The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-16
FLYING CIRCUS ID
 BE STAGED HERE
 ID AID RECRUITING
Commercial Aviation To Be Taken Up By Civic Bodies On Conclusion of Re
 cruiting Trip

Details of the flying circus to be given here two weeks from now to stimulate recruiting for the army air service are being worked out by Maj. L. K. Knight commanding officer, Lieut.. A. T. Steele Lieut.. Walter Staley and Lieut. J. M Bunting, all of the aviation repair depo. at Montgomery. These officers came to Birmingham from Montgomery yester- day.
 Birmingham is to be the first city in the state in which the air circus will be given. Elaborate plans for an extensive campaign to recruit more men into the army air service have been worked cut and are to be carried out without the direct assistance of the war department No appropriations have been made. it is said, for the recruiting campaign, but on account of the need for more men in the aviation department of the military serv- ice and the ever increasing size and i'm portance of aviation officers of the re- pair depot in Montgomery already have begun the campaign. Up to date 161 mer have been recruited. Of this number Montgomery has furnished 2, Sylacauga 23 and Birmingham 3.
 
 The circus here will be an incident ol the first trip of the present campaign This trip will be made out of Montgom- cry. beginning in about 10 days It was announced yesterday that 1t may be be gun before that time. as practically every thing necessary is ready at the field ir Montgomery. The recruiting party will be headed by Lieutenant Steele and Lieu tenant Bunting, who will be in charge and will come to Birmingham by way of Clanton and Calera. where overnight stops will be made. Shorter stops will be made at other towns on the way ane exhibition flights will be made at these towns having suitable landing fields. It is now expected that the party vii arrive here on Wednesday, remaining through Sunday. Landing will be affected at Dixie Field, the field of the Dixie Flying corporation, if work now being done has been completed Otherwise the fair grounds will be used Daily flights will be made.
 Recruits will be accepted for al branches of the aviation service, either ground work or air service. The recruits will be permanently assigned to the avia ton repair depot in Montgomery if they so choose. Those who have had prev | ious military service may enlist for 2 period of one year, Others enlist fol three years. Pay ranges from 80 tt | $12l a month.
 "Of the men who already have entered the service" said Lieutenant Bunting yes terday afterhoon, "six of those who en listed to become pilots have practically finished their courses and are now doins | their solo work"
 EXHIBITION FLIGHTS
 Three planes will be brought here from | N n.,n ..-tv s.ai also will be brought Where flights car be made the planes will be taken off thu | trucks and an exhibition will be given Those who enlist may be sent to Mont gomery by planes. Men between the age | of Is and 2l desiring to enlist will be re quired to produce proof of their age.
 From Birmingham the recruiting part will continue through north Alabama west Georgia and east Alabama, thenc back to Montgomery. At the same tim another party will carry on similia campaign, under the direction of Majo Knight, in Mississippi and Louisiana Because of an absence of funds and ap lpropriations by the government to de fray the expenses of the recruiting cam paign, the Montgomery Chamber of Com merce recently donated $500 for the cam paign.
 COMMERCIAL AVIATION
 Commercial aviation will be discusse here upon the return of Major knieh from the recruiting trip. The Birmins ham Civic association is taking up tn matter in connection with the govern lment and other cities and meeting WI be held soon to promote aviation inter ests in Birmingham and Alabama. Plan are rapidly being made to place BIT lmingham on the trans-continental aVla ton route and other air lines. Inrorma tion received here from Montgomery say Ithat wholesale merchants there are nov Inlannine to send their travelling sales men out in planes instead or Tn auto mobiles. Possibilities along this and sim liar commercial lines will De olscusse at the meeting here.
 For some time Birmingham failed to D given attention in aviation matters be icause of the mountains and the lack 0 suitable fields here. Dixie field Is nov being prepared as the official landin field for government planes and the mu lnicipal landing field by the Dixie Flyin lcorporation. The field, when completed will be large enough and in every wa suitable for landing any kind of Ian lnlanes and for purposes of instructor If has been pronounced the very pes field to be lad for aviation purposes | the city and is located on Avenue F ,Goldwire street.
 Leaders in aviation matters nave pre- !dictcd that phenomenal strides will b made in this state in aeronautics withi l a short time and that Birmingham 500
 will be Hooked with vehicles of the al
 for purposes of business and pleasure.
 
 NOTES OF THE NAVY