The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-04-03
AIR ACCIDENTS
AVERAGE ABOUT
THREE each DAY
Frank Prosser Says Rock
field Aviation Field lis
An Interesting Place


Rockheld aviation field, California,
has been very fortunate in the num-
Der of accidents, according 10 a LETT
ter received by John Bathriek from
Frank Prosser, former Fargo boy, a
cadet in training at that camp. Mr..
Prosser writes that accidents aver
age about two or three a day and
that it was not until just recently
that a cadet was killed.
THE government provides free
transportation with ga n e
launches between Coronado and San
Diego where Rockfield aviation field
Is located" says Prosser. I'VE all
take advantage of this service, too.
There are two aero squadfons stat
toned here besides the cadets in
training, which together with the
many officers and civilians employ
ed in the different repair depart
ments give us quite a population
most noticeable at mess hours.
CONSTRUCTION has started on the
buildings Of the new cadet camp
which is to make room for the naval
air service recently established here,
they occupying our present quarters
when things are ready. The work
we do is just that which is absolute
ly required. The course is broad and
covers a variety of subjects, practi-
cally a continuation of ground school
training with more Of the practical
and less of theory-engines, radio,
aerial observation, map reading,
Photographic Interpretation, ma
chine gunnery (Lewis) trap-shoot-
ing, core and repairs Of ships ands Of
course, flying. Flying has trap
Oh h. nFF the hOarda
Birds" Early Risers.
1--WE get up at 5 o'clock and are
ready to fly an hour later, the early
morning air being more smooth be-
fore the sun gets in its work. BY z
o'clock there are anywhere from
twenty to thirty ships and the day
is on. Flying is divided into classes
beginning with dual instruction In
which one must be able to fly alone
at the end OF nine hours instruction.
From. dual one goes into solo flying
classes.
Il have been flying three weeks,
a little every day, and am just leav-
ing the first solo class. So far, my
work has been free from mishaps OF
any kind, though / did make my first
trip alone on a Friday. II lis funny
how superstitious some of the
cadets become, figuring on the
sevens, eleven and thirteens. which
makes me think of the fate of my
first ship in solo met the day ]
started that work. The number of
my machine was 1,107 and / had
turned her over 70 the cadet follow
ing me, in second period. He had
just started, having made one round
OF the course and landing after
wards, and was waiting the take
or signal from the spot man. An
other ship came down and landing a
little short in the same line Of
flight, awaited his signal, which was
given first, as luck would have it.
So away he went and directly to-
ward 1907, dead ahead, which Of
course, he could not see. just as he |
flying speed and took the |
air. leveIing of, he saw 1,107 My |
man saw him coming and unlocking |
his safety belt got out and away |
just as his ship was struck No. |
l07 was almost demolished and the |
other badly wrecked.
Field Accidents.
"The field has been very FORUM
ate, however in the few accidents, |
which have averaged about two or
three a day since / have been here, |
and it was not until yesterday
after more than Ave months-that /
a cadet was killed. The sensations
1ne experiences In flying find /
rather difficult to describe. The roar
Of the motor is deafening and the air
blast from the propeller will all but
break ones neck IL he sticks his
read above the cover. One sits
there sort Of housed in, comfortable
enough If one has on two or three
sweaters, q wooden and leather he'll
net. leather coat, goggles, etc.
"A 1000 feet Is low and at that
altitude one seems to be moving
-ery slowly Some days the air Is
rough and one will be going along
the scenery when all Of a
sudden the bottom seems to drop out
ind down you go. The ship has a
endency to leave one at such times
md IL il were not for the life-belt
luckled around one, a fellow would
probably ind himself hanging onto
he stick with one hand and trailing
llong in a stream like effect. The
roment the ship glides out Of the
downward current, striking solid air
lgain, the seat comes up and hits
me a crack that reminds a fellow OF
,ther days Now. am beginning to
Ind myself quite at home i'm the air"