrialists, Wall Street bankers and Government officials,
and trying to interest them in the manufacture of this weapon, or
parts of it, for the British.
To my astonishment, I discovered, during this visit, that this
big, highly industrialized country, America, famous for its mass
production, as a peace-loving nation had the smallest defense indus-
try, in proportion to its size and resources, that I had ever come
across. In fact, for its gun models it was almost entirely dependent
upon foreign designs and licenses. Switzerland, the oldest democracy
in the world, is also well-known as a peace-loving nation, though a
small one, but I found that in America there was not one armament
factory organized and equipped in a manner to compare with our
Swiss-Oerlikon Works. There were practically no machine-tools tb
be had for immediate use for armament work. There was only a
minimum percentage of toolmakers and skilled workers for arma-
ment work. This situation, of course, was not favorable for my pro-
gram. However, I was not discouraged by all these setbacks, and
proceeded with my plan, as I wanted to fulfill the promise I had
given to the British Admiralty when I warned them of the collapse
of France - that I would ensure delivery of Oerlikon cannons from
America. When the unbelievable happened, and France did fall,
the Swiss Oerlikon Works were, of course, no longer able to deliver
to England, and my purpose was to hasten production here of the
20-mm. Oerlikon AA cannon which the British Fleet now needed
so urgently.
I had heard about New England's machine-tool and textile
machinery industries. Also, Governor William Vanderbilt of Rhode
Island had heard of my presence in this country and of my plans.
He sent Mr. William Allen, Chairman of the Industrial Commission
of the State of Rhode Island, to New York to invite me for a visit to
Providence. This visit soon convinced me of the skill of New Eng-
land's labor and its adaptability to my plans. A large proportion of
the plants and shops in Rhode Island were at that time idle, and my
idea was that these would form an excellent basis for the American
production of Oerlikon cannons. I made my headquarters with the
Rhode Island Industrial Commission, who furnished me with a desk
in its offices, and I immediately went to work, with the assistance of
the Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Clifton N. Lovenberg, and
Mr. Cockrell, consulting engineer of the Commission, to locate pro-
duction capacity for this cannon in Rhode Island.
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Before, I left Switzerland, the Swiss Oerlikon Works had
shipped a 20-mm. Oerlikon AA cannon, as a prototype to the
United States. Unfortunately, this cannon never reached the United
States,. as it was captured on the boat in Bordeaux by the Germans
when they overran France. Nevertheless, I was able to arrange with
the British Admiralty to bring another Oerlikon cannon to the United
States by destroyer, and when this cannon reached New York I
shipped it immediately to Providence. As soon as the Oerlikon ar-
rived here, I contacted General Herbert R. Dean, then in charge
of the Rhode Island National Guard, and asked for his assistance.
General Dean gave me his full cooperation, and placed at my dis-
posal the State Armory in Cranston, where this Oerlikon cannon was
exhibited, under heavy guard, so that interested manufacturers might
be able to compare our drawings with the actual parts.
I invited Rhode Island manufacturers to view the cannon
and drawings, and discussed their possibilities of manufacturing parts
for this cannon. When I realized the favorable potentialities existing
in Rhode Island, I instructed one of our Swiss Oerlikon engineers,
Mr. Lameraner, whom I had left in London, to come to Providence
to assist me in establishing the sub-contracting organization for pro-
ducing this gun in Rhode Island.
I am happy to say that here in Rhode Island I received a great
deal of eager and active co-operation in my plans. However, among
other obstacles - which I found particularly in Washington - I
had to overcome resistance from Rhode Island sources which had no
sympathy with Britain's war, ignoring the possibility of this country's
being involved and showing little appreciation of the danger the
world was facing in those days. I also had opposition from sources
which did not care to see competition in the Rhode Island labor
market.
Finally, it was in this little State of Rhode Island that I had
the privilege of transforming idle work-shops and textile machinery
plants, in the shortest time, into important participants in the founda-
tion of what was to become a gigantic United States armament in-
dustry. In spite of the lull existing in those days, it was the traditional
fame of New England's industry that brought me to this progressive
State of Rhode Island seven years ago.
When Governor J. Howard McGrath took office, he asked
a friend of mine to arrange a meeting with me. When I met the
young Governor, he complimented me on what I was doing to im-
prove the economic status of the State, and for the Allied war effort,
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and urged me to call on him directly in any matters in which he
could be of assistance. From that time onwards he was my keenest
supporter in all I did for the Allied war effort.
With its traditional industrial spirit, Rhode Island proved
equal to the task when, eighteen months before Pearl Harbor, I
started there mass production of the now famous 20-mm. Oerlikon
AA. cannon for the British Admiralty.
Soon came the terrifying news of the Fall of France, - which
I had foretold, which everyone had refused to believe, and which
was the reason that brought me to America this time. The Nazi
occupation of France made it impossible for Switzerland to con-
tinue deliveries to England, and the British Government immediately
sent me a hurry-up call to investigate the possibilities of speediest de-
livery of Oerlikon cannons from America. The British had by now
learned by tragic experience of the danger of air-power. They had
seen the terror of the dive-bombers, which had devastated Poland
and Belgium, and which had sent many of their own ships to the
bottom of the sea. No longer did the British ridicule the danger from
the air to ships, as they did in 1936, when I developed this Oerlikon
cannon model and proposed it as the only defense against the coming
dive-bomber.
You will be interested to hear that it had taken me almost
three years to convince the British Admiralty of the necessity of this
new anti-aircraft defense. During the years 1937, 38 and 39, I had
to fight against many skeptical ordnance experts to get this powerful
cannon introduced into British Admiralty service. Most of these
experts felt that the mighty battleships and destroyers of the Royal
Navy could easily cope with any threat from the air, and that they
had nothing to fear. Some even relied on their mighty 16-inch can-
nons. My records of those years show that it took me 238 meetings
with the Admiralty officials, during 380 days' stay in England, to
accomplish the introduction of this defense which they came to need
so desperately.
In my efforts to convince the British Admiralty of their need
of this new armament against the coming dive-bomber, I was for-
tunate in having the support of Lord Louis Mountbatten - then
a Commander in the Royal Navy - who was one of the first to
recognize the significance of this powerful new defense, and who
gave me his unceasing assistance and encouragement. It was he
who arranged so many of my important meetings and who accom-
panied me on my visits to influential officials. Indeed, it was
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largely due to Lord Louis Mountbatten's foresight and persistence
that the British Admiralty finally accepted the Oerlikon cannon as
anti-aircraft defense. He even came to America at the beginning
of 1941, and, on the basis of his own battle experiences as Com-
mander of destroyer flotillas, convinced the United States Navy of
the fact that the Oerlikon cannon was the best defense against the
Axis dive bomber. Throughout those difficult years of struggle, I
was indeed grateful to have Lord Louis' support. I am happy to
say that during that time there developed between us a real friend-
ship, of which Lord Louis gave ample proof during a temporary
period which was for me personally a dark and critical one. Only a
few months ago we met again, in happier circumstances, in Switzer-
land, when now Admiral Viscount Mountbatten of Burma had to
interrupt his skiing holiday to obey the order he had just received to
assume the difficult task of being the last Viceroy of India.
When America entered the war, little Rhody was ready for
Uncle Sam, and was able to shift its Oerlikon cannon production
for the British Admiralty to the United States Navy. The Oerlikon
cannon was immediately adopted as America's best defense against
dive-bombers and Kamikazes. Everything afloat in the Allied Na-
vies - from the humblest fisherman's boat to the mighty "Queen
Elizabeth" (which carried eighty Oerlikons) - had to be equipped
with 20-mm. Oerlikon AA Cannons. My Rhode Island organiza-
tion, the American Oerlikon Gazda Corporation, whose mass pro-
duction was by then in full swing, also had to help to tool up the
General Motors and the U.S. Navy Hudson plants, as well as numer-
ous sub-contractors for the speediest manufacture of Oerlikon can-
nons for the United States Navy.
Now it may be revealed that over 460,000 men and women
were employed in making this 20-mm. rapid-firing anti-aircraft can-
non in the United States during the war, and on this Oerlikon pro-
gram alone the U.S. Government spent over $2,800,000,000. -
(two billion eight hundred million dollars'). Rhode Island itself pro-
duced $187,000,000's worth of Oerlikon cannons.
These figures show, not only how vital to the war effort this
Oerlikon cannon proved to be, but also what an important con-
tribution to that effort was made by Rhode Island industry.
I believe I am not wrong in saying that some of the gentle-
men here tonight have contributed a significant share to the pro-
duction of this cannon in Rhode Island.
As industry is so obviously dependent on invention, and as
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many new industrial ideas first saw the light in New England, I
should like to say a little about inventions.
Everyone realizes that it is to American inventive genius that
the prosperity of this great country is so largely due; the names of
some of great American inventors Edison, Steinmetz, the Wright
Brothers, Henry Ford, and others - are a proof of this. The Amer-
ican mode of living, economically and socially, is and always will be
influenced by the achievements of inventors and scientists; indeed,
the course of the whole world's progress will depend upon the
achievements of such men. Unfortunately, those responsible for
guiding the world's destiny do not always recognize this. For ex-
ample, when the San Francisco Conference tried to shape the post-
war world - a world of peace - they came to the anachronistic
conclusion that the key to a peace-guarantee would be a strong air-
force. In so doing they neglected to take the scientists into account,
and it was not long afterwards that they were shocked into realiza-
tion of the power of the scientists. The atomic bomb was released,
demonstrating a force whose significance had been entirely disre-
garded by the United Nations representatives at San Francisco, and
on which the nations of the world have still been unable to agree.
A new problem has been posed, and its solution will unquestionably
be a major factor in the shaping of the world's future, whether for
peace or for war.
We know that inventions contribute to progress, and lead
to the creation of new employment opportunities, but for an inventor
to be successful, those three great characteristics - intelligence, cour-
age and determination are indispensible, as from idea to production
is a long and thorny path, and not 'every inventor has lived to see
his brain-child materialize.
As an inventor first of all looks for protection of his-invention
by a patent, ,it may be of interest to recall how the early American
inventor was protected.
It was under President George Washington that Congress
passed an Act, in 1790, for the granting of patents to inventors. The
Secretary of State in those days was authorized by the President to
perform this office, and it is known that, during the George Wash-
ington Administration, Thomas Jefferson, in his capacity as Secre-
tary of State, personally examined and granted many of the petitions
for patents. At that time petitions for patents were accompanied by
a model of the invention, and not merely by a drawing and a descrip-
tion, as is the case today.
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So it was in the year 1790, that the American inventor was
first, protected by a U.S. patent. With the granting of patents, Amer-
ican inventive genius was encouraged. The year 1790, so important
for the American inventor, was also important for the industrializa-
tion of America, in which New England has played such a note-
worthy part. It was in that year that Samuel Slater started to run
his first spinning machine in the Slater Mill in Pawtucket, and by
so doing he laid the foundation for the now gigantic American tex-
tile industry in this smallest State of the Union.
Only four years later, Jefferson issued a patent for the cotton
gin, the machine for separating the seeds from raw cotton, which, in
the truest sense of the word, revolutionized the United States.
American industry is still in search of new ideas for produc-
tion, and before the end of the war, as recently stated by the Com-
missioner of Patents, industry checked over two and one-half million
inventions, patented since 1790.
Some of these inventions, so ingeniously painstakingly and
precisely contrived, have been fated to lie dormant for a long time,
to be hailed as something new and startling when rediscovered years
later. Our old patent for the zipper, for instance, granted in 1893,
remained practically unknown to the general public until compara-
tively recently, and the same is true of many ideas which have con-
tributed to the smooth running of American life and industry.
The helicopters, jets, rockets and other sensational develop-
ments, which have revolutionized their spheres in the twentieth cen-
tury, were invented long, long ago.
Rockets were successfully used by the ancient Chinese thou-
sands of years ago. Jet propulsion, a sensation in the field of modern
aviation, was invented by the Alexandrian philosopher, Hero, in
the pre-Christian era, and was again demonstrated, in the seven-
teenth century, by the English mathematician Sir Isaac Newton.
The Helicopter was invented by the great Italian artist and
inventor, Leonardo da Vinci, who designed and even built a model
of a helicopter 400 years ago. That versatile genius was responsible
for originating more devices than he could launch in his lifetime, and
which we now take for granted as part of our everyday existence.
It's the same old story - There's nothing new under the
sun, but a new application of an old idea will awaken people to the
value of that idea.
Two or three years ago I was thrilled to learn that there was
to be an auction in New York of 20,000 early American patent mod-
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els, and for a number of reasons I was keenly interested. In the first
place, having myself trod the thorny path of the inventor for over
thirty years, I thought I could appreciate what a story of enthusiasm,
hope, and often bitter disappointment those records could tell. Sec-
ondly, I saw in those models contributions of that American inven-
tive genius to which the prosperity of this great country owes so much.
Having a profound admiration for these models, I tried to
obtain some of them. My interest was intensified when I learned
that the models to be auctioned included some from early inventors
of New England, and particularly Rhode Island. Therefore, I was
anxious to bring them back, if possible, where they belonged - that
is to say, to the State of Rhode Island. Fortunately I was able to
secure thirty-five of these early patent models, all of them invented
by Rhode Islanders. Eight of these models, apart from their his-
torical value, are of particular industrial interest to the State of
Rhode Island, being closely identified with the great American tex-
tile industry, the cradle of which is Rhode Island. I brought these
models to Rhode Island, repaired them, put them into working order,
and awaited a suitable occasion for presenting them to their native
State. I found such an occasion when, on December 13, 1944, the
U.S. Alien Property Custodian exhibited alien patents in the Provi-
dence Public Library. At that time I had the honor of presenting
to the State of Rhode Island these thirty-five historical models of
early Rhode Island inventors, and they were graciously accepted by
Governor J. Howard McGrath. They were placed on permanent
exhibit, as an incentive to present and future Rhode Island inventors
to contribute further to the progress of New England industry.
As I said a little while ago, almost all inventions have to suffer
obscurity for a time and experience a rebirth before their value is
recognized. I am certain, however, that this will not discourage
inventors from continuing to strive for improvements in American
industry, and especially for progress in New England. No amount
of discouragement or disappointment -- material or spiritual - can
quench the spark when an inventor has faith and inner conviction in
his idea - when he feels that he has something to offer which, in one
way or another, will prove to be an advance in our civilization. In-
deed, with the all-round acceleration which we, in our generation,
have witnessed - especially in the last decade - inventors of today
can surely hope that their aspirations will be reached much sooner
than those of their predecessors. Whilst the pioneer spirit of New
England is necessarily tempered with wise caution, there is today
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a keener desire than ever, on the part of industry, to find new,
forward-looking ideas. It is the men of vision who always have and
always will form the real backbone of any nation's progress, and
when that vision is supported by specialized training and the keen
business sense for which New England is famous, satisfying rewards
may be confidently expected.
The end of the war found New England eager to induce
new, out-of-State industries to replace the mushroom growth of
heavy war industries, and in Rhode Island the Industrial Commis-
sion made tremendous efforts to bring such industries to us here.
Such plants, however, although the location on the water-
front and waterways may look attractive for transportation and ex-
port, do not appear to me as suitable for New England. This region
has no steel mills, nor coal mines, nor any of the basic requirements
necessary to support a mass production program in competition with
other, more favorably endowed regions.
I do see New England's successful future guaranteed by its
traditional specialization in quality and skill, as proved so well in
precision tooling, textile machinery,' jewelry and similar industries.
Adhering to this principle, New England industry will solve the dif-
ficult problem of successful competition with other industrial States
in the Union.
Thank you.
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 U.S.A. 1947
Mr. Antoine Gazda at his desk in the laboratory
of GAZDA ENGINEERING, Wakefield, R. I.
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Antoine Gazda
Mr. Antoine Gazda, a native of Austria, and flyer in the First World War,
is well known for his armament and aviation inventions, and revolutionized
aviation when he brought out the first jet propelled Helicopter three years ago.
Ten years ago, he warned the British Admiralty of the coming Nazi dive-
bomber menace. To counteract this threat he initiated and developed with
the Swiss Oerlikon Machine Tool Works in 1936, the now famous 20 mm.
Oerlikon Anti-Aircraft Cannon, which he contributed first to the British war
effort.
Two months before the event, he forecast to the British, the collapse of
France and the French Army.
He forecast the London blitz with two-ton bombs. All the foregoing was
skeptically received and considered, until unfortunately, proved to be true.
He immigrated to the United States in Spring 1940, where he organized in
Rhode Island mass production of the 20 mm. Oerlikon A.A. Cannon for the
British Admiralty: Shortly before Pearl Harbor the United States Navy ac-
cepted the 20 mm. Oerlikon as standard defense weapon against dive-bombers.
It was this 20 mm. Oerlikon Anti-aircraft Cannon which finally crushed
the Axis dive-bombers and kamikaze.
During the San Francisco Conference - the result of which the world was
awaiting with tension-he published a sensational article expressing his
opinion that the Allied leaders of the Conference have evidently neglected to
take the scientists into account in their plannings.
He pointed out that in any future conflict, an air force would be obsolete,
and scientists will have more horrible weapons than the air force proved to
be in the last war.
Only a few weeks after this, the first atomic bomb was dropped, and
changed completely the security set-up of the San Francisco Conference.
Mr. Gazda, a member of the S.A:E. since 1928, is still engaged in armament
research for defense weapons, although his principal interest is in the civilian
aviation and automotive field in which he has had over thirty years experience.
He is a strong supporter of the Helicopter, and hopes the time will not be
too far off before Helicopters will be used extensively in civilian flying.
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First 20mm. Oerlikon A. A. Cannon
Switzerland 1936
Mr. -Antoine Gazda, experimenting with the f i r s t rapid
firing 20mm. Oerlikon A.A. Cannon, initiated by him and
developed with the Oerlikon Machine Tool Works,
Zuerich-Oerlikon, as the "RIGHT ANSWER FOR THE
COMING DIVE-BOMBER MENACE."
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 Approved For Release 2002/11/19: CIA-RDP80R01731R000500380056-9
Antoine Gazda
Mr. Antoine Gazda, a native of Austria, and flyer in the First World War,
is well known for his armament and aviation inventions, and revolutionized
aviation when he brought out the first jet propelled Helicopter three years ago.
Ten years ago, he warned the British Admiralty of the coming Nazi dive-
bomber menace. To counteract this threat he initiated and developed with
the Swiss Oerlikon Machine Tool Works in 1936, the now famous 20 mm.
Oerlikon Anti-Aircraft Cannon, which he contributed first to the British war
effort.
Two months before the event, he forecast to the British, the collapse of
France and the French Army.
He forecast the London blitz with two-ton bombs. All the foregoing was
skeptically received and considered, until unfortunately, proved to be true.
He immigrated to the United States in Spring 1940, where he organized in
Rhode Island mass production of the 20 mm. Oerlikon A.A. Cannon for the
British Admiralty. Shortly before Pearl Harbor the United States Navy ac-
cepted the 20 mm. Oerlikon as standard defense weapon against dive-bombers.
It was this 20 mm. Oerlikon Anti-aircraft Cannon which finally crushed
the Axis dive-bombers and kamikaze.
During the San Francisco Conference - the result of which the world was
awaiting with tension - he published a sensational article expressing his
opinion that the Allied leaders of the Conference have evidently neglected to
take the scientists into account in their plannings.
He pointed out that in any future conflict, an air force would be obsolete,
and scientists will have more horrible weapons than the air force proved to
be in the. last war.
Only a few weeks after this, the first atomic bomb was. dropped, and
changed completely the security set-up of the San Francisco Conference. .
Mr. Gazda, a member of the S.A.E. since 1928, is still engaged in armament
research for defense weapons, although his principal interest is in the civilian
aviation and automotive field in which he has had over thirty years experience.
He is a strong supporter of the Helicopter, and hopes the time will not be
too far off before Helicopters will be used extensively in civilian flying.