The Washington times., 1918-11-18
CAPITAL GUARDED
BY CRACK FLYERS

The cream OF Americas flying taleni
performs daily at Boiling Field. Ana
costa. Some Of the most celebrated
OF the worlds aviators have Tow
from this hsld, which IL iptrurtes
with the aerial defense OF the Capital
OF ne United States. and some Of
the, crack American flyers. stationed
there daily. for several months. have
given to the people OF Washington ex
hsbitions which rarely have been matched
IN the history OF aviation.
With twenty-five airplanes in com
mission. an average Of between eishtJ
end ninety flights a day are made
The average daily flying time OF e1cf
plane - half an hour.
To take care OF these twenty-five
planes there Is a force Of picked me
chanics. These men are considered the
best in the country. and the squadror
as a whole Is classed as one Of tht
nations finest
ConsISts OF 54S Acres.
Boiling Field proper consists Of ~
acres OF land. 1t Is one and thrse
rourths miles long by fve-sights Of
mile wide. extending from Ahaeestis
river on the north TO the steel plant
at GIesboro Point
Work on 1t was started last July
with a view to provide a flying nele
for . small number OF airplanes q
keep officers stationed In Washing
ton In training. From this small be-
ginning IL has grown to one Of the
most progressive flying schools u
this country.
The flying equipment on July II
consisted OF six airplanes. four Cur
tiss JNsH training planes. and tvs
Thomas Morse scout ships These
we're flown BY American aviators who
happened to be on duty in this city.
The personnel consisted Of four Of
fleers and $50 men. There were -four
hangzrs. which. at that time were In
complete.
There was no contemplation at thu
time Of an instruction school or Of any
experimental work such ,as radio and
photography.
Scope Was Enlarged.
Early in September the Development
Of the field really began Four new
Curtiss planes were received and a.
sembled and several officers were or-
dered there for instruction The feld
was enlarged TO what Is KNOWN as
zone unit field" that IS 10 say. an
aviation post OF one complete squaa
ron, and at the same time the policy
was changed
From this time on the field has been
a place where officers could receive
training and for experimental worh
of various kinds. Since then it h4l
been enlarged steadily until there ART
now twenty-seven officers stationed
Lee, Failing Lear Lee, Of the British
in five large hangers. and there arc
more hangers under construction
The present work OF the field in
cludes the training OF flyers and ex
detrimental work in radio. photography
flyi1g. typographical work.
and night flying.
Plans for the future contemplate
stu further enlargement OF the Held
and the doubling OF scope Of opera,
lions.
Prepared for U-BOatH-
As has already been stated. BoIlins
Field Is charged with the aerial de
Tense Of Washington. All the avlators
there are experienced IN the handling
OF machine guns and in aerial coinbsT
work. During the German submarine
activity along the Ameriean coast
last summer it was feared that this
Germans might attempt to raid cities
along the coast by means CT hydro
which could te carried By
submarine.
Such a program would include the
attack on Washington frorl the sky.
to resist such an attack
were carefully made at Boiling Field
planes were provided and ma
chine guns were installed on prae-
tically every airplane on The Held.
Among World-fanlous aviators who
have visited Boiling Field are General
Lee Failing Leaf" Lee. of the EritsshA
royal flying corps; the Italian. Res
natl: several other famous French
and Italian Aviators, and within the
last week Capt. z. z. Waller. royal
air force. who few the first Handley.
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