Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-11-25

ol the members OF the detachment nave peen "olhlhs
around this same airship for more than a year past,
or throughout all the trial and test flights at Fort
Meyer but their participation then was very dlHerent
from their present responsibilities. So long as tne
%aeroplane was the property of the Wright brothers all
the United States signal corps men were permitted to
do was to wheel the machine from the shed to the
starting point of a flight and to wheel 1t back to the
shelter after a flight. The starting of the motor, all
adjustments of the mechanism and such repairs as
were necessary from time to time were attended to by
the Wrights in person or by Charles Taylor, their me-
chanic.
Now, however, that the flying machine has been
turned over to the government, all this devolves upon
the men of the aeroplane detachment. They look after
the weight tower, haul up the weight and arrange the
starting rail with due reference to the direction of the
wind. In addition to moving the machine from the shed
when a flight is ordered they make the preliminary in
spection and tests of the working parts and start the
motor, Finally it falls to the lot of this group of young
men to procure the needed material and make all neces-
sary repairs. There is no doubt that they will get plenty
of practice in tinkering with the sky scout for it is
expected that once the army officers have the new We
hicle to themselves they will inaugurate a series of ex-
periments and introduce new attachments designed
specially to adapt the aeroplane to the exigencies of
military service.
The members of the aeroplane detachment are de-
cidedly alert and take a real interest in their noval oc-
cupation. Corporal H. Marcus, who is in command, halls
from Detroit and has been in the military service OF the
country for ~ or 10 years, although he has only been
in the signal corps about a year and a half. Another
man who has had considerable experience in the army is
B. 7. Hyde of Washington, D. G, whereas E, o. Eldred
of Denver, a member of the old balloon squad, has now
had two and a half years of practically continuous aero.
nautical work. Other members of the aeroplane detach-
ment are Bert Brown of Brooklyn, Roy ]. Hart OF Wash
ington, D. C, Eulie P. Gomeringer Of Brooklyn, K. L.
Kintzel of Tamaqua, Pa, Bruce Pierce OF Atlanta, Ca
F. G. Clark of Gloster, Mo-, and s. ], Idzorek OF New
York City.
The boys have their own cook in the person OF VIII
liam A.. Abolin, who enlisted in the army from Jersey
City, and while the quarters which have been provided
at the new aviation field are not perhaps quite as COM
Portable as the barracks at a military post, they serve
the purpose very ~acceptably and are a big Improvement
over a camp with canvas tents. The frame building
which houses the ~aeroplane at College Park Is about
twice as large as the aeroplane shed which was con-
structed at Fort Myer, Va, when the Wrights hrst
brought their machine there. The rear portion OF the
College Park structure is given over for sleeping quar-
tiers for the men. Just back Of the building is a double
tent, which serves as kitchen and mess or eating tent.
A good well has been provided close at hand. The aero
plane shed is perhaps a third Of a mile across the ayia.
ton field from the railroad station at College Park and
is several hundred yards farther distant from the trolley
line to Washington. However, horses and automobiles