The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-12-29

States air service, as it is in other
countries, that the work requires, first
of all, men of the best possible officer
Observation-Disclosures, quick of thought
and action, and trained in discipline
and military elements-but, above
and beyond all that, it requires men
suited for the particular job of mill
tary aviation. The first three weeks
of the ground-school course-known as
the junior wing-is devoted to mill
tary studies.
Day Is Full Of Work.
The men rise at 5 80, and calisthen-
les occupy their time, with a recess
for mess, until eight o'clock, when
school opens. After a brief stop at
noon they are hard at 1t again, drilling
until school, at four o'clock. Evening
finds no let up, for school and study
occupy the hours until taps, at $50,
by which time they are thankful to get
between the sheets.
The senior wing subjects start in the
fourth week, from which time on the
following outline is TYPICAL By the
time a student has absorbed during
this week the theory of flight, engines,
Geographic signaling, and the use Of
intricate aerial instruments (such as
cOmpasses air-speed indicators, in
clinometerS), he decides that he has
become a master of air subjects.
Glasses in rigging, repair of machines,
and types of machines are scheduled
for the fifth week, while the study Of
telegraphic signaling, engine, labOra-
tory, and machine guns is still con-
tinued. During the sixth and seventh
weeks are given lectures on radio
telegraphy, fighting in the air, map
reading, meteorology, bombs and
aerial photography.
The close of the eighth week brings
the examination in gunnery. Artillery
observation is also on the program,
and it is in Connection with this work
that we find the candidate at the be-
ginning of the article engaged on the
fascinating miniature target
About two o'clock on Saturday aft
ernoon the candidate usually learns his
fate. Perhaps only 16 or II of the
original class of % who entered eight
weeks before remain to graduate But
those who do have mastered the basic
principles of military aeronautics,
thoroughly every day, is vital pre-
requisite to any training in the air.
Commissioned as Officers.
All these ground-school candidates
are enlisted in the Signal corps or the
Signal Enlisted Reserve corps, where
their status is that of "fying cadets"
AS soon as they are fortunate enough
to pass the test for reserve military
aviators they receive an officers COM
mission, with the regular pay therefor,
and officers receive what is known as
Communication of quarters at all places
where no public quarters are avail
able.
Beyond this, in the case of foreign
duty, is a ten per cent extra allowance
provided for by law to officers serving
beyond the limits of the United States
and territories contiguous thereto,
with the exception Of the Canal Zone,
Panama, Porto Rico, or Hawaii. In
to the above, aviation officers
who are on duty requiring them to
participate regularly and frequently !
in aerial flights will receive a 25 per
cent increase in the pay of their grade.
The foregoing is a brief sketch of
the working methods of the aviation
section of the Signal corps of the
United States army The ground
schools are still in their infancy, al
.hough their growth has been abnor-
nal. From day to day aerial tactics
md Institutional methods are chang
ng, and will continue to change in
accordance with new conditions. The
round schools form the preliminary
step in the great task of sending
cross the German trenches aviators
mentally, morally and physically 1
quipped for their work
Sent Into Service Abroad. |
Every week our flyers are fast grad
lating from ground schools to the
raining schools and from the training [
chools to service overseas. And more {
nd more men are needed to fill the |
aps It is reported that many young G
len shy from aviation because fear {
lg they lack the proper physical quail
cations. No peculiar attainments are
the service is not limited
!, trapeze performers or jiu jitsu ex- |
erts:. AS the war department STEM
il says: ut must be remembered that
lie flying officer is not AN aerial chauf- v
,ur' or exhibition flyer He has been Il
ore correctly defined as a twentieth e
,ntury cavalry officer mounted on b
egasus." E
Physically speaking, what is most t
: all desired is a sound, strong body, O
it'll particular attention paid to eyes, a
,rves, and ears. Perfect eyesight is a
sine quo non. Provided they are !,
herwise acceptable, candidates Of n
,ht build and more youthful appear q
ice than desirable for line officers Ct
Ill be given a chance. They should be IL
least nineteen and preferably not Il
er thirty, although in exceptional al
ses,"' to quote the official announce fl
ant, solder men of pronounced ath- ii
lie attachments who have spent most RI