The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-19
AERODROME BUSY
PLACE AT night
Hangers Ablaze With Light
While Mechanics Pre-
pare Planes for Duty

Behind the British Lines in
France, Aug. misconceptions
Of The Associated Press. might, as
we'll as day. is full Of work and hus-
tie at an army aerodrome. Night
flights are not frequent, but the
night is the time when the mechan-
les are busiest, putting everything
right for whatever tomorrow may
bring forth.
Long after the sun has sunk
beneath the tops OF the hangers and
the trees have changed from green
to black, the hard-worked airplales
drift homeward, crossing the even
ing sky like black specks on a pur-
pie cloth and landing with a deep
droning on the clipped grass, lame
and weary from long afternoons
work over the lines.
The days work is finished; re-
ports are handed in, and the pilots
saunter down to their mess-tent
among the trees. The mechanics
appear, wheel the machines into
their respective hangers, and the
nights work is begun.
It is seventeen miles to the she'll
holes Of No Mans Land, and all the
horrors of war;. The long white road,
thick with the dust Of transport, is
silent. The fiat aerodrome Is in
darkness but the hangers, looming
black against the evening sky, are
bright within. There is much to be
done. Mazes of wire must be over
hauled: many must be replaced or
tautened. The enemy anti-craft
artillery has been active and some
of the planes bear witness of its
work. The canvas wings Of one ma
chine are riddled and need long and
patient attention before it will be
fit for service again. On another, the
flying struts must be renewed. On
another, the wings are out of shape,
the result of straining manoeuvres in
aerobatic fighting.
The whole means hard seven
hours of work for the entire staff of
mechanics. They settle down to ii
as a matter of routine. Every time
a machine comes hack from the
lines it has to be overhauled, per-
haps dismantled. New gadgets must
be fitted, the engine repaired and
cleaned. Airplanes are after all very
delicate pieces of mechanism and
need continual attention. Without 1t
they are useless, even dangerous.
The accuracy of hundreds Of meas
urements, the trustworthiness of
hundreds Of parts. are essential to
good flying and reliability, and just
as much depends on these factors as
on the skill of the pilot.
The aiEplane mechanic doesn't
share the dangers of the field or the
hardships of the infantryman or
but he has endless work,
and very heavy responsibility.
When there is heavy air fighting lie
must frequently work all day and all
night, and woe betide the pilot if he
should sldnp any Of his work. Upon
his shoulders rests the strength Of
the squadron and it's efficiency.
The officer in charge of the aero
drome during the night hours is
known as the orderly officer"
clad, to keep out the chills
Of the night, he walks around the
busy sheds and hangers, now and
then offering a word of advice or en-
enlargement, but always with an ear
for the telephone bell, for at any
orders may come through for
night bombing or the warding off of
some hostile aircraft Such orders
are very.rare, but everything is ready
for them when they come. .ss
The work in the hangers Is so ar
ranged that the steeds appointed for
the next days work shall be ready
an hour before dawn. AIS the first
rays Of the sun light up the aero
drome, the machines are wheeled out
on the "Tarmac," oiled and attuned
for the mornings flight.