The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-08-07
$4,000 MASTERS
NEEDED TO man
AEROPL- ANE fleet
Lucrative Positions Can Be
Obtained in This Arm
Of Service

Time has fully demonstrated the
value Of the air service In war, and
experts say ethat many Of the great
decisive and effective battles Of the
future will be fought in the air.
This appears to be confirmed by the
great activity of the Signal Corps and
the passing unanimously BY the House
and Senate and the signing. by the
President without delay of the bill APP
propriating s64o.ooo.ooo for aero
nautics.
1t has been said that the United
States would require, to do its bit in
the war, $4,000 masters OF aeronaut-
ical apparatus-that is. men capable
Of flying the airp1ane and hydroplane,
and directing the movements tof the
..kite'' or observation balloon, known
as aviators or balloon pilots.
The work of the aviator is well
known and the marvellous results OF
these air-speeders; the work accom-
plished by them as the eyes of the
army is published from time to time
in the dispatches from broad. The
fastest machines attain speed of ! 40
miles per hour.
The observers in them locate the
position of the enemy's armies and
guns, and protect cities and towns
from attack. although at times the
enemy flyers get by the watchfulness
of the allied air fleet with disastrous
results to humanity and property.
All aviators and balloon pilots be-
come officers in the aviation section OF
the Signal Officers' Reserve Corps OF
the Army Immediately upon gradual
ing, being. commissioned as first lieu
4 he NV al 20 000
annually and additional compensation
when in active. service at home. and
abroad.
The usefulness of the 'skite" or sta
tionary balloon is not generally
known. one familiar with its en-
ployment says that at the, balloon
schools an applicant for officers
commission must first qualify as a
pilot of spherical balloons, Then they
are taught to become pilots and OBJ
servers in the kite balloons.
The balloon is allowed to ascend to
a height of about 5000 feet with a
wire cable attached to it by which
it is drawn down when desired by
motor power.
In war, these balloons are located
from three to 1--WE miles from the first
line of trenches. and from the basket
two men, pilot and an observer,
give the range and result Of firing by
telephone to the artillery.
On the western front they are
placed from one-half to mile apart.
according to conditions, and are pro-
vided with parachutes attached to the
mensin the Basket: in event of acct
dent to the balloon the men parachuts
safely back to the earth.
Men who I&ve not been called for
physical examination under the draft,
and who have had a college educa-
ton may make application for COM
mission as first lieutenant in the Avia-
ton section of the Signal Officers Re
serve Corps as aviators or balloon
pilots, provided they are not under
/ or over 80 years of age. While col
lege men are preferred, applications
from those who have graduated from
High school and have exceptionally
good qualifications win be considered
| If the application is approved, the ap-
pIicant will be notified to appear be-
fore medical board for examina-
lion. # this is satisfactory, he is as
| signed to schools for training.
While at the schools soldiers pay