The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-11
AND|
CHAUFFEURS AR|
GREATEST NEl
Thousands Necessary to n
Machines in Good 0rder|

lOt RICdl ldNhN W bulhHlb upI
American air service has been al|
today the securing OF the tens of \
sands OF mechanicians, chautieursl
other skilled workmen needed id
great air dromes behind the front
in France. A force larger than
whole American army before the
is needed for this work alone, a
OF skilled mechanics, rare enoug|
best, but doubIy 50 amidst all the
war claims.
Popular imagination has been so
tered on the airman himself as al
to exclude the other men in the Sc
Little though has been given I'd
thousands OF men on the ground
keep fhe engines in good order
wires always taut, the mechine sd
camera ever ready. Their won
perhaps less spectacular, but it il
foundation stone upon which al
rest is erected For It ah aviator
lowed TO 20 out with an imperied
eine, a weakened wing, or an in|
cient supply OF gasoline, as has nd
frequently happened, his missid
doomed to failure.
Thousands Volunteer.
Already mechanics have volunt
in thousands for this vital work
such Spontaneity, indeed, as to md
possible to keep a steady strea
squadrons flowing overseas. For
time now they have been busy oI
other side building the air dromel
tabllshing the repair shops and m
ready to set up the planes which
announce Americas arrival owe
German trenches. Various trad
tercstS and employers organiza
also have co-opcrated with the &c
mcnt in the effort to comb out the
number OF experts needed in the
time available, but, despite that
more men are needed,
Only men especially trained ar
cepted at the outset in order to.
the standard as high as the neces
Of the service require. Obviousl
unskilled man would be more
hindrance than a help in the 4
specialized work to be done, and
even bring about fatal results. Il
skilled mechanic himself mdst
special training for airDlane
MANY phases Of which will be I'd
TO him at first. The ground
therefore, must undergo instructed
the air service, Just as the avI
themselves, though, naturally,
course is not so long nor so exact
main problem is to adapt a S
mans especial abilities to the sd
problems Of air
Sent TO Training.
| Upon acceptance into the scrvid
men are sent at once to a large cd
tration center, where they are
out according to trades. Detacf)
Of the various trades are then *
once to factories or flying field
two or three weeks intensive
Many OF the specialized indu|
such particularly as those Of prd
making, magnetos, machine guns
wings, have thrown open their
tories to the government for instr
Of these men as part of their con
tion to the winning of the war.
urally, the men are thus cr
through practical demonstration
Themselves very rapidly and efiet
ior their new work,
Upon completion OF these cours
men are graduated aud returned
center where overseas squadron
being formed There, in the riph
portion, they are organized into.
plctc units--so many engineme
many tailors or cobblcrs for the
so many cabinet makers or wood
crs for the fuSelagc, so many c;
tcrs or plumbers for the air di
almost Immediately, in all proba
the squadron will move on to a p
cmbarkation for transport overse
the first available steamer.
They'll Have Big Part.
These American mechanics will
a big part to play in the eventu
lied air drive. They will be 'conti
busy in the great air dromes, DOH
most delicate kind Of work most
of doors, often with rouPh-aRa,
tools, requiring much ingenuity
uuently in great haste With ma
constantly coming and going /,
from the air front, there will ne'
a time of dullness or lack of int
Every machine must be cal
tuned and examined before il We
out on its important wotk, n
niCianS must 60 over the enRint
morers the machine guns: instr
specialists the magnetos, attn
sight instruments, air-Speed indiI
etc. Fatal cases are on record
air battles have been lost through
lcct before the planes have left t
drOmeS.
Repairs Most Necessary.
II is on the return, however, tn
principal activity is necessary.
planes come in badly wrecked
jured, in so serious a condition, !
that they would be no longer S,
able without expert rcpalrmen on
Outlines the wings are so peri
with machine gun or antl-alrcrai
lets that the most expert Sailnl
cobblers and tailors are necesSar
possibly the delicate woodwork
fuselage is so damaged that OF
expert cabinet or boat maker Ct
store it to usefulness.
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