The Elbert County tribune., 1909-11-25

49, army ohicers are already congratuIatng themselves
Ia. w new M aeropane squad was organized the very
outset OF the armys in this most
branch of aeronautcs. The outcome ;s cure 10 ho in
contrast 10 the history of American military baooning
wherein there were innumerabe disappontments Par
tcuary was this the during the mercan
war when the war department sought to get results with
war balloons in the hands men who had had no on
porturty 10 specialize in this of work The
newly-organized aeroplane detachment on the other
nand WIZ grow up in military aeroplane from
us ncepton what Is more. these sky
sentrA have acquired experience of the most valuable
Kind in establishing Uncle Sans first aviation field 1t
Is not meant of course soldiers had much hand
In clearing the field blasting sumps or erecting the
unpreenous shed that shelters 100000 craft but
they did almost everything else connected with setting
thngs in order not forgetting transportation army
aeroplane No by from its previous resting place
at Fort Myer Va, dozen miles The insight
gained into the how of such things will be well nigh
valuable since it will make it possible squad
around the country lay fields wherever
needed by the army.
While. has been explained the new aeroplane de-
tachment is entirely separate and distinct from
loon squad its brief history is linked at many points
with that of the older branch of the
son Some of the star members original balloon
squad have lattery been aeroplane
detachment and indeed the organization will have
sort of dual existence regular aeroplane corps
and emergency balloon squad since the members will
charge of any flights that may be made from the
capital in signal balloons the regular balloon squad
having been transferred meanwhile to Fort Omaha and
Fort Leavenworth The membership Of the
plane detachment alike that of balloon squad,
expected to be merely the nucleus for much
numerous body later on--when Uncle Sam shall have
The aeronauca division of the signal corps of which
both the aeroplane detachment and the balloon
squad branches established result of the
pride by Lieut.. Lahms victory
the first great international balloon held in Europe
1896 The young American officer, then barely
years of who unknown and unheraded defeated
experienced aeronauts of Europe, is the self
Lahm who is qualifying at College Park
premier army aeroplanist and who is in general
of the aeropane detachment. He had made about
40 flights ascended for the first time in
an aeropane has the complete confidence of his
men-an important requisite in and untried realm
such military aeronautics
The order formally creating the aeronaucal division
of the signal corps issued August l. 1907, and
the new organization launched with membership
of a sole individual, Sergeant Edward Ward who has
since graduated to the position of head chauffeur for
the the general staff Gradually the membership
grew to dozen or more. first the work of the
organization merely with the old balloons of foreign
make which had purchased by the United States
during the Spanish and had been in storage ever
since Then came army drgibe No. /, which the war
department purchased from Capt. Thomas Baldwin, and
finally Wright aeropane, which is now at Col
Ieee Park At the headquarters OF the aero
nautical division Fort Myer, Va, and the non
commissioned enlisted of the aeronau-
tical division displayed their versatility by handling In
discriminatory spherical balloons drgibe and aeropane
When the signal corps completed its fine. new plant
for generating hydrogen at Fort Omaha IL was de
cded to western post the headquarters Tor an
army balloon work and the drigibe was transferred
tbifher With 1t the balloon squad Consequently
when the Wright aeropane accepted by the govern
ment and preparations undertaken for establishing
government school for aeroplanists it was necessary
N organize an aeropane detachment as new ADJUNCT
AS has been explained OF the most capable men
were transferred from the balloon squad ana o'hers
were selected the ranks OF the sahai CORPS every