The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-06
SUPERMEN FOR ELIERS
LITERALLY DEMAND OF L. 5. IN
SELECTING ANIATORS.
Applicant for Aerial Corps in Addition
10 Fitness for Military Service Must
4.Ossess every Other known Physical
and Mental Desirable Quality.

Philadelphia Public Ledger Which
way is up?
Which way is down?
Can you find the earth if You are
lost IN a rain cloud?
A French flier recently while at $4,000
feet altitude became lost in a storm.
He wandered around in the clouds seek
ing a familiar landmark which would
guide him to the sector headquarters.
While in the midst OF a dense cloud,
= lodging uphill and down. he dropped his
chrUnometer He was surprised TO
see it fall upward" He could not tell
which way was "up" and which was
down"
This little incident has been the basis
upon which army officers and physicians
mustered from civil live have standard
ized q test by which over 10000 avia-
tors are 10 be picked. The scout 10
hunt ayiators is being trained at the
University OF Pennsylvania TO pick
men with a good balance sense, who
can find their way around in the clouds.
This French aviator, say the army
medical Officers was nearsighted in
his balance sense and deaf" in his
equllibrial sense-in other words. was
below normal in his faculty of sensing
balance. Such an aviator might be re-
sponsIble for one Of the unsccountable
failures Of reconnaissance material to
reach headquarters.
On the other hand. an aviator with
fun normal balance sense may reach the
ground safely even when deprived Of
vision entirely THIS was brought to
the attention Of United States army
officers IN the case Of Miller Erench
aviator who was stricken blind while
1000 above the ground.
when describing his sensation he
said. Something seemed to be guiding
me" and he made a successful landing
and is receiving treatment for his lost
vision In this country today.
The medical department OF the army
has eliminated the haphazard guess.
work from the examination through
which an applicant for the aviation
section Of the signal corps must pass
These medical men. profiting By the
experience Of England and France, have
brought the tests Of applicants for av-
iati0n service 10 a fine degree OF ac-
curacy as concerns the balance sense.
A safe margin is provided and the dis
cretion Of the experienced examiner is
allowed reasonable latitude The avia-
tion schools are assured that no man
VIII be presented for instruction who
Is not physically fully qualified for the
work-whose balance sense is not nor
mai In the same meaning OF the word
that the sharpshooter's vision is pro.
nounced normal" by the tester.
Most Important Branch.
The aviation branch OF military serv.
ice is looked upon as the most promis.
ing medium Of assistance 10 our allies.
A Canadian general OF artillery, who
has been on active duty in France since
September 1914 and who has just land.
ed in Canada on his furlough. held a
conference with the members OF the
medical department Of the aviation sec
tion recently. He says that II the en-
emy can be kept on the ground" by
a sufficiently predominating mastery Of
the air. il viii go far toward determln-
ing the successful outcome Of the land
operations.
The aviation corps when organized in
a highly efficient manner has a three
fold function-the low altitude fiers for
bomb dropping and offensive work. the
midalutude fliers for reconnaissance
vOrk and directing shell fire. The eyes
Of ihc enemy" and high altitude fliers
for pursuit work in driving Off enemy
aircraft
The fliers who are 20 man the aircraft
for the United States are to be literally
"supermen." No arm OF the service
makes such exacting demands as does
aviation. First Of all the successful ap-
pllcant must be physically acceptable
Tor military service. lie must be sound
in body and limb. normal In vision. hear.
ine and color perception In addition.
De must De naturally athletic and have
q reputation for reliability. punctual.
ity and honest cool head In emergen.
cy steady hand and sound body. with
plenty Of reserve quick witted. highly
intelligent and tractable.
An applicant may have all these quail.
ficatlons and be familiar with the theory
and practice Of military affairs. the
practice Of photography and wireless
tclcsaphy, a knowledge Of map max.
ins and map reading. normal perception
OF color stereopiscopic vision. and get.
n be lacks a fun normal balance sense
he would be disqualified for the service
absolutely
a man may be perfectly acceptable
for any other arm OF tine service. vet be
normal In this sense. and totally un.
III 10 depend upon for the exigencies OF
aviation. The tests have been accurate.
~ and scientifically standardized. with
the result that the examiners In each
station win give every applicant the
same fair chance. no matter where the
examination Is made
When an individual Is on terra firma.
his sole touch. his vision and his hear.
ing are continuously contributing 10 his
oiieniation. enabling him Din conjunc.
tion with his balance sensel 10 maintain
himself In proper relation 20 his environ.
mcnt His balance sense may be away
below normal and yet with the added
help coming from these other sources
the Individual may live out his life
without the realization OF much OF a
handicap
when he attempts. however 70 lead
q. I. - L..