Air Force News ~ Jul-Dec 1921

8/3/2019 Air Force News ~ Jul-Dec 1921

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J ul y 1 3, 1 92 1

Vo l . V . A I RI nf or m at i on G ro up

A i r S e r vi c e

5 E R V ICE N. EWS LE T .T E R No. 26.M u ni t io ns B ld g .,

W a sh i ng t on , D , C.

The p ur pos e of t hi s l et te r i s t o k ee p t h~ p er son ne l of t he Ai r S er vi ce b ot h

i n W as hi ng ton a nd i n t he f ie ld i nf or me d ~ s t o th e a ct iv it ie s of t h e A ir S er vi ce i n

s en er al , a nd f or r el ea se t o t h e p ub li c p re ss .

F OR RE LE AS E J UL Y 1 4. 1 92 1

B EL IE F ~ X PE D IT IO N O F AI RP L AN E S T O T HE P UE BL O F LO OD

T he e xp ed it io n of t hr ee a ir pl an es s en t ou t f r om P os t F ie ld , F or t S il l, O k l a . ,t o r en de r a ny a s si st an ce p os si bl e i n c o nn ec ti on w it h t he f lo od a t P ue bl o, C ol or ad o.s er ve s t o a dd t o t he a lr ea dy l ar ge f ie ld of u se fu ln es s i n w hi ch t he a ir pl an e c an

be u ti li ze d. T he w or k e xp ec te d of t he p la ne s s en t t o P ue bl o w as ,t o p at rol t he

Ar ka ns as R iv er , F ou nt ai n C re ek a nd t he ir t ri bu ta ri es a nd d am s a nd k ee p t he c it yLn for med i n c ase a se co nd fl ood or a ny dam s or r ive rs ga ve way . T he fl ig ht le ft

f or Pu eb lo on S un da y a ft er noon , J un e 5 th , b y w ay o f D od ge C it y. T he p l an es w er e

e qu ip pe d w it h m ac hi ne g un s, r ad io a nd p hot og ra ph ic e qu ip me nt , a nd p il ot ed b y

M aj or F ol le tt B ra dl ey , A .S t, F ir st L ie ut en an t F re d C . N el so n, A .S ., a nd F ir stL i eu t en a nt K , N .V va l k: , ~r : ,A.S" w it h F ir st L ie ut . Jo s e ph T . M or ri s, A. S., a nd

S er ge an ts G al l, S he pa rd a nd C or po ra l B ru gh a s p a ss en ge rs .S ki rt in g a n um be r of he av y s tor ms , t he f li gh t l an de d a t D od ge C it y, K an sa s,

a t 6: 45 P .M ., a nd f ou nd t ha t c it y i n a s ma ll s ta te of e x ci te me nt a nt ic ip at in g t he

f lood w hi ch . i t w as c on te mp la te d, w ou ld r ea ch t he re a bo ut n oo n t he f ol low in g d ay .

S ho rt ly ' a ft er l an di ng a t D od ge C it y, a he av y r ai n b eg an , w hi ch c on ti nu ed u nt il

11 :00 o' clo ck M on day mo rn ing , a t whic h t ime the f lig ht t ook o ff fo r P uebl o. C on-

f li ct in g t el eg ra ms f rom o ff ic ia ls of t he S ta te of C ol or ad o a s t o s er Vi ci ng f ac il i-t ie s w er e r ec ei ve d b y Ma jo r B ra dl ey , w ho d ec id ed t ha t it w as a dv is ab le t o la nd a t

L am ar , C ol or ad o, a pp rox im at el y 9 0 m il es f rom P ue bl o, a nd t ak e on a dd it io na l g as i n

or de r t ha t t he p la ne s w ou ld i n n o w ay 'b e s tr an de d w he n a rr iv in g a t d es ti na ti on i n

ea se g as an d o il c ou ld not b e s ecu red . Sh ort ly a fte r l and in g at L amar , ano the r

h eav y ra in f ell . D uri ng sl igh t " le t-u ps" o f t he s tor m t he p lan es we re g ass ed, an d

a t 4 :0 0 o 'c loc k t he r ai n h a d s ub si de d t o s uc h a ri e xt en t t ha t t he f li gh t a ga in t ook

of f.f or P ue bl o, f ol loW in g t he r iv er u p t o t ha t c it y. N o t el eg ra ph ic c om mQ ni ca -,

t ion a c ou ld b e r ec ei ve d f rom P ue bl o, b ut t he M ay or o f L am ar h ad b ee n i nf or me d, i nan un of fic ial way , th at a s ec ond fl ood h ad str uc k Pue blo , w ors e th an t he f irs t

un e, a nd th at a fiv e t o t en fo ot r ise wa s o n i ts w ay an d req ues ted t ha t th e rad io

op er at or s b e p re pa re d t o r ec ei ve r ad io m es sa ge s f rom t he f li gh t a s tQ r iv er c on di -t ion s f rom L a ma r t o Pu eb lo , Ra di o c om mu ni ca ti on w as h el d w it h F t. L yon s b y L ie ut .

Mo rri s. Th e rum or o f t he s ec on d f loo d p rov ed t o b e u nf ou nd ed ~ a nd F or t L yo ns w asr eq ue st ed t o i nf or m t he t ow ns e as t o f th e F or t t ha t n o f ur th er d an ge r n ee d b e a nt i-

c ip at ed i n c on ne ct io n w it h t hi s s ec ~n d f lo od .T he fl igh t ar riv ed at t en mi nu tes p ast fiv e at Pu eb lo an d f le w ov er t he ci ty .

Th e f ir st imp res sio n of th e cit y t hat o ne h ad fr om t he ai r w as t ha t of a c hil d's

t oy v il la ge w hi ch h ad b ee n i na dv er te nt ly k ic ke d o ve r b y s om e c ar el es s f oot . Theb us in es s s ec ti on o f t he t ow n w as t he p or ti on w hi ch h ad r ec ei ve d a ll t he d am ag e.

B ox c ar s w er e s tr ew n i n al l c on ce iv ab le a nd i nc on ce iv ab le p os it io ns ; i n b ac k

y ar ds of s to re s, ,u ps id e d ow n a nd c ros sw is e of th e t r ac ks . B ui ld in gs s ee ~e d t o be

~ wi ng in g a t al l p os it ion s f rom t he ir or ig in al f ou nd at ion s. O ne l um be r y ar d, w hi ch

for mer ly occ upi ed ha lf a blo ck , w as st run g ove r a ll of t he l ow ~ par t of t he cit y.

One s tee l b rid ge sp ann in g t he A rkan sa s Ri ver w as br oke n i n two ~ nd th e sec tio ns ,

l ay a lon gs id e of e a ch o th er . Af te r c ir cl in g t he c it y, a l an di ng f ie ld w as s el ec te d

f ou r m ile s so uth of P ueb lo' s b usi nes s di st ric t o n t he ed ge o f t he t own and w es t of.

3l ag d umps of t he Col or ado Fu el a nd Ir on C omp any . Th e fie ld wa s a n e xc ell ent o ne,

~e arl y a m il e lo ng a nd h alf a m ile w ide , le ve l a s a f lo or , w it h h ar dl y a ny d is - ;.dvant ages , ' ...........

C ol on el H am ro ck , A dj ut an t G en er al o f t he S ta te o f C ol or ad o, a rr iv ed a t the~ji el d s hor tl y a ft er t he p la ne s h ad l an de d, a nd t he of fi ce rs w er e t ak en t o t he '

on gr es s H ot el , a t t ha t t im e t he h ea dq ua rt er s o f t he C ol or ad o N at ion al G ua rd a n9

o lo rado Ranger-s I w ho w er e i n c ha rg e of t he f lo od s it ua ti .o n. B ei ng l oc at ed 0(........,

i .g h g ro un d, t hi s h ot el f o rt un at e1 y e sc ap ed t he f lo od . Itw as v er y c ro wd ed a nd _" ,_ "9 r y c os m op ol i ta n i n a p pe a ra nc e . I t s ee me d t ha t e ve ry on e w ho h ad h ad a ny s er vi ~~ '-


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whatever was wearing ~~niform., .Ex-emergepoy o-fficers, National Guardsmen,Colorado.Rangers, Ex-Royal Air Force officers, Marines and Sailors thronge~ thep;Laoe and, togetl1er with oi vilians carrying guns and 'wearing' various kinds ofbadges, made quite an interesting spectacle. A dynamo of the flooded electricplant was put in operation which furnished the hotel with l~ght, the only build-ing in town so furnished.

No flying being ~equired the next morning, an inspection of the devastateddistrict was made on foot. Dead animals and overturned automobiles were strewnabout the oity. The mud in some places was four and five feet deep. One Italiansettlement was completelY washed Qut; nothing but faint signs of former founda-tions beil:!g in evadence, and all buildings in direct line of the flood wereeither washed away or their foundations so shaken that they were unsafe toenter. Crews of" men in rubber boots and armed with shovels were hard at work

.. .endeavor-i.ng to clean up the horrible mesa. It is' nearly impossil~le to vf sua.l.i.ae

. the destruction caused by the high water unless ona were actually on the groundand witnessed it. The excellent spirit of the citizens, many of whomhad losteverything, was remarkable. '

In t~e afternoon patrols were made of ihe rivers for 50 miles, and favor-able reports were returned to Military Headquarters ~ There were no further cloudburets in the mountai~s, and no further d~nger fpom the river was imminent. Dailypa't rol.s were made until Saturday morning, at which time the Adjutant Generalreleased the night so that, i tcouldreturn to Fort ,Sill. '

i LieutEmant-bo1onel Cables,EngineGrs, requested ,that a mosaic 'map be madeof Pueblo and a numbar of devastfited mountain towns. An add:i,tiona.l plane, morecompletely equipped for making mosaic mapEl, was requested 'from Post Field inotder to effectively aocomplish this mission.

The flight left Pueblo at 1: 30, returning by way of Dodge Oity, arriving at'Post Field at 8 :45 P.M. making th,e return trip in six hours and fifteen minutesand bucking a strong wind all the way.

!!

AIRPLANERACEr:ROMH.ARTFORD,C ON N , ,TO SPRINGFIFLDt~lSS' i N n RE.1'1!.1!!i/ .

Lieutenant R. C. Moffat, First Corps Area, ArmyAi;:/Service, piloting aDeHaviland 4, was the winner of the Charles K, H~~ilto~'Memorial Trophy offeredby ,the Hartford Municipal Aviation Commission for the-recent airplane rae e fromHartford, .Oonn , to Springfield, Mass., and return. The act\,lalf1ying time forthe 48-mile course was 25 minute$ and 35 seconds.

The Charles K. Hamilton Memorial Trophy is one of the mast handsome awar-dsoffered re~ently for any aviation event. It is a massive silver cup, bearing

, a likeness of the plane piloted b y Hamilton when that famous pioneer was makingt'he most sensational flight of his' career . The twphy was presented to theHartford Aviatiop Commission by Seymour Wernyes9mith, magazine writer of thatcity. It was named in honor of Charles K.. Harn.i Lt.on., inF,l.smuchas that famousbirdman,who died in 1914, lies buried only a mile or two from the newmuni-cipal air port at Hartford. and it W a ~ near that city that he made his earlier

"attempts at air naVigation. ' The race to Springfield on June 11th wa~ almostto a . da.y eleven years from the time, in June 1910, when Hamilton captured the$10,000 prize offered' by ,"The NewYork Timesll,for the f:i.:rst NewYork toPhiladelphia flight. . ..

The race at Hartford-waf; on a handicap basis', and John M. Mille.r, ofAtlantic Oity, piloting a Curtiss Oriole, was i3.close s ecoad to Lieut. Mo.ffat.

losing by only ons minute corrected time. Charles (lICasey\~')Jones, a1eo ., piloting an Oriole, finished a .cLose third, outdistancing the next nearest

competi to r s ,, Mr. Jones captured a bomb dropping contest, making a perfect score. Pilot

Stuart Chadwick, former army pilot,who is! nowmaking the new Hartford fieldhis home base, was a close second. Lieut. Lott of Bridgeport, Conn., cap.tur edfirst place in a landing contest in whtch fo~rt~en planes entered, an~ also wonin an aerial acrobatic' .exhdbi tion. A navat f.\eaplane was winner in. a rac e alongthe Connecticut River, "Har-tford to Middletown 8,ndreturn, AnHS boat actually

\madefaeter time but lost on its handic~p. ,Judges for the events at the Hartford AViat~~n,Meet were Augustus Post,

Secretary of the Aero 'Club of America; Ma.j{)rLl?()~iardDrennan, commanding the Ar:tY'''Jaer;ial detachment at Framingham, Mass.;Capta;in 1J!ereditii of the Air Service;,

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and Major William J.Malone, Connecticut Aviation Commissioner. Lieut. Samuele; Mills acted as supervisor and Lieuts. Fasteneau and Wat-render, Air Service, assist.

II edt

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Brainard Field at Hartford is part of the Hartford Municipal Air Port andin the unanimous opinion of fliers who have visite4it, if? the best aerial-field

.' in New England. Itwasestablinhed and is maintained by a city appropriation,The Hamilton Trophy was accepted by Laeut, Moffat on behalf of the U.S. kr,,

, Air Service, and it win be displayed in Major Drennan's OffiC~S /,ston.

L1EUT. PEARSON"SFLIGHT TO 'IHEGRANDCANYON.IN ARIZONA~ _. (

V 3599 A S3

Lieutenant Alexander Pearson', Air Service;- in making his flight to ' i :. y '1 e Grr,,'1c;

Canyon of Arizona, had another interesting experience following his attempt to

negot'iate the NewYork to San Francisco transcontinental flight. Itwill be re-:called that on this journey, while flying from El Pa so to San Antonio on February, .'loth, his plane deve l oped -m o tor trouble and he was' forced to c oms down in a can- ../

yon acutn of the Rio Grande r'iver. His plane was subsequently recovered, by an ex-pedition sent into Mexico for that purpose; a new engine was installed in theplane and it was f}own back to the Del Rio Airdrome. An account of this expedi-tion will be given in ,a future issue of the' "News Letter". .. ' 'The flight over and in the Canyon was made between 9: 00 and 10:00 A.~. onJune lOth . Ideut, Pearson states .that at the beg5.nning of this flight there wasa slight east wind bl owi.ng and that it was very warm, the air being quite calmexcept for "heat s we ll s" . I t was just as smooth over and in the Canyon as outsideexcept for a strip along each wall, where there' was a very .not iceab l e rough region. rtween one-fourth and one-ha l f mile wide, undoubtedly "caused by strong uprising

rr-rerrt s of air heated by the canyon walls. Lieut. Pearson thought that there)u1d probably be a downward current of air in the middle of the Canyon to replacelat rising near the walls, but it was not noticeable. This was probably due to

\e fact that if there were such a downward current , its downwar-d velocity wouldl not more than that of the rising current at the canyon wall~ . This conclusion

,s arrived at by assuming that there was no longitudiJ;lal or up or down streamsplacement of air in the Can10n and that the region of uprising air extendede-haH mile back from the canyqn walls, This woudl.give a rising air volume one1e wide, and as th~ average width of .the canyon is 10 Ir!iles it would leave awnward column of ai~ nine miles wide to replace the rising air, I~s downward

velocity should therefore average about one-ni:nth that of the rising air. Strongcross wfnds had the effect. of, greatly Widening the belt of uprising air. on theside of the canyon opposite to that from which the wind was blowing, but did notchange the column on the oth~r \side. "'.

Lieutenant PearSon started for the Grand Canyon from Nogales, Arizona, onMay 31st, making stops at Phoenix, Preecott, Ashfork and'Williams, and selecting'landing fields at each of these places. He arrived ~t the Grand Canyon on Ju~e4th and spent the day in conference 'with the Superintendent of Parks and in look-ing for possible Landd ng fields. He states that no place closer than eleven mLlfrom the Grand Oanyon Station was found that was not covered with timber. Fai.good emergency fields were found to the north, west and east of Anita and one ,.Coconio, one-fourth of a mile 'east of Anita, Which is one mi.Le long and one-cfour Lhof a mile wide, 'flat, an~ with good appr6aches from north, east and southwest.This field was covered with sage-brush 18 inches/high and had prairie dog holes ~nit, but could be made suitable for landing at an expense of $150.00' or less. Justto the northwest of Anita is a .sl~ght rise which is flat on top and on which anexcellent field could be made, as a space one-half mi)e square with approaches .from any direction is available. It is level land without any pr.airie dog holes,

but is covered with sagebrush. The attitude of this tract is 6,100 feet, and itm/'luld only be necessary to dr-ag it with a railroad ~ron to put it in excellent

This was the most practicable 'field found in the near vicinity of the can-is i t is on the railroad, 15 miles airline from the Grand Canyon, and it would)ut little taput it in condition. The. nearness to the railroad is an impor ...

ltem, as all SUPPlies, even water. must be shipped in, and roads are none tooPassengers for or from Grand Canyon could be carried to and from Anita on

lroad or an aut o in one-ha.l f h our- at all seasons of'the year . .very good emergency fields. exist all the way between Williams and Anita and

e .ea s t as far as the San Francisco Mountains and to the west for 30 miles be.Anita and Grand Canyon.

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I n s u mm ar iZ in g L ie ut . P ea rs on 's r ep or t, t he C om ma nd in g o ff ic er o f F li ~h t " B" ,

1 2t h S qua dr on , s ta te s , th at a t ot al o f 14 fl ig ht s f or 'a t l tal of 2 2 ho u rs a nd 5

m in ut es w er e m ad e a bo v e a nd i n t he V ic in it y of t he C an yo n d ur ing a p er io d o f 1 4d a y s , 420 g al lon s o f g as a nd 5 0 q u ar ts o f o i l b e i n g c o n s um e d . H e i s o f th e b e -

, l ie f t ha t c om me rc ia l f ly in g a cr os s. t he G ra nd C an yo n a nd i ts v ic in it y i s e nt ir el y

f ea si bl e a nd p ra cti ca l b ut w ou ld r ec om me nd t ha t a p la ne of a t l ea st a r at e O~.

c li mb e qu ~l t o ~ OO f ee t p er m in ute at 7 , 00 0 fe et a nd a 1 7, 00 0 f t. c ei li ng b e r e-q ui re d o f t he o p er at in g c om pa ny i n o r de r t o as su re t he s af ~t y of p as se ng er s c ar -

r ie d, a nd t ha t n o f ly in g o ve r t he C an yo n be p~ rm it te d a t a n, al ti tud e o f l es s t ha n

1 1, 50 0 f ee t a bo v e s ea l eve l o r 3 ,50 0 f ee t a bo v e t he n or th r im u nl es s a p lat ea u

e me rg en cy f iel d i s bu ilt ; t ha t i f s uc h a f ie ld i s bu il t w it h' 40 0 y ar ds r un wa y.

f ly in g f or s ig ht s ee in g p ur po se s m ig ht b e c a rr ie d o n w it h r ea so na bl e s af et y a t6 ,0 00 f ee t a bo v e s ea l ev el o r 1 ,0 00 f ee t b el ow t he s ou th r im /p rov id ed t he p la ne

w as p il ote d w it hi n g li di ng d is tan ce o f t he p lat ea u f ie ld . F ur th er mo r e, n o fi el d

s ho u ld b e b ui lt c lo s Br t ha ~t wo mi le s o f t he r im of th e C an yo n o n a cc ou nt of t he

b um py a ir c on di ti on s n ea r t he C an yo n w all s w hi ch w ou ld t end t o ma ke ta ke o f fs a nd

l a nd i ng s d i ff i cu l t.

O n J un e 5 ~h L ie ut . P ea rs on , i n c om ~~ ny w it h t he C hie f R a ng er o f t he G ra nd

C an yo n N at io n al P ar k, w en t d ow n i n t he C an yo n t o l oo k o v er t he p la te au . T he

p la te au i s 3 ,' 75 0 f ee t a bov e s ea l ev el a nd w hi le g ,e ne ra ll y le ve l) it is r o u g hor f ul l of s ma H r ol ls a nd h ol lo w s Id e ut , Pe ar so n s ta te s t ha t a l an di ng o n a ny

, .p a rt o f t h i' s p l at e au w o ul d a l mo s t c e rt a i, W .y ' rB s ult i n a cr as h, though n o t n e c e ss a r i - '

l y f at al .. T wo w .a y l an di ng f ie ld s o f 4 00 o r 5 00 yar-ds in ] e ng th b y 7 5 y ar ds i n

w id th c ou ld b e b ui l t on t hi s p lat ea u a t a n um be r o f p la ce s a t a , c os t o f ab ou t

$ 1 ,0 00 e ac h, a s t he su rf ac e o f t he p lat ea u i s o f d e co m po s ed r oc k a nd c ou ld b e

e a si l y w o rk e d. No o t .he r l ev el o f t he c any on i s a t al l s ui ta bl e f or a ny k in d o fa n e m e rg en cy l an di ng f ie ld .

O n J u ne 6 th L ie ut . P ea rs on s ta rt ed o n h is r et ur n t ri p t o No ga le s a nd a rr iv el l

t he re o n J un ~ 8 th . O n t he f a ll ow in g d ay h~ f le w t o W il li am s) A ri z. , w hi ch he

u se d a s a b as e b ec au se o f t he c lo s e p ro x im it y o f t he f iel d t o to w n a nd t he a va il -

a bi li ty o f g as a nd o i l o f go od q ua lit y. I t w as al so t he c lo s es t f ie ld t o G ra nd

C an yo n t ha t c ou ld b e u se d, a s n o fu nd s w er e a va il ab le to p re pa re f ie lds c lo s er . . ,O n J un e 1 1t h, t he d ay f ol lO Wi ng L ie ut . P ea rs on 's f li gh t o ve r th e G ra nd C an -

y on , h e l ef t W il li am s a t 8 : 25 A. M. , f ly in g b y w ay o f F la gs ta ff , S an F r an ci sc o

p ea ks , L it tl e C ol or ad o R iv er , P ai nt ed D es er t, M ar bl e C an yo n a nd K a ib ab P 1a te au .

T h eI ' e w e re f e w, if a ny ,fi el d1 3 t ha t c ou ld b e l an de d i n a t a ll a ft er l ea vin g S an

E ra nc is co M ou nt ai ns , a si i i s r ou gh . s an dy d es er t t ha t w ou ld s ur el y c au se a c r as h.Th e K ai ba b p la te au i s a hi gh r ol li ng t ra ct of l an d h e av il y c ov er ed w it h t im be r.

T he re ,i s o ne u n iq ue s po t i n t h e P l at ea u, c al le d B ig P ar k, w hi ch f or s bm e c ur io Us

, re as on i s ba re . I t is ap pr ox im at el y o ne -h al f~ mi le w id e a nd 5 m i l e s l O R & , l y i n gin a s ma ll v all ey r un ni ng n or th a nd s ou th . I t i s th e o n ly p la ce o n th e p la te au

o n wh ic h a l an di ng c ou ld b e. m ad e. L ie ut . P ea rs on l an de d t he re a t 1 0 :2 0 A .M . . H e

st at es t ha t i ~ i s a v ery g oo d f ie ld , a nd c an be u se d b y a ny pl an e, wi th ou t a ny

pr ep ar at ion , i f t he p la ne c ar t t ak e o f f a t t hi s a lt itu de - 8 , 80 0 f ee t. H e t oo k o f f

w it ho u t a ny d if fi cu lty a nd f le w i n an d a ro u nd t he c an yo n fo r h a lf . a n hc ur , H is. ex pe ri en ce s w er e s im il ar t o t hQ se of t he p rev io u s d ay . H e d es cen de d 3 50 0 f ee t b e -

lo w t he so u th r im o f . t he C an yo n a nd 45 00 f ee t b el ow t he n or th r im . N o d if fi cu lt y

w as e xp er ien ce d e xc ep t t ha t t he m ot or b ec ame ve ry h ot , d ue t o t he h ot a ir i n th e

b ot t o m o f t h e , C a n yo n . ' " , .O n J une 1 5t h L ie ut . P ea rs on ma de a no th er t ri p to th e C a ny on , ta ki ng o f f

a t 2 :2 0 P.'M. i n a s tr on g aouthweat w in d b lo wi ng 4 0 nn Les a n h o ur . T h e a ir ' w a s

'ex t r- em aly r ou gh a nd b um py a ll t he w ay ' t o t he C an yo n. He c ro ss ed o ve r a nd b ac k

a n um li le ro f t im es a t a lt it ud es o f f ro m 5 00 t o 4 , 00 0 f ee t a bo ve t he r .i m, a nd fo ul 1d

t ha t t he re w as n o d i ff er en ce i n r ou gh ne ss o ve r t he C a ny on a nd l an d a t c or re sp on d-

in g a lt it ud es . H e d id n ot d es ce nd i nt o t he C an yo n f or t he ' .r-eas c n t ha t it i s v er y

u np le as an t t o f l y i n s uc h c lo se q ua rt er s d ur in g r ou gh w ea th er .

S ti )l a not he r t ri p. to t he C an yo n wasvmade ' by L ie ut . P ea rs on o n J u ne 1 7t h, h is

e xp er ie nc es b ei ng s im il ar t o th os e o f pr ec ed in g . fl ig ht s. O n J un e 1 8t h M r. H a l H .

B ul le n a rr iv ed a t Wi ll ia ms f ro m K an ab , U ta h, f ly in g a C ur ti ss S ta nd ar d w it h 150

h . p, K i rk h am 6 C u r t i s s M o t or . T h e w ea th e r w ~ s i d ea l - c oo l a n d n o w i n d . L i e u t .P ea rs on t ook o ff a t 7 : 5 0 A .M . f or t he G ra nd C an yo n a nd r et ur ne d a t 9 : 5 (1 A .M . M ov -

in g p ic tu re s w er e m ad e o f t his f li gh t under a ut ho ri ty o f th e C hi ef o f Ai r S er vi ce .F ly in g c on dit io n s w er e l ik e t ho s e o f t he f ir st d ay a nd t he re w er e no b um ps e ve na t t he C an yo n w al la , a s t he y h ad n ot h ad t ime t o he at up th is e ar ly i n t he m or n-. "J . n g .

-4- V . . . 3 5 9 9 , A . S .


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E ST AB LI SH ME NT O F ~ ]; ~' AV IA TI ON F IE LD A T B U FF AL O, N ,Y .

T he B uf fa lo A ir cr af t C or po ra ti on a nn ou nc es t he o pe ni ng o n, J ul y 2 nd a t B u ff al o

o f t h e ir n ew a vi a' ti on f i el d, k no wn a s 1 1 40 rr isFieV, a nd o ff er t he A rm y A t! ' Ser-v ic e th e f ac il it ies o f th ei r ," ie ld g rat is . Th e fi eld will b e o pe n t o the g e n e r a lp ub li c a nd n o c ha rg es w il l b e m ad -e e xc ep t f or s er vi ce s a nd s up pl ie s. T he ,B uf fa lo

A ir cr af t C or po ra ti on p ro po se t o u se t hi s f ie ld p ri ma ri ly a s a n a v ia ti on s ch oo l a nG

hc pe t o t u ~n o ut m a n y s uc ce ss fu l avfat.or-s a nd m ec ha ni cs . T he p e rs on ne l o f t he ir

or -g ar na at d on c on si st s p ra ct ic al ly o f al l e x- se rv ic e m en i n t h e U ni te d s ta te s andC a na d ia n f or c es .

C U R T I S S - IJ \ ! l l ~ N A C O M P A & i/

T he f ol lo wi ng c om mu ni ca ti o~ h as r ec en tl y b ee n r ec ei ve d' fr om t he C ur ti ss -

I nd ia na C om pa ny , K ok om o, I nd .

" Th e C ur ti ss -I nd ia na C om pa ny h av e j us t I OO ve d on t o t he ir n ew f ie ld , a nd i n~~ ' or de r to le t t ~e ge ne ra l p ub lic k no w w ha t we h ave do n e. in t he p ro mo t io n o f a er ona u-

y t ic s, w e a re g qi ng t o ha ve ' a b ig A vi at io n M ee t o n Se pt em be r 2 0, 2 1 an d 2 2 .} Du ri n g the l as t tw o y ea rs the C ur t is s- In d ia na C o mp an y hav e en jo ye d t h e r e pu ta -

t io n o f h aV in g t he l ar ge st a nd b es t e qu ip pe d c om me rc ia l a vi at ion f ie ld i n t he U ni t-

e d s ta te s. P os si bl y t he re a re ot he r' fi e~ ds w hi ch h ad m or e a cr ea ge t ha n o ur s b utw e d o not b el i ev e t ha t t he re w er e a ny t ha t h ad m or e g rou nd ' wh ic h co ul d a ct u~ ll y b eu se d f or l an di ng o r b et te r f ac il it ie s f or f l yi ng t ha n ~ ur s. H ow ev er , e ar ly t hi s,

s .p ri ng w e h ad a n o pp or tu ni ty t o s ec ur e a l ar ge r f ie ld w it h a bs ol ut el y n o o bs ta cl es

i n a ny w ay an d gi vin g u s a t l ea st on e- hal f m tl e r un way i n e ver y d ire ct io n . Of

c ou rs e o ur n ew f ie ld i s m ar ke d w it h t he r eg ul at io n 1 0 0 f oo t c ir cl e a nd 6 0 fo o tc r os s a n d is i n e ve ry w ay u p t o t h e G ov er nm en t r eq ui re me nt s. We e x p e c t t o ' n o t i . f y

a s n ea rl y a s p os sib le ev ery p il ot i n t he U ni ted S ta tes wh o ow ns a sh ip an d a skt ha t he co me h er e an d t ak e pa rt i n t hi s Me et. ' T he p rog ra m h as n ot b een a rr an ged a ~

y et , b ut u nd ou bt ed ly w e w i ll h av e a p rog ra m w hi ch w il l k ee p t he f li er s b us y d ur in g

t he ir st ay he re . Ga sol in e an d oi l wil l be fu rn ish ed fo r a ll o f t he m ae hi ne s du ri n[

t he ir s ta y a nd t he re w il l b e a ut om ob il es a t t h e s er vi ce of t he , f li er s. W e e xp ec tt ha t t he re w il l b e ma ny t ho~ sa nd s of s pe ct at or s h er e f rom a ll p ar ts o f t he c ou nt ry

a nd t he re i s n o r ea so n w h y t hi s s ho ul d n ot b e a h u ge ' s uc ce ss , a s t he p eo pl e i nIn dia na a re ve ry e nt hu sia st ic ab ou t f ly ing . T her e w il l b e ~n y p ri zes , cu ps , et c. ,

a w a r d e d b y t he -v ar io us f ac to ri es a nd m er ch an ts i n t hi s l oc al it y a nd w e b e li ev eth at i t wo ul d b e we ll w or th th e W hi le of an y p il ot t o co m e h er e. ' W e al so e xp ect

t ha t we wi ll h av e at l eas t 25 d if fe re nt . ty pe s o f s hi ps o n ~ ur f ie ld a nd w e a nt ic i-p at e t ha t t he re w il l b e m or e t ha n 1 0 0 V is i ti n g s h ip s ."

, /

M UN IC IP AL L AN DI NG F IE LD A T H ART FO RD , C ON N. ' /

,. ' r

M r. H ir am P er cy M ax im . P re si de nt of t he Ha rt fo rd A vi at ~o n C om mi ss io n, r ec en t-l y ad dr es se d a c om mu ni ca ti on t o th e A ir S er vi ce i n w hi ch h e s ta te s t ha t t he C it yo f H ar tf or d h as a v er y f in e M un ic ip al L an di ng F ie ld u nd er t he d ir ec ti on o f th eC it y o f H ar tf or d A vi at ion C om mi ss ion . T he l a nd in g f ie ld is l oc a te d d i re c tl y souc..

o f t he ci ty , wi thi n th e c it y li mi ts a nd d ir ec tly on t ho we st b an k of t h e C o n n~ c t i-

. c u t R iv e r. The d is ta nc e f ro m t h e H ea dq ua rt er s B ui ld in g 0~1 t he Av ia ti on F ie ld t oth e ce nt er of t h e c i ty i s a p pr ox i ma t el y 1 t m il e s. Th e f ie ld is L s ha ped . Th el ar ge r l eg of t he L i s n or th a nd s ou th a nd i s a pp ro xi ma .t el y 2 t5 0 0 f ee t l on g n or tha n d s o u th . a n d a p p ro x i ma t e ly 1 0 0 0 f ee t w id e e as t and w e s t . The e as t a nd we st l eg i s

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 5 0 0 f ee t l on g e as t a nd w es t a nd a T) pr 0x :: ,m at el y8 0 0 f ee t w id e n or tha nd s ou th , : lb e n or th a nd s ou th l eg i s' v er y c ar ef ul ly g ra de d a nd a n a lm os t p er f e ct

t urf su rfa ce pr ev ai ls o ve r it s e nt ir e a re a. In th e ce nt er o f t hi s no rt h an d so u th

l eg is a l ar ge w hi te c ir cl e a s a m ar ke r, m ea su ri ng 1 0 0 f e et i n d i ar l Je t era n d t h r e ef ee t wid e. I t' is m ad e o f c rus he d st one an d k ep t' whi te wa~ he d. '

O n t he f ie ld t he re i s k ep t h .i gh t es t g as ol in e a nd f ou r g ra de s o f l Ub ri ca ti ng

,1, i n c l u d i n g , caut o r oil. A r e gu l a r M u ni ci pa l c ar et ak er i s o n t he g ro un d s ev en. ys a we ek . Pu bli c fl yi ng i s do ne c ons ta ntl y. t her e b ei ng t wo p lan es at t hee ld a ll o f th e t im e. T he se p la ne s a re o wn ed . b y p ri v at e i nd iv id ua ls w ho u se

em fo r ta k in g u p p as se n ge rs . ' ,

L ie ut . M of fi t, o f t he Ai r p er vi ce S ta ti on a nd t he F ra mi ng ha m A ir dr om e, M a s s . ,ce nt ly vi sit ed th e F ie ld an d p ro no un ced i t th e b est i n N ew En gl and . Th er e i se ar f ly in g g ro un d f or a t l e as t o ne s qu ar e m il e, a nd t he c on di ti on s a re h a rd ly

c el le d a ny wh er e i n t h e c ou nt ry

f'

. ., - 5 - V -3 5 99 , A .S .


6/327

London

A ER ON AU T~ CA L N ~N S F R O M O TH ER C OU NT RI ES

/," i

T HE A MP HI BI AN tS M ER IT S

T he r em ar ka bl y f in e f li gh t o f t he V ic ke rs A mp hi bi an -N ap ie r m ac hi ne f ro m t he

S ei ne to t he T ha me s h as ~ ~ ga in ra is ed t he q ues ti on of th e fu rt he r de ve lop men t

of c ivi l a vi at ion w ith s pe ci al r ef er en ce t o the p os si bl e f ut ur e of L on don a s an

a ir p or t. It w ou ld s eem th at t he pr ac ti ca bi li ty of t he s che me n ee ds no f ur th erd em on st ra ti on , f or t he f li gh t i n q ue st io n, ' fo ll ow in g o n th e t es ts c ar ri ed o ut b y

t he A ir M in is tr y on t he Th am es , ha s c le ~r ly s how n wh at g rea t a dv an ta ge s w oul d ar is e

f rom s it in g a n a ir -li ne te rm in ai in t he he ar t of Lon don w it hi n e as y re ac h of e ve ry

p lac e.of b usi ne ss i n tb e met ropol is. Al l w ho w atc he d t he a li gh ti ng of t he Am phi -

b ian on t he r iv er s om e w ee ks a go, th e s tar ts f or he r r et ur n f+ ig ht s to B rook la nd s,

a nd h er a rr iv al fr om P ar is t hi s we ek , m us t h av e ob se rv ed t ha t t he se ev ol ut ions w er e

c ar ri ed out i n a v er y s ma ll s pac e an a t hat t he m ac hi ne h ad an a mp le c: le ar an ce w he ns he p as se d u nd er L am be th B ri dg e.

Th e m att er is b ein g ra is ed i n t he Hou se of C om mon s i n a qu es ti on b y M r. Gi l-

b ert , wh o h as as ke d t he Se cr et ar y of .s tat e for Ai r wh et he r it i s p rop os ed t o e s-

t abl is h a n a ir st at ion on the Ri ver T ha me s. Inf or ma ti on i s al so s oug ht a s to t hee re ct ion of a pi er , t he us e of t h e st at ion b y c om me rci al a vi at ion c omp an ies , th es ha re it he P ost Of fi ce ma y b e e xpe ct ed t o t ak e'i n u ti liz in g s uc h a s erv ic e, a nd t heq ue st io n o f r iv er n av i. gat .ao n a n d t he i nt er fe re nc e o f t h e a ir cr af t t he re wi th '.

, Th e c omm er ci al a ir se rv ic es of t he c ou nt ry a re st il l r un w ith Gov ern me nt h el p,

a nd a ir me n a re a t p r es en t' s ti il i nv es ti ga ti ng t he p ro bl e m o f a c om me rc ia ll y e co no mi -

c al a i rp l! ne .' T he r em ot en es s o f a ir dr om es f ro m t h e c e nt re s of c om me rc e w il l a l-

w ays be a s tum bl in g b loc k i n t he pr og re ss of , c i v i l f ly in g. A mp hi bi ou s a ir cr af t

r e mov e t ha t d i f fi c u lt y . L ond on T im e s .

T O I ND IA B Y A ~R IN S IX D AY S

/ .

/A IR ~E XP RE SS R AF T

Pl an s a re now b ein g m ad e f 'O r a g re at fl ig ht b y R 3 6, En gl an d " s l at es t a nd

l arg es t Air sh ip , t o Ma lta , E gyp t an d In di a. Al l s or ts of pr opos al s a re b e in g

c ons id er ed a t t hi s t ime , an d i nst ea d of a tr ip t o I nd ia i t , ma y b e d ec id ed t o

m ake a non -s top jou rne y to M alt a an d r et ur n. S hou ld a de ci si on b e re ac he ~ t o

m ake th e t rip to Ind ia , h ow ev er , th e R 3 6 wi ll m ake a s top in E gy pt f or r ep le n-

i shm en t of fu el . It i s e xp ect ed th at t he fl ig ht t o In di a wi ll ~t ak e s ix d ay s.

T he f as te st t im e b y r ail an d s tea me r i s 2 1 d ay s.

A w on de rf ul f ea th er -w ei gh t r af t, f or us e i n t he ev en t of a f orc ed d es ce nt

on t he w at er , ha s b ee n d ev is ed f or cr os s-C ha nn el a ir ex pr es se s. T he ap pa ra tu sc om pr is es t wo c yl in de rs of c om pr es se d a ir W hi ch , w he n t he v al ve s a re tu r n e d ,

i nf la te i n 3 0 s ec on ds t wo f lo at s, a nd e na bl e t he r af t" t hou gh i ts t ot . l w ei gh ti s on ly 5 6 pou~ ds , t o s u ppor t a s ma ny ' a s f ou r p eop le . T he r af t c an be st ow ed

a lon g t he t op o f an a e ro pl an e f us el ag e.

L ie ut en an t P ar er , t he A us tr al ia n a i. rm an , p ro po se s t o s ta rt o n a f 1: 1, gh tr o un uA us tr al ia t hi s m on th , aecompam e d b y. an c bs e rv er j a m e ch an ic a nd a c in em at og ra phope ra tor , f o.r th e p ur pose of r ais in g m one y to b uy ' a m ac hi ne for a n a tt emp t t o fly

a cr os s t he P ac if ic ., .

H o l l a n d

T he l ar ge st a ir dr om e ~ n H ol la nd h as r ec en tl y b ee n e st ab li sh ed a t Ro tt er da m,

s ev en m il es f rom t he c it y. ' It , is r at he r m or e t ha n 1 ,1 00 y ar ds l on g hy 7 0 0 w i de

a nd , b ei ng p er fe ct ly f la t a n d o pe n, i s w el l s ui te d t o th e r e qu ir em en ts of a ir cr af t.

A t em por ar y r ail wa y h as b ee n ~ ade t o bri ng g ra vel a nd ot he r b ui ld in g ma te ri al to

t he s ite , w he re a l ar ge s he d h as' a lr ea dy b ee n e re ct ed . O ff ic es h av e be en p ut u p

a nd pr em is es f or C us tom s, wi re le ss ", me te or ol og ic al o bs er va ti on , a r es ta ur an t, a nd

a t ow er f or i ll um in at ion b y n ig ht a re e ~t he r a lr ea dy i n e xi st en ce o r pr oj ec te d.

T he w hol e h as b ee n p la nn ed on d at a e mb od yi ng t he l at es t e xp er ie nc e.

-6- V - 35 9 9, A .S .


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F r a n c s '

In a n a rt ic le i n , th e L ond on O BS ERVE R b y M ajor C . C . Tu rne r it i s s t at e d t h ati n t es ts of' c om m er c ia l a e r9 p la n es a r ra n ge d , by t he F r en ch U nd er -S ec re ta ry f or Ai r,a F ar ma n " Gol ia th " b ip la ne , d ri ve n b y t hr ee S al ms on i2 6 0 h .p . e ng in es , t ra ve ll e4 ,ac ros s c oun tr y a d is tan ce of 2 , 8 0 0 , mi le s i n 3 4 hou rs ( fl yi ng t im e) . T h e couree

w as P ar is -O rl ea ns -Ro ue n- Me tz -D ij on -P ar i6 . ~ t h ad t o b e f low n t hr ee t im es , w i t hh al ts a t a ' nu mb er o f s p ec if ie d p oi nt s, h al ts , e ls ew he re d is qu al if yi ng . It is

e xp ec te d t ha t o th er f in e p e rf or ma nc es w il l be p ut up i n t his con te st.f or t hef ol lo wi ng m ac hi ne s a ls o w er e e nt er ed : A B le ri ot 4 -e ng -i ne dt ri pl an ej a. L a t e c o e r e3 -e ng in ed b ip la ne ; a nd a C a ud ro n 3 -e ng in 'e d bi pl an e.

,The F ar ma n t 1G ol ia th " i s a d ev el op me nt , f ro m t he tw o- en gi ne dF ar ma n , da il yf ly in g b et we en C ro yd on a nd P ar is . It w ei gh s ( fu l1 y l oa de d) s t t on s, e mp ty a bo ut3 ton s. Its "userut l oad " i n t his te st was 2t t ons . Th e p il ot w as M ons , N,G ona n. Th e sp ee d of 82t m il es p er h ou r a v e r a g e for t he c om ple te t our i s v e r yg oo d, i nd ic at in g, o f co ur se , a m u c h h i g h e r a ir s pe e d i n ~ al m ai r ; in s uc h a tourw i nd i s f a vo u ra b le in on e p ar t an d a dM ers e i n a not he r. bu t t he n et re su lt .i s

r ed uc ed a ve ra ge g ro un d s pe ed .

I...r ,

" AND I L EA R NE D A B DU l F LY IN G F RO M ' I 'HAT"

' Tak ing of f t he f ie ld on e d ay f or a s hort p ra ct ice flight. I f ac ed a b re ez eo f a b ou t .15 m ile s pe r hour f rom , t he s ou th . t he "T " up on t he f ie ld b ei ng se t i n

a cc or da nc e w it h t he s ou th er ly br'e e ae ; I w a -s. i n th e tt i r p e rh a ps 40 m in ut es , d ur -

in g w hi ch ti me I had fl ow n 25 or 30 mi le s in a sout he rly d ire ct ion . M y ret urn wa s

prompted by i nd ica ti ons of b a d w ea th er a nd a d es ir e to re ac h t he gr oun d b ef ore

what s ee m ed t o b e a b ad r a in st orm , p il i ng u p i n t he w es t , sh oul d b re a k. On ap ..- pr oa ch in g t he f ie ld I d is cov er ed f r~ th e st ock in g on th e w at er iow er a nd f rom t he

f la g a t H eadquar-t a rs t ha t t he w ind h ad sw un g to t he nor th an d h ad i nc re ase d c on .s id er ab ly f rom t he 15 m ile b ree ze wh iCh ha d b een b low in g ove r th e f ie ld a t tna

ti me of m y ta ke- off . "H ow eve r. t~ e l an di ng " T" st il l i ndi ca ted t hat la ndi ng s

s hou ld be ma de fr om t he n ort h a nd I c ~g 1t at ed f or s om et im e w he th er t o l an d i nk ee pi ng w it h t he " T" or i n k ee pin g w it h m y b et ter ju dgm ent , a s b as ed up on th ea ppa re nt c ha ng e i n t he d ir ect ion of the w in d. My d ~i sion w as fi nal ly pr om pte d

b y t he f a' ct t ha t s ev er al o ff ic er s w it hi n t he ~ p re ce di ng w ee k o rt en d ay s h ad l 1e en

r ep ri ma nd ed f or i gn or in g t he " 1 ' ' ' i n the ir la nd ing s, an d so I d ec id ed t o m ak e t hel an di ng f ro m t he n or th . C ot Id ng ' in f r om t he n or th , I p la ce d m y wheels o n t he gr-ounr'

: it t h e e xt re me n or th er ly end of t he f ie ld , b ut s oo n f ou nd t ha t t h' e b re ez e o n, m y

ta il w ou ld ma ke i mp oss ibl e s top pi ~g th e s pe ed of t he p la ne pe for e re ach in g th e'

bu il din gs on t he s out he rly e dg e of t he fi eld . It ra ve le d a s f ar i n a s ou th er ly

d ir ec tt on a s I da red an d at the l~ t m ome nt pu ll ed a gr oun d l oop w hi ch t erm ina te d

i n t he p la ne l an di ng ' on i ts b ac k, ' mu ch t o m y d is co mf it ur e.

Q ue s ti on - l~ at di d Il ea rn a bou t f ly in g f ro m t ha t! "

On e Q f t he 't hi ng s W hi ch p ro ba bl y i mp re ss ed m e mo st , d ur in g m y p ri ma ry t ra in -

i ng , wa s w at c hi ng a c ad et ta k e off . Hi s motor cu t out j us t be f or e h e got t o s om e

t ele ph one w ire s an d h e t ri ed to hol d h is s hi p up ov er t he m i ns tea d of g oi n g u n de r

t he m, w it h t he r es ult an t l os s of f lyi ng sp ee ~,a nd a cr as h. Im med iat el y af ter

t he crash, the s ta ge c om ma nd er g at he re d h is s .t ud en ts a ro un d h im a nd s ai d; " Se ey on der , s ee w hat h ap pen ed to .that.' b i r d . Well n ow. lot m e t el l you fe llows s om e-

t hi n g. Y ou s im pl y c an ' t h old a sh i p up in t h e ai r w it h y our a rm s , n o m at t er h owm uc h y ou p ull up on t he .s ti ck. n . T h at s a yi n g still r in gs t hr ou gh m y h e ad w he n

fl yi ng - "Y ou c an 't hol d h er u p w it h you r artJ\s."

-7.

. .

V.3599, A.S.


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S Q U A D R O N N E W S

M ar ep F ie ld . ~v er si de ! C al if or ni a, J un e 18

O ve r a t hou sa nd p eo pl e v is it ed M ar ch F ie ld o n T Ue sd ay : J un e 1 4t h ( Fl ag D ay )

t o w it ne ss t he T hi rd A nn ua l A ir S ho w. M aj or Y ou nt , c om ma nd in g o ff ic er . i ss ue da c or di al i nv it at io n t o t h e p . ..b li c, a nd t hos e w ho w er e p re se nt w it ne ss ed o ne o f,

t h e r oo st euc c e a s f u I a n d sneo t a c u L a r - a e r i a l e x . h i b i .t i o n s in t he h is tor y of t hef ie ld . M us ic f or t he oc ca si on w as p ro vi de d b y th e P o' st Ba .n d. T he re w er e n in e

t hr il ll ng e ve nt s o n t h e p r og ~a m. p ar ti ci pa te d i n b y a u oz ~n p il ot s a nd a s ma ny

p la ne s. E V. er yt hi ng f ro m t he " ca de t' s f ir st s ol o" t eo a er ia l a cr ob at ic s was

d emo ns trat ed , An a lt it ud e r ac e, a t hr ee -c 'o rn er ed f SO -m il e r ac e a nd " th e d ea d

s t i c k " Landdn g s ee me d t o oc ca si on t he g re at er Lrrter e s t, FoL l o wd n g t h e a e ri a l

e ve nt s, of fi ce rG a nd e nl is te d ' me n g ui de d t he v is it or s a bou t t he p os t, w he re t he y

w er e p er mi tt ed t o 0b se rv e t he Lnte r e s t d n g f e a t u r e s 0 f t h e s ch oo l a t c lo s e r an ge .L ie ut . H ar ry C ol li ve r h as j oi ne d t he " Be ne di ct C lu b" , h av in g b ee n u ni te d

i n ma rr ia ge l as t w ee k t o M is e ~ e1 en O 'D el l of L os An ge le s.

M a jo r S h ep l er W. F it z Ge r al d , c om m an d in g o ff i ce r of t he Re pa ir D ep ot a tR oc kw el l F ie ld , C ap ta in R an dol ph a nd Li eu t. Va na ma n w er e a er ia l v is it or s a tM ar ch F ie ld o n T h ur sd ay .

. F i f t y p l a n e s d u r i n g t h e pa s t w ee k ma d e a tot a l o f 426 f li gh ts c ov er in g a n

a pp ro xi ma te a er ia l m il ea ge o f 1 5 , 5 5 0 . a n d c o n su m i ng 2 3 9 h ou rs a nd 1 5 m in ut es f ly .

i ng t im e. P re li mi na ry i ns tr uc ti on r eq ui re d 1 88 h ou rs a nd 30 m in ut es ; t es t f li gh ts ,

1h ou r a nd 5 0 m in ut es ; a nd m is ce ll an eoe s f li gh ts , 4 8 h ou rs a nd 5 5 m i n u t e s .

A ir S er vi ce M ec ha ni cs S ch oo l. C ha nu te F ie ld , R an to ul . Ill. .... J u n e 21

' !' heA ir S er vi ce R es er ve O ff ic er s R eu ni on , h el d a t C h an ut e F ~e ld o n J u ne 1 7t h.

t o 1 9t h, w a s a n u n qu al if ie d s uc ce ss . T he o b j e e t o f t h e R eu ni on , w hi ch w as h el du nd er t he d ir ec ti on of M aj or w m . C . M cC hor d, S ix th Cor pe Ai r O ff ic er . a nd M aj orG e or g e E . S t ra t em e ye r . , C om ma n da n t 0 f th e A ir . S er vi ce 'M ec ha ni cs S ch oo l, w as t Q

b ri ng A ir S er vi ce R es er ve O ff ic er s t og et he r, s ti mu la te t he ir i nt er es t i n t he p os tw a r .A i r S e r v i c e a n d g i v e t h e m a n op p o r t u n i t y t o f l y . .

The Re un io n s uc ce ed ed i n a ll o f t hi s a nd m or e, f or n ot on ly d id t he o ff ic er s

p re se nt ob ta in t he ir f il l o f f ly ~n g, b ut t he re w a~ or ga ni ze d t he S ix th C or ps Ar ea

A ir S e rv i c' e R es er v e O f fi c er s . As s oc i at i on , w h ic h p r on i is e B t o f il l a l on g f le t w an t.T hi s or ga ni z at io n t oo k f o r m o n t he e ve ni ng of J u n e 1 8 th a t a m ee t in g o f t he

R es er ve O ff ic er s a nd t he o ff ic .e rs O f. CM nu te F ie ld . C ap ta in P hi li p. K em p, R .M .A .,

A .S " w as e le ct ed c ha ir ma n 0 f t he O hi ca go C ha pt er , w hi ch w il l b e t he p ar en t chapt e.:o f t h is A ss oc i at i on . ~t is p la nn ed t o h av e c ha pt er s t hr ou gh ou t t he S ix th C or psA re a. A mo ng t ha a i ms of t hi s o rg an iz at io n a re : T o f or m a n a as oc ia ti on of Re se rv e

O f f i c e r s 0 f th e Ai r S er vi ce i n or de r t ha t i n for ma ti on a lon g p rof es si on al l in es ~

c an b e q ui ck ly d is se mi na te d; t o ke ep Re se rv e O ff ic er s i n t ou ch w it h e ac h ot he r~

t o p r ov id e a n o r ga ni za ti on ' wh er eb y t he s en ti me nt o f t h e R es er ve s c an b e c r Ys ta l-

l iz ed a nd t he ir w an ts .m ad e k now n t hr ou gh t he p ro pe r c ha nn el s t o t he p rop era u th or i tY ' ; a n d t o provf.de a n u cl e us f or t h e. o rg a ni z at io n o f , f ut u re A i r S e rv i ce .R es e rv e u n it s , A t ot al o f 42 o ff ic er s f ro m Il li no is a nd M ic hi ga n w er e p re se nt .M an y o ld f ri e nd sh ip s ? fe re r en ew ed , i nt er es t i n t he A ir S er vi t:e was s t i m u l a t . e d ,

~ nd c on si de ra bl e p ra ct ic al t ra i~ ng o n t he p re se nt Ai r S er vi ~e p la ne s w as g iv en .

It i s be li ev ed t ha t t hi s r eu ni on w il l h av e a f ar r ea ch in g e f r e c t,O n S at ur da y e ve ni ng , J un e 1 8 th , t he of fi ce rs a nd l ad ie s. of C ha nu te F ie ld

g av e a h op i n h on ~r of t he Re se rv es . E ve ry on e p re se nt h ad a v e ry e nj oy ab le t im e.F la t; D ay w as c el eb ra te d a t C ha nu te F ie ld o n J un e 1 4t h; t he t ro op s of t he

p os t b ei ng r ev ie we d a t 1 0 : 0 0 A .M . b y t he C o m~ an da nt o f t h e S c ho ol , t he M ay or o fR an to ul a nd s ev er al G .A ,R . v et er an s . A s ho rt b ~n d c on ce rt f ol lo we d, a ft er w hi ch

t he t roo ps , c iv il ia ns o f t he p os t a nd c it iz en s of R an tO Ul w er e a dd re ss ed b y t heC om ma nd an t, t he Ma yor o f R an tou l a nd s ev er al of t he p rom in en t c it iz en s. I n th e

. af te rn oo n t ne p os t b as eb al l t ea m s ta ge d a n e xc ii in g g a m e v nt h t h e O ut l aw s ( at ea m . c om po se d o f t he s ta rs o f t he A ir ' S er vi ce Me ch an ic ~ S ch oo l T wi li gh t L ea gu e)

a n d w on o u i 'i n t he l as t i n ni ng . T he g a m e w as w el l a t te n de d.

S om e w ee ks a go t he T wi li gh t B as eb al l L ea gu e w as o rg an iz ed , M as te r S er ge an t

H um ph re y T .B ec k b ei ng e le ~t ed P re s~ ae nt . T he le ag ue i s c om po se d of f ou r te am s,

- 8 - V-3599, A . S .


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m ad e u p o f t he p er eo nn .e l o f t he p o a t, E ac h T ue sd ay a nd F ri da y' e ve ni ng t he set ea ms 'm ee t a nd p la y 7 i nn in gs j us t a t s u nd ow n. V er y k e ~ n c o mp et it io n h as d e v el ~

o pe d. T he p eo pl e o f R a nt ou l a re t ak in g c on si de ra bl e i nt er es t i n t h is l ea gu e a ndh av e d on at ed a l ar ge t ro ph y c up f or t he w in ni ng t ea m a nd a p en na nt f or s ec on dp la ce . T he o r ga ni za ti on o f t h is l ea gu e h as p ro ve d o ne o f t he b es t s te ps t ow ar ds

d e ve l op i ng m o ra l e w h ic h . h a s e v er b e en a t te m pt e d a t t h is p o st .

2 4t h B al lo on C om pa ny . F or t B ak er , C al if or ni a, J un e 1 8t h.

T he 2 4t h Ba ll oo n C om pa ny , o pe ra ti ng t wo b al lo on s, h ad a m o d er at e t im e i n t hea ir t he p as t w ee k, m ak in g t hr ee . fl ig ht s f or a t ot al p er io d. o f 7 hours, and 54m i nu t es . d e sp i te t h e f a ct t h at b o tt l t i me s t h e w e a th e r w a s v e ry u n ta v or a ,b l e f orf l y i n g .

T he c la ss i n B al lo on F ab ri c W or k s ta rt ed l as t w ee k i s p r ov in g v er y s uc ce ss -f ul , a n d a l l a va il ab le m en a re a tt en di ng s am e.

"

C r is B Y F . i~ l dl S a n F r an c is c o. C a li f or n ia . J u ne 2 1 .

T he n ew b ui ld in gs f or C r is BY F ie ld a re c om pl et ed a nd r ea dy f or o c cu pa nc y.M a j or H, H. A rn ol d, A ir S er vi ce 'O ff ic er o f t he N in th C or ps A re a, h ad a lr ea dym ov ed h is . o ff ic e f ro m t h e S an ta ' F e B u il di ng t o t h e n ew H ea dq ua rt er s a t t hi sf ie l d .' .

A rt il le ry o bs er va ti on w as r es um ed l as t w e e k. F or t B a r ry h av in g c al le d o nt he p la ne s t wi ce f or 'o bs er va ti on o n t he l 2- in ch r if le s. C oo pe ra ti on b et we en t hep l an e s a n d F o rt h a s r e ac h ed - a h i gh d e gr e e o f . e f fi c ie n cy , O b se r va t io n , o n s h ot sas s en t i n b y t he p la ne s a re r un ni ng f ro m e ig ht y- fi ve t o o ne hundr-ed p e r c s 'n tc or re ct . R ad io e om mu ni ca ti on ' fr om p la ne t o F o r t c o nt in ue s t o b e 100 p e r c e nt .

' C a r ls t r o m F i e l d, A r c a di a , F l o ri d a , ' J u n e 1 5 .

T he s t ud en ts a re m o st ly o n c r os s c ou nt ry o r h a ve a bo ut c o~ pl et ed t he ir c ou rs e.F or t M e ye rs a nd S ar as ot a a re b ei ng v is it ed r eg ul ar ly e ae h d ay . S om e o f t hec i t he ne r em ar ke 4 t he y t ho ug ht t he y h ad a n A er ia l T ax i l in e i n- o p e- ra ti on b ec au se 's h ip s w e re 80 n um er ou s u nt il t he y i nv es ti ga te d a nd f ou nd t ha t t he s tu de nt s w er et ra i n in g in c r os s e oun t r y f l y in g .' _

C a p t a i n L. A pp le by a nd ~ t. J. M cM ul le n f le w f ro m M on tg om er y. A la . A ir I nt er -m ed ia te D ep ot i n a D H- Ar dm on t l tM ai dll in 4t h ou rs o n S a tu rd ay m or ni ng . T he Y r e~p 6r te d a n e xc el le nt t ri p. C ap ta in A pp le by c am e t o t hi s s ta ti on t o t ak e h is a ir -p la ne p i l( )t f ly in g te st .

Major . .Ralph Royc e -and M a j or E. N a id e n f l ew c r o ss - co u nt r y t o J a c k so n vi l le ,Fl.a , on Tu e sd ay a nd r et ur Md t he n ex t d ay , r ep o r ti ng a n e xc e ll en t t ri p.

C a pt ~ in R o me y n B . H ou gh , l et L i e ut . R ob er t M . W e bs te r a nd 1 st L i e ut . J ul ia nB . H ad do n o f t he A ir S er vi ce . h av in g c om pl et ed . t he ir t es ts . a re n ow r at ed a sAir p l an e Pi l ots , .

T he C ar ls tr om F ie ld B as eb al l t ea m j ou rn ey ed t o F or t M ea de , F la ., ' a nd m etd ef ea t a t t he h an ds o f t h e' l oc al f as t t e am b y t h e 'sco r - e of l ~ t o 8. I t was ah ea vy h it ti ng c on te st , S ca gg s f ea tu ri ng f or F or t M ea de a nd S gt . J oh n D ee , ofC a r l st r o m h i t t in g a h o me r u n.

F ly in g t im e f or t he w ee k s ho ws a, totaJ. of 36 s hi ps i n c o m mi ss io n w it h ag ra nd t ot al o f 3 49 h ou rs .a nd 4 5 m i nu te s f ly in g. a nd a t ot al o f 3 43 f li gh t~ f ro mt h is f i e' l d.

Hdgl!s. 9 l st S q ua d ro n , M u ni c ip a l , F ly i ng F i el d . E U ge n e. O r eg o n. J u ne 11.

L as t T hu rs da y n ig ht t he A m er ic an L eg io n o f E u ge ne g av e a b an qu et a nd d an cei n t he r oo ms o r th e l oc al C ha mb er o f C p mm er c8 , a nd t he w h ol e o rg an iz at io n w as Ln-v i t e d. N e ar l y, a l l t h e m e mb e rs 0 f t he o om ma nd w er e p re se nt . T he " c ho w" w as v er y~ ~A d, t he c r ow d a nd t he f lo or w e r e e xc el le nt , w hi le t he m u si c w a s b e ~ o nd p r a i se .

ryo n e r e p or te d a w on de rf ul t im e.T h e S q u ad r on s e nt 3 s hi pe t o P o rt la nd o n T hu rs da y, L ie ut . B at te n w it h M r.

i el l a s p a s se ng er . a nd S er ge an ts D eG an no a nd W oo dg er d. W hi le i n P o rt la nd ,P e nd e ll h a d a c on fe re nc e w it h t ne D is tr ic t F or es te r o f t he S ix th D is tr ic t

C ap ta in ~ ch ar d D er ~, C ,A .C ., f on ne r ai d t o L ie ut .- Ge ne ra l L ig ge tt . f or me rIS A re a C o mm an de r, v is it ed S qu ad ro n H ea dq ua rt er s t hi s w ee k. H e is on an ex~e d au to t ri p t hr ou gh O re go n a nd h as r ec ei ve d h ie o rd er s t ra ns fe rr in g h im t o

. .,


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.'Fl igh t "B ". n st S qu ad ron . Ca mp L ?w is , W ash ., Jy ne 1 1

A r ec or d i n s po tt in g a nd r ep or ti ng f or es t f ir es is b el ie ve d t o ha ve b ee ne st ab li sh ed h er e o n We dn es da y, J un e 8 th , w he n a f ir e l o~ at ed n ea r P or t An ge le s,

a d is ta nc e o f 8 5 m il es " WaG r ec ei ve d a t t hi s b as e b y r ad io a nd r el ay ed t o t he

D is tr ic t F or es te r' s O ff ~c e a t O ly mp i~ b y l on g d is ta nc e t el ep ho ne i n a t ot al

e la ps ed t im e o f f iv e m i nu te s. An ot he r f ir e w a s l oc at ed t he s am e d a. y a nd r ep or te e' . '

i~ a l ik & man ner i n s ev en m i nu te s. Ol ym pia i s t en m ile s f rl m C am p Le wi s.A n ew l an di ng f ie ld h as b ee n p ut i n s ha pe b y t he P os t U ti li ti es D ep ar tm en t

of Ca mp L ewi s. Th is f ie ld co ye rs pa rt oCt he se ct io n o f the p ara de gr oun d ju st

e as t o f F ou rt ee nt h S tr ee t a nd i s a d e ci de d i mp ro ve me nt ov er t he on e u s ed i n t hep a s t , in t ha t i t h as b ee n c ar ef ul ly g ra de d a nd s moo th ed , a nd a ll i nt er fe ri ngo bs t ~c l es r e mo ve d .

M at he r F ie ld , S ac rg me nt o, C al if Ju ne 1 1t h.

. .A R es t C am p i n S ta ni sl au s N at io na l P ar k i s n ow i n p ro o e s s o f p re pa ra ti on ,

M aj or B , M. A tk in son a nd C ap ta in A. D . S mi th , w it h a d et ac hm en t o f e n li st ed m en ,h aV i ng p ro c ee de d t o t ha t p la ce to mak e t h~. ca mp r ea dy, Th e c am p w il l be i n .c ha rg e o f C a p ta 'i n Sm it h, a nd , w it h t he e xt re me h ea t e xp er -ie nc e d d u ri ng t he s um me r

m on th s i n t hi s Vi ci ni ty a nd l on g t ir es om e f li gh ts o n f or es tr y p at ro l d ut y, t he

p il ot s o f t h is c om ma nd w il l f in d a w e lc om e p la ce f or s ho r -t p er io ds o f r el ax at io n.

, O n M on da y e ve ni ng ' M r. T ho ma s W at t, a ny" S e dr e ta r y f r or t S a cr a me n to , d e li v s r-

e d a n ta d dr a s s a t t he S er vi ce C lu b. J ud gi ng f ro m t he a tt en ti on p ai d t o h i s

r em ar ks on .t he a bi li ty o f y ou ng m en , t he a ud ie nc e e Vi de nt ly f ou nd t he s ub je ctm o r e t ha n m er el y m om en ta ri ly i nt er es ti ng . M r, W at ts w as ' a llyn S e cr e ta r y a t

M at he r F ie ld d ur in g t he w a r.

L ie ut en an ts J Qh n H , S l at te ry , E ug en e B , B a yl ey a nd A lf re d E ., W al le r of t hi sc om ma nd a ct ed a s j ud ge s a t a c o mp et it iv e d ri ll g iv en , by t he s ix c om pa ni es of t he

S ac ra me nt o H ig h ~ ch oo l c ad et s a t C a rr ag he r F ie ld , S ac ra me nt o, on J un e l a th .M ajo r A . E . d e H er mi da , wh o i s i n ch arg e o f th e c ad ets t his y ea r, sa w a cti ves er vi ce in Fr an ce a nd It aly d ur in g ~ he wa r, a nd h as p ut so me o f t h~ s nap o f t he

a rmy tr ain in g in to t he b oy s' wQ rk . I n t he o pi ni on o f t he j ud ges f rom M ath er

F ie ld , C ap ta in T om C ox g av e n ot o nl y t he b es t ' dr il l o f h is s qu ad ro n b ut h is w as

t he b est dr ~ll ed un it ~n t he H ig h Sc ho o l Re gim en t. T he o th er f ive c ap tai ns r e-c ei ve d f av Gr ab le c om m~ nt , b ut m in or o cc ur re nc es l os t t he m t he f av or ab le c on si de r-

a t io n a wa rd e d Ca pt a in C ox . . ,

Fi rs ~ Li e~ t. Ge org e W . P ar dy , 9t h S qu adr on , l eft o n t he 6 th f or a l ea ve ofa bs en ce of 2 5 d ay s' , H e ha s b e en w it h t ha t s qu ad ro n s in ce i ts or ga ni za ti on , a ndt he c o~a nd is s or ry to lo se h im . H e i s u nd er or der s t o rep or t t o Ma ni la , P , I "

f or a ss ~n me nt t o du ty u pon t he e xp ir at ion 0 f hi s le a ve . . 'O n J un e 5 th C ap ta in Al be rt D . S m it h, A ir S er vi ce , r ep or te d " ba ck f rom t heL et te rm an G en er al H os ~i ta l, w he re h e h ad b e en u nd e~ oi ng t re at me nt s in ce t he

ea rl y p ar t o f A p ri l. H is c on d it io rl ~ s v er y m uc h i m pr ov e d.

" ,8 th A ir s hi p C om l la p y, C am p : a i' e rn e ,' E l P a so , T e xa s ) J u ne 1 2 . '

P ra ct ic e m an eu ve rs , wi th a C aq uo t b al lo on w er e c ar ri ed o n ti ur in g t he p as t

w ee k w h il e a lt er at io ns a nd r ep ai rs a re b ei ng m ad e: on t ne a ir sh ip . O n W ed ne sd ay

t he b a ll oo n w as m an eu ve re d a cr os s t he c o un tr y o ve r v ar io us o bs ta cl es , c ro ss in g

s ev er al h ig h t en si on W ir es o f 1 3, 00 0 v ol ts a nd 1 6 o ve rh ea d c ros si ng s w er e

s uc ce ss fu ll y ov er com e. T hu rs da y ~ o rn in g t he b al lo on w as m an eu ve re d o ve r t o t he

n ew S ta ti on H os pi ta l, n ea r M t. F ra nk li n" a nd p ho to gr ap hs w er e t ak .e n 0 f t h e' ho sp it al b ui ld in gs b y S e rg ea nt R ho de s o f t h e ~ st P ho to gr ap hi c S ec ti on .

F ra nc e F ie ld . C ri st ob al , C an al Z on e, J un e 4 .

, A l arg e pa rt y of en li st ed me n of t he po s t in sp ect ed th e c an al l oc ks a t Gat uno n W ed ne sd ay on a t ri p s po ns or ed b y t he S er Vi ce C lu b h os te ss . T he v is it t o' t he

l oc ks w as m ad e d ou bl y i nt er es ti ng b y t h e e xp la na ti on s of M r . S . M. P er ki ns oft he 'L oc k O pe r~ ti on s O ff ic e, w ho g ui de d t he p a rt y a ro un d t he l oc k m a ch in er ye ha mb er s ; t he c on tr ol t ow er , e me rg en cy d am s, a nd t he h ug e G at un L ak e s pi ll wa y.

F ro m M r . P er ki ns ' e xp er ie nc e i n o v er t en y ea rs ' c o n ne c ti .on w i th t ~ e c a na l , t h e

p ar ty g ai ne d m an y i nt er es ti ng f ac ts a bo ut t he c on st ru ct io n a nd o pe ra ti on of th e

, er i~ s of l o bk s. ~-10- V -3 59 9, A


11/327

The officers' polo team, after two months 0 f constant practic e since the laf>t

games, w~ll meet the strong team of the l2thCavalry at Camp Gaillard th~s weekend, and although the reputation 0f +.he Ga;.llllrd plJ.ye!'s pr-crai ses a clo se game,the France Field team is cor.fiden;j of v.i.cto ry , Undar the ]ellde-:-ship of Lieut.

Clark, field.. captain, the team has werk ed herd a':,;,pr-aotd.c.e and expects to keep

the season's record clean when sticks a.J;'e cr0sseJ with the Cavalrymen., > The teams engaged in camera 0DSCu.ra prac td c- e put in a busy week over the

target and at the very start. o f tre sc hedu le tr.e bomber-s are nakd ng someexc el.Lent scores. On a. ~ha:-.t !,ost8d at headquar-ver s , eac h team is scored on a

percentage baais, the fligh':.s ever the target sco r ed out of possible strai.ghtbull's eyes, and the riv~.1!'y be tween the teams is t,.mdiY1g towards high averages.

Up to the present time 1st Lt. A. L. Foster and Corporal Blooms-crand havescored the greatest number of bull' seyes, while 1st Lt. H. B. Chandler andCaptain A. C. George have ma(fe the best aggregate scor-es , ,

. On Monday a three plane formation was made to scatter flowers at the~Kount Hope cemetery, Cristobal, in connection with the Memorial Day exercises

there. The pilots of the flight were 1st Lieuts. B:essley, Chandler and Moon.

Several cross-country flights are planned for the coming month in orderthat the replacement Qfficers Who recently arrived at the post may become

acquainted with the landing fields in the interior of Panama. N&arly all of theofficers who established the inland .fields will be Leava ng the post in the nearfuture, and the benefi tof their explorations is to be passed on to the succeed-ing pilots.

8th Squadron (Surveillance) Airdrome. McAllen. Texas ,June 11

The solitude of the camp ha~ been considerably disturbed during the past

two w~eks when members of the Texas PresS Associa~ion, fQur hundred strong,

were interested spectators at the Airdrome. Some of the scribes from Houston,San Antonio, Dallas, Waco, and other Texas towns, signed away their lives and

too)< a glance at the Magic Valley from above. Needleas to say, thp,y we:re agree-ably surprised at the picturesque cou~try beneath them, and enjoyed the sensatioa

of riding thru the clouds propelled by four hundred, horses. Two notablepassengers were Anne Webb Blanton, Supt. of all Public Schools in Texas, andColonel Davilo of the'State of Tamaulipas, MexiCO, who was, the official repre-sentativeof the Mexican Government. The edito~s who braved a ride in the cloudsunanimously agreed that in the past undue publicity has been given to airplane

crashes, inferring that more should be said 0f the safety 0 f the airplane.

During the Texas Pr-eas Convention a huge barbecue was held one night atReynosa, MeXiCO, and the little town across the riVer was kept open till mid-

night. No passes were necessary to visit Mexico, and all the officers of CampMcAllen visited our sister Republic with Governor Noff and the Pre~s Committee.While over there the party had the pleasure of meeting General Lopez, Commander

of the Matamoras District, and his staff,.Major Rut~s Soott, who commanded. the Aviation Supply Depot at Kelly ,Field

during the war. recently paid a visit to the camr. At preeent he is at hisranch at Santa Cruz, several miles north- of Eci.in1urg Our small station, pleasedhim very much 'and he promised .tQ pay another visit in the near future. .

On June 22nd a Field Meet wa s held at the C~valry post; and with hardlyany previous preparations our little organization romped off with third honors,a~dwould have easily w on the meei if some of our entrants had been placed ina

few more events. The particular star of the meet was Corporal Wallace L. Maylin,8th Aero Squadron, while Acting 1st Sel3geant Young, Corporals Haynie and Colsonand Privates Walker and Boyd contributed largely to the succ eas of the Squadron.

Air Service Observation School. Post Field. Ft, Sill, Okl,l, , June ] , .1 ' .

As everyone who has been at Post Field knows, high winds and all kinds ofLr currents prevail here most of the time. Lieut. Theodc r e J. Lindorff claims

ie discovery of a new convec tion current which he rep"x:t3 prevented him from.king a landing one day lad week. He made uevt.raL 8..~t.err.pt.s to get down, but

'ys that each tillle he t.ouched the field this new cr.r r onf caused him to bounceny feet in the air, nece~sitating his going around.again. ~e finally got the

ip down, safely' and proceeded to confidentially tell all the pilots on the line)ut ihis new air curr~nt. However. no one was dismayed by this new discoYery,the flying went on as usual


12/327

" .

,Ai r S er vi ce O b6 er va ~i on S ch ool , P os t F i el d, F t. S il l, O kl a. ( Con t' d)

T he s o c al le d H ood oo S hi p N o. 13 a lm os t b rok e i ts e xc el le nt r ec or d f or .r el ia bi li ty W ed ne sd ay . M os t o, r' th e of fi ce rs l ook a t t hi s s hi p , a sk an ce w he n

t he y g o -cut on t he l i n e t o f ly , h e a v i n g a s i g h of r e l i e f w h e n t h e y f i n d i ta lr ea dy i n t he a ir or ot he rw is e n ot a va il ab le . , Ma jor Cl ar en ce L . T in ke r h ad af or ce d l an ct in gw i t h i t W ed ne sd ay - s o o l d 13, daspd,t s t he h a nd ic ap of i ts number

s ee ms d et er mi ne d t o l iv e d ow n t he p ~p ul ~r s up er st it io n t ha t i ts n um be r i s un lu ck ~ T h e n ea re st i t ha s c om e t o c au si ng a ny on e w or ry s o , fa r w as on e d ay w he n a p i e c eof i ts r ig ht e xh au st p ip e f le w of f, ba re ly m is si ng t he p il ot .

The e nl is te d m en g av e a d an ce i n t h e S er vi ce C lu b T ue sd ay n ig ht , a bou t 35c ou pl ~ b ei ng i n at te nd an ce . L ee 's O rc ;h es tr a f ro m L a wt on f ur ni sh ed t he m us ic .

T he se d a~ ce s a re b ec om in g v er y p op ul ar w it h t he e nl is te d p er so nn el , as e v i d e n c e db y th e g row in g a tt en da nc e. '

L ie ut .- C ol on el P au l W . B e ck , A ir ' S er v ic e . .h as b ee n r el ie ve d a s s tu de nt o f f i-c er i n t h e O bs er va t io n S ch oo l a nd a s si gn ed a s A ss i~ ta rt t C o mm an da nt o f 'P os t F ie ld ,

' vi ce M aj o r Fo ll et t B ra dl ey , w ho i s t o t a ke t he E ng in ee ri ng c ou rs e a t M c Co ok F ie l( ~)

D a yt o n, O h io , b e g i . n n i .n gon or a b ou t S e p t e m b e r 1 s t . ,B y d ef ea ti ng t he O b se rv at io n S ch oo l D et ac bm en t, t he 2 2n d S qu ad ro n B as eb al l

t e~ c li nc he d t he i nt er -or ga ni za ti on c ha mp ion sh ip of th e f ie ld , m ai nt ai ni ng a' pe r fe ct p er ce nt ag e f or t he s e as on . The C o m m u ni e a t _ io n s S c h o ol D e t a c hm e n t , ' ,w e r e

t he ir n ea re st c om pe ti t6 rs w it h 3 g am es w on a nd 2 l o s t . 'P ra ct ic al w or k, s uc h a s I n fa nt ry -A rt il le ry l ia is on ', r :e co nn ai ss an ce a nd ,

o th er f ly in g m is si on s i n ~ on ne ct io n w it h t he S ch oo ls , w as i nt er ru pt ed d ur in g t he

w ee k b y in te rm it te nt r ai ns . A ll s ch oo l t h eo re ti ca l wor-k h as b ee n c on du ct ed a su su al , b ut t hi s r ai ny d ay s ch ed ul e w hi ch w as d ev is ed i n o rd er t ha t a d di ti on al

i "h st l' uc ti on c ou ld b e g i ve n w he ne ve r w ea th e r p ro hi bi te d f ly in g, i s n e ar l y e xh au s te d

f o r t he e nt ir e s ch oo l t er m b y r ea so n o f th is r ai ny w ea th er .

3 2n d B a ll oo n C om pa ny , C am p B en ni ng , G a. , J un e 2 2.

T he b ir th of a d au gh te r, An ne , on J un e 5 th , w as a nn ou nc ed b y L ie ut . Am br os e

V. C li n to n o f t hi s c om pa ny . -He h a s b e e n g r a n te d a t w o w e e k s ' l e a v e w h i c h h e

w il l s pe nd w it h h is w i f e a nd l it tl e d au gh te r i n 6 av an na h, G a.P ri va te G ur fe in ( Al ia s G r if fi n) a dd ed m at er ia ll y t o t he C om pa ny 's l au re ls

J u n e l4th b y wi nn in g t he d ec is ion i n a b oX in g m at ch w it h a ,h ea vy we ig ht ( 20 0 l bs .)

a t t he M aj es ti c T he at re a t C o lu mb us .

C a pt a in W i ll i am E. K ep ne r, A ir S er vi ce , a rr iv ed f ro m Ar ca di a, C al if ., o nJ un e 6 th , w he re h e w as on d ut y w it h t he ' 1s t B al loon C om pa ny . C ap ta in K ep ne r e n-

j oy ed a 2 0- da y l ea ve en r ou te a t t he -h om e of h i s p a r- e nt s i n I n di a n a.

T h e B al lo on C om pa ny i s p r ep ar in g t o t a ke p a: rt i n t he g ra du at io n d em on st ra -

t ion 6 ch ed ul ed for J un e 29, 1921.T he Ai r S er vi ce B as ke tb al l f iv e w on t he c up f or b ei ng t he b es t t ea m a t C am pB en ni ng , a nd n ow t he b as eb al l t ea m i s e nd ea vo ri ng , to f ol lo w s ui t.

K el ly F ie ld , S an A nt on io . T ex as , J un e 11.

O n T u es da y, J un e 7 th , t he 2 nd D iv is io n c el eb ra te d t he ir f am ou s v ic to ~r y i n t:, jb at tl e of M on t B la nc M as H. T he c om pl et e r ep rod uc ti on of th at b at tl e was c a r r i e d

ou t a s f ar a s p os si bl e, t ne b at tl e b eg in ni ng w it h a s im u la te d b ar ra ge a nd c ou nt erp at te ry w or k, a ft er w hi ch t he i nf an tr y w as a dv an ce d i n a s er ie s o f th es e l in es ,

t he f ro nt l in e b ei ng r e- in fo rc ed a s t he ,o bj ec ti ve w as n ea re d, . A p at rol of f i ve S ,E .' s e st ab li sh ed a b ar ra ge p at rol f rom H m in us f or ty '

f iv e m i n ut es u n ti l H p lu s f if te en m in ut es . At H p lu s t we nt y m in ut es t he t hr eel ea di ng s hi ps a tt ac ke d a nd d ro ve o ff t he -t wo D eH av il an d p la ne s w hi ~h w er e p ro te ct -i ng a su pp os ed e ne my b al loo n. T he e ne my b al loon w as s hot d ow n a t H p l us t h ir t yf iv e m in ut es , a nd t he t wo ob se rv er s m ad e p ar ac hu te j um ps . T hr u S OQ e e rr or t he

b al loon , w hi ch w as s up pos ed t o b e a n e ne my b al loon , w as a nc hor ed i n f r ie nd ly t er -r it or y b ut w e w er e f ai th fu l t o ou r or de rs a nd f or t he b en ef it of th e 's pe ct at or s

s ho t i t d ow n a ny how . A , ra th er am us in g i nc id en t w as t he f ac t t ha t t he b al loon

p ar ty w as s o in te re st ed i n t he b at tl e t ha t t ho y fo rg ot t Q p u ll d ow n t he b al lC lo n.

M os t of t he of fi ce rs f rom K el ly F ie ld a tt en de d t he b ar be cu e g iv en b y t he

o ff ic er s o f th e ~ nd D i vi si on i mm ed ia te ly a ft er t he b at tl e.

O n T ue sd ay n ig ht t he u su al e nl is te d m en 's d an ce w as g iv en a t t he H os te ss

H ou se j t he K el ly F ie ld B an d f ur ni sh ed t he m us ic a nd a ll h ad a ni ce t im e~

V: 3599 A S


13/327

T he d an ce g iv en o n W ed ne sd ay n ig ht b y t h e e nl is te d m en a t A ir P ar k N o. 5

w as t he b es t o f th a s ea so n . T he ir i ns ig ni a w as p ai nt ed o n t he wa ll s, w hi ch a dd ed

g re at ly t o t he a pp ea ra nc e o f t h e b al l r oo m . D ur in g i nt er mi ss io n a r eg ul ar

d i nn er w as s e rv ed . w hi c h w as v e ry d e 'li .eiousrand e nj oy ed b y al l. T he e ve ni ng w iJ )l on g b e r em ~m be re d b y a ll p re se nt .

G r e at e n t hu s i as m wa s s ho w n i n B as eb al l d ur in g t he p as t w ee k. T he K e ll YF ie ld P os t T ea m p l ay ed F or t S am H o us to n T hu rs da y a ft er no on , w in ni ng t he g am e b y aSCOl'e of 15 t o 3. T he g am e w as a o ne - si de d a f fa ir t h ru 6u t and K e ll y F i el d wasn ev er i n d an ge r. T hi s v i ct or y a lm os t c li nc he d t he p en na nt f or K el ly F ie ld i n t heA rm y L e ag u e

T he re w er e s ev er al b as eb al l g am es b et we en t he s qu ad ro ns d ur in g t he w ee k.

T he 2 7t h S qu ad ro n ( P ur su it ) f or fe it ed i ts g am e wi th t he 1 7t h. T he 1 7 th S qu ad ro nm et t he 2 0t h. S qu ad ro n. t he c ha mp io ns o f t he B om ba rd me nt G ro up , F ri da y a ft er no ona n d w o n b y a s c or e o f 10 t o 3. T h e g am e wa s o ne -s i de d f r om t he b eg in n in g.

T he H o p C om mi tt ee a rr an ge d a n o ff ic er s' d an ce a t t he A vi at io n C lu b F ri da y

n ig ht . T he S an A nt on io B an d f ur ni sh ed t he m us ic a nd e ve ry on e h ad a g oo d t im e.

T he 1 st G ro up n ow h as t en o ff ic er s a ss ig ne d a s s tu de nt s f or a d va nc ed p ur -s ui t t ra in in g. T hi s c om pl et es t he e ig ht h w ee k 0 f t he c ou rs e. T he s ch ed ul e f orn ex t w ee k i nc lu de s a er ia l g un ne ry , d um my b om b d ro pp in g, c am er a g un c om ba t,

s ev e ra l p ro te c ti on p at r ol s, a t a ct ic a l f or m at io n a n d s ev er a l l e ct ur e s.

L ie ut en an t W il li am J . W hi te , A ir S er Vi ce , w as g ra nt ed a t we nt y- fi ve d ay

l ea ve o f a bs en ce t o t ak e e ff ec t a bo u t J un e lOt~, 1 9 2 1 .

Ballo o n .CQrnI 1 anyNo . 31t C , i 3 . m " QK n o x e o K y t, J u n e 1 ) ,. ..

D ur in g t he p as t w ee k t he 3 1s t B al lo o n C om pa ny w as v er y b us y p re pa ri ng i tsf ie ld e qu ip me nt t o ta ke t he f ie ld i n t he B ri ga de m an eu ve r. T he B al lo o n w hi ch t hec om pa ny h as b ee n u si ng w as d ef la te d, a s i t s p ur it y h ad g on e d ow n, a nd i t i s t o b e

c ar ri ed t o t he n ew p os it io n a nd i nf la te d t he re a t n ig ht . A n F .W .P . a mm un it io nb od y t ru ck w it h a w in dl as s o n t he r ea r h as b ee n r ec ei ve d f ro m t he 2 nd F ie ld

A r ti ll er y a nd i t is b ei ng e qu ip pe d f or us e a s a b al lo o n t en de r. H oo k s a nd r ac ks

a r e b e i n g p l ac e d o n t he s i d e s t o c ar r y al l t h e ma n s u v e r- g ea r. s uc h a s l on g r op e.s ho rt r op e, r es t r op e, d ou bl e h oo k s na tc h b lo c ks , s pi de rs ,e tc . T hi s is n e a r l yc om pl et ed , a nd i t was u se d T hu rs da y o n a m an eu ve r. T he b a ll oo n w as t ak en o ut

a cr os s c ou nt ry a nd s om e v al ua bl e p ra ct ic e h ad .

T he B a se ba ll t ea m s uf fe re d a d ef ea t o f t he H e av ie r- th an -A ir t ea m o n T Ue s-d ay . T he t ea m i s no t d ow nh ea rt ed , h ow ev er , a s it i 8 s ho w in g i mp ro v em en t a nd t hes pi r it i s t h er e. T h e e nt ir e c om pa ny p ar ti ci pa te d a s r oo te rs a nd i n t h at r es pe ct ," pu t i t a l l o v er " t h e H e av ie r- t ha n- Ai r D et a ch me n t.

M rs . B en so n , w if e o f Li eu t. B en so n . a rr iv ed M on da y, a nd b o t h~ q ua rt er edf or t he p re se nt a t t h e O f fi ce rs ' C lu b.

T he f ir st o f t he s um me r s tu de nt s c am e i n Mo n da y - q u it e a f ew o ff ic er s a ndn on co mm is si on ed o ff ic er s o f th e N a ti on al G ua rd - f or a p r el im i na ry s h or t c ou r sep re pa ra to ry t o t he c ou rs e t o b e g iv en t he r eg im en ts .

F ai rf ie ld A ir I nt er me di at e D ep ot ( Wi lb ur W ri gh t F ie ld ) J un e 11

S at ur da y, J un e 1 1t h, w as d es ig na te d a s Wi lb ur W ri gh t D ay , i t be in g t he

o c ca si on o f th e a nn ua l p ic ni c o f t he c iv il ia n e mp lo y ee s o f t h is s ta ti on . A l l o f

t he o ff ic er s a nd t he e nl is te d p er so nn el w er e t he g ue st s o f t h e c i vi li an e mp lo ye es

a t t h ei r p ic ni c a t T ec um se h P ar k o n t h e M ad R iv er . T he d ay w as v er y p le as an tl y

o cc up ie d w it h a n i n te re st in g p ro gr am o f at hl et ic e ve nt s a nd b an d c on ce rt s, a nd o nM on da y m or ni ng t he e nt ir e p er so nn el r et ur ne d t o wo.rk w i th r e ne we d errtbuai.aem , de...d la ri ng t he p ic ni c t o b e a n un qu al if ie d s uc ce ss .

G ol f i s s t il l f in di ng i ts e nt hu si as ts a mo n g t he o f fi ce rs o f t he P os t, a ndo ~t er R et re at e ac h n ig ht w he re ve r y ou f in d of fi ce rs c on gr eg at ed y ou h ea r t he

r it e o f v ar io us d ri ve rs , b ra ss ie s, m as hi es , e tc ., b ei ng a vi dl y d is cu ss ed , Nor Id 's r ec or ds h av e b ee n b ea te n a s y et , b ut m an y o f t he o f fi ce rs . i nc lu di ng t hel rt er ma st er , t he A th le ti c O ff ic e a nd t he C o mm an di ng O ff ic er , a nd , i n f ac t, a l l

t he o ff ic er s, a re g ra du al ly c ut ti ng d ow n t he ir g am e, s o t ha t o ld m an " Bo ge y"

3 n o m or e t er ro r s t ha n t he o rd in ar y h op i n a . " Je nn y" . A h an di ca p m at ch is. ng c on te mp la te d i n t he n ea r f ut ur e, and a n e xt ra e di ti on o f t h e N ew s L et te r,1 b e r e q u i r e d t o p u b l i s h t h e s c o r e .

'\

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Fairfi ald AU'_Intermediate Depot (Wilb~r.ightField) June 11... CQnt Id ,:.\~~.

'The class in music has shown exo eptional improvement, and public recitals,

have been given with the gre'3:~'6'3t success, The class is greatly in demand 'and.

are gd vd ng co nc er-ts at the var-i ous surrounding small towns, '.

Work on the swimming pc oL is progressing rapidly, The present hot weat he.:causes aUto view the o parat ions of 'trw Ut.a l itd es Officer w:.th interest. Th!!lplaneo! ;the Athletic Of' f i.c e at the 'preserr'(, ~,im"3are to er-ecb a gymnasium and',

running track over this pool, in order tha,t Lnd oo r- sports may be promoted. '

The bas ebal.I team played a tear.] of semi-professiona.1s in Dayton on Sunday,

May. 29th, and won easily by the score of 15 to 5. It is becoming a problem

to find teams capable of furnishing competition against the Post Team, Seve~algames are contemplated for this month, among them being return games with Ft.

Thomas, Ky, and the 5th Corps Are~ Headquarters, at which time it is hoped

revenge will be secured for the 1688 of the first games, '

The Engineering Department is continuing in its rush fo I' production,' Two

Martin Bombers have bee n turned out and testM ,also twoDH Hospital ships ,andone Po kk er , Ten Wright, four Liberty and one Nler'Jedes engines have been rebuiltand tested on the blocks, The R a d i o Department has retuilt and tested seventeenTelephone Receiving sets, (B,C .12) I and fifty Air Driven Generating Sets. (S ,C. R.73)

Mr. Richard Phillips landed a~t this field with motor trouble while on hisway from New York City to Arkansas City" Flying alone on a pleasure trip in anS.V,A. plane, Mr. Phillips had f~ve forced landings due to ~otor trouble prior

to landing at this field, He expects to get away sho r-t.Ly ,Major George E.A. Reinburg and Captain Shiras A. Blair, with their families,

were visitors at the Wilbur Wright recreation camp on Indiana Lake over the

week end.

, i,

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15/327

V oL V. A !R -LE R..2.J C 1 C N IWSInf~ation Group

Air Service J ul y 2 2, 1 92 1

The purpose of this letter is to keep the personnel of the Air Service

b o t h in Washington and in the field, informed as to the activities of the Air

S er vi ce i n k e ne ra l, a nd f or r e l ea s e t o th f p ub li c p re s s . . J.FOR RELEASE JULY 23..J-.192L

I

V-3638, A.S

THE EXPEDITION INTO MEXICOTO RECOVERTHE PEARSONPLANE. .

A very interesting report has just been received reciting the details

connected with the expedition across the i1e'xican Border to recover the air-

plant.? abandoned by Lieut, Alexander Pearson ip February last when, flying from

El Paso to San Antor.io, he was compelled to make a forced landinr, in a canyon

south of the Rio Grande River, due to his plane developing motor trouble. !

Th e expedition proved to be a success in every way and the plane was

. covar sd , More remarkable, however, was the fa.ct that, although this ship was

expos~d to the elements for several months, it was found to be in such condi-

tion that it was only nec es aa ry to install therein a new motor on the spotwhere it hqd landed to enable it to be flown back over the Rio Grande to United

States territory. This expedition denonst'rated what could be accomplished in

the way of traversing unknown territory on a mission of this nature/or onc

-' ....~ilar to it, with ad r-ol.ane s :rom the home base serving as l;i,aison.

, , Communication 'between tho airplanes and the exped iti.on was maintained".

by a system o f ground panels devised prior to the start. Tl.! planes not onlymaintained e f' f i.c iorrt liaison betwe an headquarters and the eJ.pedition, but on

,several occasions, when food arid wator ware almost exhausts; and pigeon messag ee

had been sent asking relief, the aviators from the Sandersvn Air-drome circled,over rt.ne party, dropping water , rations and mail. The water was dropped in r egu-

Lat icn canteens, placed in grain bags filled with hay I about a dozen to a bag.

'Tone 0 f the canteens burst, despite 'the fact that one bag was dropped from an

alti+,ude of at least 1/000 feet. On the other hand, canned beans, hard tack,and jam, dropped from a lower altitude, opened up wide. The coffee and bread

stood the drop O.K. A little experimenting along this line would no. doubt

... develop 0. sy st.ern,o f dropping articles from airplanes wi ttl no damage 'to the con-tainer or contents. .

After Colonel Sedgwick Rice, the Commanding ~fficer of Camp R.E.L.Michie, Del Rio, Texas I had made the nec essary ar-r-angement-s with Colonel Ramirez.

Chief Jf Staff of the Piedras Negras District, Mexican ~rmt, to allow the expe-di ti~n to C TO ss over tho Rio Grande with the vi ew to recovering the abandoned,

plane, Lieut. Colonel Charles O. Thomas, Jr'j Cavalry, was assigned the task of

reconnoitering the road to the location of the plane and to determine the fe.a.si-bility of reaching it with a truck.

On April 28th Colonel Thomas, wi tn Mr. Barker 0 f Del Rio, Texas, andMr. King 0 f La Par a da I Coahuila, MexiCO (acting as guides) Lieut. Doolittle 0 f

the Air Service, and tW"r Mexican guides. proceeded to Villa Acuna. Coah\.lila,

Mexico, in three automobiles, and started (jIVer the Las Vacas-Zaragosa road to ;

the abandoned plane. In the afterno~n of the same day, Lieut. A. Dayton leftthe Del Rio ad rdr-crne to' furnish liaison with the party. He met with a mishap, .'

however, the ~rankshaft of his motor breaking, and he was forced to make a landing

six miles west of El Mosco Tank, Coahuila, Mexico. Lieut. Dayton and Private

Horowitzl

his observer, abandoned the plane and walked to a goat camp where they

spent the night. The next morning they were discovered by Lieuts. Moore andSelzer who had been dispatched by airplane to locate them. Thesc latter officers

dropped a message to Colonel Thomas notifying him of the location of Lieut,

Dayton and Private Horowitz, ~nd they were picked up by his party a f~w h c u r slater. As was the c~se with the Pearson plane, a .new Motor was subse~uently

installed in the Dayton plane and it was flown safely back over the border.

.',

. .


16/327

' O n t h e m o r r u n g o f A p ri l 3 0 th C o lo n el T h on a s "s p a rt y , w h ic h w a s t he n

w it hi n t hr ee m il es o f t he P e ar so n p la ne , r ~ s ho rt o f w at er , a n~ t he y c om mu ni ca te dt ha t f ae t b y h ol di ng u p a carrt e ' e n wh6n L iE )u t. S te ns et h w as f ly in g o ve r t hs n. A

1 es sa ge w as d rp ~p ed b y S gt , D or ey , t he o bs er ve r w it h L ie ut . S te ns et h; s ta ti ng- : ~ la t th ey w ou ld r et ur n t o Sa nd er so n a nd o bt ai n s am e, I d e ut, S t e ns e t h o b ta i n ed" t 1 2 c a n te e n s 0f w at er a nd 5 0 p ou nd s 0f i ce a t S an de rs on a nd h e, a nd L ie ut . ' Wo od -

r u ff i n ' a no th er p la n e, s ta r te d b a ck t o C ol on el T h om a s' s p ar t y. I t wa s n ec e ss a ry, t o u se u nd ue h as te o wi ng t o an a pp ro ac hi ng s to rm , T he w a te r a nd i ce w er e' d e-

tl iv e re d , b u t t h e p il ot s e xp e ri e nc e d c on s id e ra b le d i ff i cu l ty i n r et u rn i ng t oiS an de rs on , b ei ng f or ce d t o f ly t hr ou gh a s ev er e e le ct ri ca l s to rm w hi ch o ve rt oo k

them. . '

O n t h e m or ni n g o f' ~f u y l s t' C ap t ai n N . R . A tw e ll , w it h a p ac k t r ai n,- . e sc or t a nd a s up pl y t ra in , t he w ho le c om pr is in g 2 2 m en , 1 06 a ni ma ls , 5 e sc or t

w ag on s, o ne l ig ht w ag on a nd t wo w at

Documents

Air Force News ~ Jul-Dec 1921