South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-09-16
american Flying Camp Largest
in France and Said to be
the Greatest in the World

On the second field the aviators
had left their grasshoppers and
were i'm a double-control machine
accompanied by an instructor. They
We're getting the feel OF the ma
chine in actual flight. and if the
rudder was not manipulated deity
the instructor was there 10 make
the correction And il was neces-
saly here TO learn how 20 come
down as well as TO go Up. and to
come down at definite point.
Small numbered flags marked the
landing point of each machine. and
the descent must be made close up
20 this flag
The captain OF held No. was
about to step into the flying dra-
gon. one OF the most curious ma
chimes Of the fleet, for besides be-
ing a very fleet 15-meter car, IL was
famous for its dragon body. with
flaming scales and tentacles and
great red eyes. Here on this field
the aviators entered single-cOntrOl
ma chines. without an instruct
and for the first time took their
own risks
Tests for Combat Work.
ON field 30 : il began 10 de6 elOp
whether the aviator couIG qualify
as com bat airman. or for bonn
/ bardment or scout observation He
was now in fast machine with a
wing-surface of IS meters and was
beginning to make dips and high
air maneuvering. He was being &C
customed TO all types of machines.
There WAS a feet OF one OF these
strange types drawn across the
plain. Their chief novelty was in
having bali-bearings on all their
mechanism. giving a hair-trigger
+ response 70 the slightest touch.
If you sneeze you loop the loop.
was the way the officer explained
the delicacy OF this mechanism.
Progress is rapid now that it is
evident what a flyer can do. He
I enters a very fast machine at No. .,
with f5-meteT wings capable OF
making 12O miles an hour Some
I Of the men drop out Of the train
ing at this point, as il has become
evident that they lack the deftness
or get faint at the height or the
heat of the motor. The rest 90 on
to field no. where they begin pur-
suit work and some Of the early
stag es OF acrobatic nose dives and
slips.
There is nothing freakish about
. these acrobatics," said the otfcer
for they are one of the most es-
sentiaI parts OF combat aviation. TIC
/ be a chase and pursuit pilot one
must he able 70 out-maneuver the
enemy aviator: 10 make quick turns
under fire and get above your adj
versary or on his tail. One or the
other viii be out-maneuvered and
the fastest man wins the game The
enemy is very skillful at acrobatics
and he must be beaten at his own
game"
Lieut.. Quentin Roosevelt was ir
command OF held 40. : while ht
was here. and the car Of the late
1 Officer stood i'm the hangar with q
group Of flyers about it paying trib-
7 ate to the splendid qualities and
daring Of their late leader. Hi:
good humor was recalled by the
name he had given his car, Doc
Yak" and the doctor with his flow
Ing whiskers was painted in fam
ing colors on the side Of the car.
Teach Formation Flying.
This Is the field on which foTms
ZION fving is begun. ia squadrons up
20 Is machines but usually witt
FIVE. The squadron fiys in N-shape
with the commander az the apex OF
the y. carrying streamer which
signals the commands A feet oI
Is machines was starting a vs.
passed. and another had Just come
after TWO hours in the air. ending
with a figure eight. a difficult evolu-
ton executed bv crossing the con
trolls" 80 that the rudder serves az
elevator and the elevator serves a.
rudder At night this field is liGht
ed by powerful searchlights and
night fyinc goes on from 10 o'clocl