FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         CIV
THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1997                             (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
    U.S. JOINS SUIT AGAINST TEXTRON AND TEXTRON AEROSTRUCTURES

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States has intervened in a
qui tam action filed against Textron Inc., and its former
division, Textron Aerostructures, alleging that the defense
contractor fraudulently overpriced Air Force subcontracts for the
manufacture of wings for the B-1B Bomber, the Department of
Justice announced today. 

     Assistant Attorney General Frank W. Hunger of the Civil
Division and John M. Roberts, U.S. Attorney in Nashville,
Tennessee, said William F. Manier, a former Textron
Aerostructures' employee, originally filed the action on behalf
of the United States pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the
False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3730. 
 
     "Vigorous prosecution of defense procurement fraud remains
one of the Department's highest priorities," said Hunger. 
 
     The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Nashville,
alleged that Textron failed to disclose its true labor costs when
negotiating the price of two Air Force subcontracts, resulting in
the overpricing of an Air Force contract for the production of
the B-1B Bomber by tens of millions of dollars.  

     Textron Aerostructures entered into the two subcontracts,
worth almost $500 million, to manufacture pivot wing assemblies
for the prime B1-B contractor, Rockwell International
Corporation.  Rockwell is not a defendant in the suit.

     The complaint was filed under seal as required by the act
and unsealed by the court Wednesday following the notice of
intervention filed by the United States.  The False Claims Act
provides that the complaint remains under seal while the
government investigates and decides whether to intervene and
proceed with the action.

     The suit was filed under a provision of the act that allows
private parties to sue companies and individuals that have
submitted false claims to the federal government.  A successful
relator may receive a percentage of the United States' recovery.

     The case is United States ex rel. Manier v. Textron Inc.,
C.C. No. 3-95-0946 (M.D. Tenn.).  Textron Aerostructures, now
known as Aerostructures Inc. and no longer owned by Textron, is
located in Nashville.

     The Department's Civil Division and the U.S. Attorney's
office in Nashville will pursue the case.  The government plans
to file an amended complaint.  The Air Force Office of Special
Investigations and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service 
investigated the matter.
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