The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-21
WHEN AIRMEN HONIEWARD
FLY, MECHANIC GETS BUSY
Night Is Work Time on Planes Behind
Rattle Line.

Benlnd tne BfltlSn Lines IN france,
August SO.-(Correspondence of the AS
sociated Press.p-Night. as well as day,
is full Of work and hustle at an army
aerodome. Night flights are not fire.
quent but the night is the time when
the mechanics are busiest, putting every
thing 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 airplanes drift homeward,
crossing the evening sky line black
specks on the purple cloth and landing
with a deep droning on the clipped
grass, often lame from long after
Moons work over the lines.
Then Mechanics Appear.
The days work is finished; reports
are handed in, ana the pilots saunter
down to their mess tent among the
trees. The mechanics appear, wheel
the machines into their respective han
gars, and the nights work is begun.
1t is seventeen miles 10 the shell 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 aerodome is in darkness but the
hangers, looming black against the eve.
ming sky, are bright within. There is
much to be done. Mazes of wires must
be overhauled many must be replaced or
tautened. The enemy antiaircraft artil-
lery has been active and some Of the
planes bear witness of its work The
canvas wings Of one machine are rid.
died and need long and patient attention
before 1t 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 stringing man.
ouvers in aerobatic fighting.
Seven Hours Work
The whole means a hard seven hours
of work for the entire staff OF mechan.
les They settle down to il as "a matter
of routine. Every time a machine comes
back from the lines il has to be over.
hauled, perhaps dismantled. New gas
gets must be fitted, the engine repaired
and cleaned. Airplanes are after all
very delicate pieces Of mechanism and
need continued attention Without it
they are useless, even dangerous. The
accuracy Of hundreds Of measurements,
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 airplane mechanic doesn't share
the dangers of the field or the hardships
Of the infantryman or artilleryman. but
he has endless work. and a very heavy
responsibility. When there is heavy air
fighting he must frequently work all
day and all night, and woe betide the
pilot If the mechanic should skimp any
OF his work. Upon his shoulders rests
the strength Of the squadron and its ef-
ficiency.
Watch for Air Attack
The officer i'm charge OF the aerodrome
during the night hours is known as the
Orderly officer" Warmly clad. he
walks arolnd the busy sheds and han
gars, now and then Offering a word of
advice or encouragement. but always
with an ear for the telephone bell. for
It any moment orders may come
through for night bombing or the ward.
ing Off Of hostile aircraft Such orders
are very rare, but everything is ready
for them when they come.
The work in the hangers is so ar
ranged that the ships appointed for the
next days work shall be ready an hour
before dawn As the first rays Of the
sun light up the aerodrome. the ma
chanes are wheeled out, oiled and at
tuned for the morning flight
SHORT SKIRTS CONTINUE