The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-11-28
AMERICANS HAVE
LARGEST FLYING
CAMP IN FRANCE
Field Covers Area of Thirty-Six
Square Miles.
MANY TYPES OF AIRPLANES

| nCotf NahStf 80 O'N'1S1 INV tNftC 0CI
tons, Through Which Men Advanc,
to ProfIcIency-Three Branches o
Aviation for Warfare: Chase ant
Combat Work, Bombardment, ans
Reconnaissance.
The American flying camp Is the
largest In France and Is said to be
greater than any other In the world.
A flying field OF 80 square miles. the
area of an American township, with
nine separate flying fields on which
| American aviators advance to the
stage of flight combatants. and air
pIanes-Libertys. Nieuports. Capronis.
and all the others, with officers, In
structors. and newly equipped avia-
tors swelling our squadrons each
month--these were some OF the main
features of this vast aviation ground.
AS the Associated Press correspond
ent entered one of the fields big gray
machine rose from n nearby field with
loud. droning noise.
'"rhere goes Liberty airpiane," said
one of the officers. II was one Of the
increasing number now coming. and
every flight was watched with keen
est interest and growing enthusiasm
by those who will put 1t to the SUI
preme test on the fighting front. Only
one opinion was heard among these
men-that il was the biggest and fast
oct Machine of thor,, oil
Groups of aviators were lined up as
we arrived, preparatory to taking the
air. They were stocky, young men, like
two football elevens about to take the
field. The flying grounds stretched off
for mles-nIne fields of four square
miles each-all clean-cut stubble fields
on which the machines could land
without shock. Above them circled
many planes singly and in squndrons
drawn out like wild geese. looping and
diving and all the evolutions OF flight.
with groups of acrobatlc planes over
TO the right making headlong spirals.
wing slips and 'reversements.
Barracks Form a City.
In the foreground rose a city of bar
racks. one-story pine shacks 100 feet
long-not very highly ornamental. but
very practical. Fully thousand Of
these barracks had risen on this level
plain to house the army OF flying men
on the way to the fighting lines.
We went from field to field to note
each stage In the development OF COM
bat aviation. Generally speaking, 1t
was explained. there are three distinct
branches of this aviation warfare
chase and combat work. In which most
IF the fighting occurs; bombardment
If enemy forces, camps and towns;
and scouting or reconnaissance work
'or purposes OF observation OF enemy
activities. 1t Is for combat and bonn
)ardment that the training Is done
here. and OF those going forward
monthly about four-fifths are combat
int and one-fifth bombardment pilots.
these are the 'grasshoppers.' said
he captain as we came to field No. 1.
where the initial groundwork and the
Try of flight begins. The grasshoppers
ftft DuuiilihtS Win just
'nough horsepower to jump over the
round. and occasionally rise ten feet. |
The men call them taxis. They were
kipping about singly and In squads. |
Two were having race across the
lain. and one taking dive buried its
lose In the ground. This was the cir
us part of flying. at the start. but |
here was plenty of very practical
york beside with motor instruction.
trap shooting. rifle range and
machine gun firing. Small dummy air
'lanes dotted the field as targets. and
he bounding grasshoppers took their
hots and were rated by the watching
On the second field the aviators had
EFT their grasshoppers and were In a
ouble-control machine accompanied
y an instructor. They were getting
light. and II the rudder was not ma
Iipulated deity the instructor was
here to make the correction. And
was necessary here to learn how to
ONE down as well as to go up, and
o come down at a definite point.
mall numbered flags marked the land
ng point of each machine.
The captain of field No. was about
o step into the "Flying Dragon" one
4 the most curious machines of the
eet, for besides being very fleet,
5-meter car, 1t was famous for its
ragon body, with flaming scales and
entacles and great red eyes. Here
IN this field the aviators entered
ingle-control machines. without an in
tructor. and for the first time took
heir own risks.
Tricky Type Of Machine.
On field it began to develop wheth-
sr the aviator could qualify as COM
)at airman, or for bombardment or
scout observation. He was now in
last machine with a large wing sur
lace, and used for high air maneuver-
ng. He was being accustomed to all
types of machines. There was fleet