The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-01-04

Of all, men or the DeSC possible OHlcer
material-athletic quick Of thought
and action, and trained in discipline
and military elements-but, above
and beyond all that, it requires men
suited for the particular job of mill
tary aviation. The first three weeks
of the ground-school course-known as
the Junior wing-is devoted to mill
tary studies.
Day Is Full of Work.
The men rise at 5 80, and calisthen-
les occupy their time, with recess
for mess, until eight o'clock, when
school opens. After a brief stop at
noon they are hard at it again, drilling
until school, at four o'clock. Evening
finds no let up, for school and study
occupy the hours until taps, at $50,
BY which time they are thankful to get
between the sheets.
The senior wing subjects start in the
fourth week, from which time on the
following outline is typical: By the
time a student has absorbed during
this week the theory of flight, engines,
telegraphic signaling, and the use Of
intricate aerial instruments (such as
compasses, air-speed indicators, in
clinometers), he decides that he has
become q master of air subjects.
Glasses in rigging, repair of machines,
and types of machines are scheduled
for the fifth week, while the, study Of
telegraphic signaling, engine, labora-
tory, and machine guns is still con-
tinued. During the sixth and seventh
weeks are givnn lectures on radio
telegraphy, fighting in the air, map
reading, meteorology, bombs, and
aerial photography.
The close of the eighth week brings
the examination in gunnery. Artillery
observation is also on the program,
and it is in connection with this work
that we find the candidate at the be-
ginning of the article engaged on the
fascinating miniature target.
About two o'clock on Saturday aft
ernoon the candidate usually learns his
fate. Perhaps only 16 or II of the
original class of IS who entered eight
weeks before remain to graduate. But
those who do have mastered the basic
principles of military aeronautics,
which, as army men are learning more
thoroughly every day, is vital pre-
requisite to any training in the air.
Commissioned as Officers.
All these ground-school candidates
are enlisted in the Signal corps or the
Signal Enlisted Reserve corps, where
their status is that of flying cadets"
AS soon as they are fortunate enough
to pass the test for reserve military
aviators they receive an officers COM
mission, with the regular pay therefor,
and officers receive what is known as
communication of quarters at all places
where no public quarters are avail
able.
Beyond this, in the case of foreign
duty, is ten per cent extra allowance
provided for by law to officers serving
beyond the limits of the United States
and territories contiguous thereto,
with the exception Of the Canal Zone,
Panama. Porto Rico. or Hawaii. In
addition to the above, aviation officers
who are OF duty requiring them to
participate regularly and frequently
il aerial fights will receive 25 per
cent increase in the pay of their grade.
The foregoing is brief sketch Of
the working methods Of the aviation
section of the Signal corps of the
United States army. The ground
schools are still in their infancy, al
though their growth has been abnor-
nal. From day to day aerial tactics
and insSructional methods are chang
ing, and will continue to change in
accordance with new conditions. The
ground schools form the preliminary
step in the grea: task of sending
across the German trenches aviators
mentally, morally and physically
equipped for their work.
Sent Into Service Abroad.
Every week our flyers are fast grad
uating from ground schools to the
training schools and from the training
schools to service overseas. And more
and more men are needed to fill the
gaps. It is reported that many young
men shy from aviation because fear
ing they lack the proper physical quail
fications. No peculiar attainments are
necessary; the service is not limited
to trapeze performers or jiu jitsu ex-
perts. AS the war department stem
ell says: "It must be remembered that
the flying officer is not AN aerial chauf-
feur' or exhibition flyer He has been
more correctly defned as twentieth
century cavalry officer mounted on
Pegasus"
Physically speaking, what is most
of oil desired is q Sound strong bOdV