The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-03
5,10O PLANES
FOR NEW ARMY
United States to Have 100 in
Commission and 3,40O
in Reserve.
%, ,776 IN AERO BRANCH
Army of 100000 viii Be Di.
yided Into 2f Divisions
and Five Corps.
1871 IN AERO BRANCH

WASHINGTON, April 2. - Army reor-
ganization plans upon which the War
Department is now working. IL was
learned to-day, provide for an air serv-
ice with approximately 1900 airpianes
in actual commission and a minimum
available reserve Of 3.400 additional
planes. This Is based upon the pro-
posed military establishment of 5000
men in which total the air service per-
sonnel will be 1923 officers and 2i,-
$50 men.
The organization tables show that
the air forces on peace basis will be
comprised of eighty-seven service
squadrons, OF which forty-two will be
assigned to coast defence work in the
United States and insular possessions
twenty will be pursuit squadrons and
twenty five observation and bombing
squadrons. The typical army airplane
squadron includes eighteen planes in
service and their personnel.
Forty-two Balloon Companies.
The tables also call for the mainte-
nance OF forty-two balloon companies.
divided into three wings of fourteen
companies each.
The general plan Of the army reorgan-
ixation calls for twenty-one divisions.
including one cavalry unit Of nine regi-
ments. to be formed into five army corps.
each to be commanded by a Lieutenant
General. To each corps will be attached
five observation and bombing sQusdrons
Of airplanes and four pursuit equadrons
representing a wing formation Tor each
type OF machine.
The effect of this will be to give the
air service definite recognition as the
fourth of the line, or combat. forces oi
the army. the others being the old trio
OF artillery. cavalry and infantry. AT
other units are supplemental forces. gen
orally known as auxiliary arms or stan
corps troops.
Carrying out the organization OF this
new element of the line the tactical
formation of the airplane branch Of the
| air service will be In squadrons, groups
and wings, and the balloon section In
companies, groups and wings.
Two squadrons in Group.
The formation is elastic. however
above the squadron. two or more squad
rons. as circumstances require, forming q
group and two or more groups a wing
The same arrangement prevails with In.
fantry divisions. two or more of which
form a corps.
Machines in sufficient number to equir
all Of the air units planned for are now
being stored at the various aviator
fields that are being retained by the
Government. Storage capacity has beer
| provided for approximately 5000 com
| plete planes. not including those In ser
vice or in immediate reserve with ths
! squadrons. In addition. airplane motor.
/ by the thousand have been stored. tho
upkeep of any unit in service requiring
three or four extra motors per plane.
The production OF planes has ex
! ceeded. however. even the storage ca
pacity OF the fields The War Depart
ment Is negotiating with airplane build
ers for the disposal Of all training ant
Of a considerable number Of service ma
chimes for which It has no present o,
indicated future use or place OF storage
The surplus machines are said to form
separate problem. There is no gen
eral market for the extra planes ant
the only offers received have been fo
| relatively small numbers and at price,
that mean to the Government a tre
1 mendous loss on its investment
/ VIII Not Bring Tenth of Cost.
There is no reason TO expect Il Il
| said. that even tenth of their cost car
be salvaged. Probably planes that cos
! $4,000 or more will bring not NOR,
| than $1,000. The only offers thus IA
received have been from the contractor
who built the machines There 10 prac
l'ticslly no commercial market for air
planes. The offers received for tn
Governments surplus represent risks tn
! builders are willing to take in the hop
of finding sales for the planes later a
much less than cost price. To illustrst
I the situation from a commercial poln
of view. attention was called to
report that the recent airplane shoy
in New York city had resulted In onl.
two sales.
Many Government planes purchase,
by the manufacturers, II is understood
are TO be converted into seaplanes. Thi
would permit their use for pleasure with
out having landing fields available smc
they could rise from and return to tn
water.
SO far as the Government is concerne,
| II appears likely that the surplus will b
! disposed OF eventually at whatever loss
since to retain the machines would meal
building new storage facilities and In
creased personnel to keep them In shape
all without any assurance they woui,
ever be OF any value.
The training planee are already out o
date and expected development OF nev
types soon will make even the seryic
machines obsolete. Whatever the sur
plus machines may bring now. II 4
argued. would be a net saving agains
an indicated total loss II they are re
tanned.