Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-22
AERO CLUB HEAD
OFFERS SERVICE
FOR RECRUITING
Alan R. HaWIey Would Organ
ize to Increase FlierS in
American Army

The Aero Club OF America, imme
diately after news was received that
the break with Germany had taken
place, offered its services TO Ma. -Gen
Leonard Wood. Its entire resources
were placed at his disposal, and this
was confirmed in a letter written by
Alan r. Hawley, president of the club
Regarding the present status OF mill,
tary aeronautics. Mr.. Hawley said:
THE National Defense Act OF June
3, 1916, limits the number of army
ayiators for 1917 to less than 100
The law provides for the Aerial Re.
serve Corps, in which there can be
an unlimited number Of aviators,
either civilians or militiamen
THE National Defense Act also pro-
vides for the training OF the militia
and organizing and equipping. under
the direction of the army, of as many
aero squadrons as there are militia
divisions The aviation section OF the
army has about S6,000,000 OF unex.
pended funds for ae-onautic purposes.
There are at present about 80 can
didates for the Aerial Reserve Corps
under training There are about so
militia officers trained or under train
ing, and about 50 civilians and militia
officers who should have trained and
have applied or are ready to apply
for admission in the Aerial Reserve
Corps. There are, therefore, less than
200 ayiators trained or training under
the army's control.
Believing that the Aero Club of
America can best assist by securing
recruits for the Aerial Reserve Corps,
an appeal is being male by the club
for recruits for both the flying and
the mechanical side of the Aerial Re-
serve Corps, also for the operation OF
kite balloons and the training of adj
vanced ayiators in aerial gunnery.
bomb dropping and operating aero
pane wireless We will do all the
detail work Of registering the re.
oTnits, then will refer them to an Off
Ger to be appointed by you. who win
order them before a board of physi-
clans for medical inspection. who will
pass upon their fitness for the air ser
vice, after which they will go before
the examining board, which will pass
upon their qualifications for any
branch of the air service After the
recruit has been accepted, he is. SEM
TO one-sf the training schools, which
can be Hineola for the Eastern de-
partment, or, II he is mechanic, can
be sent to either. Mineola or one of
the aeroplane factories for training
The authorities of the Aero Club Of
America viii also he glad to assist in
the preliminary training Of recruits.
For the advanced training. realiz
ing that there are only half dozen
men in the United States who know
anything about aeroplane guns. we
have taken steps to secure three Of
the highest authorities on the subject,
who, we feel, will be glad to place
themselves at yonr disposal Also
realizing that there are only two CIR
three authorities on wireless teleg
raphy' from aeroplanes. we have taken
steps to secure one of these authori-I
ties, and we have already accumu-
lated some very important data re.
garding the employment of radio from,
aerop,anes. which can be printed and
distributed. thereby giving the ayia-
tors a parliamentary knowledge of the
subject The same is true of aerial
photography and other important
phases OF military aeronautics"