Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-12
THIRTEEN ARMY
PLANES TO FLY
CROSS COUNTRY
Rock Island May Be Visited by
Squadron Which Leaves Long
Island Field Tomorrow.

The squadron OF ID Army air
planes which will leave Hazelhurst
field on Long Island, N. Y. tomor-
row in a cross-conntry flight, may
stop at Rock Island.
This city was en- tie path of the
cross country flight contemplated
by the army authorities some weeks
ago. "a which it was piaGnsd to en-
deavor to make a record trip, two
days being allowed. 1t is under
stood, however. that this plan was
changed and the arrangement was
MADE for a squadron flight. with
a slower schedule so that map max
ing and other military experiment
ing could take place.
The squadron of 13 army air
planes will be accompanied by a
motor transport train for the tour
III more than 900 air miles through
rs states. On its route the squad
ron will collect data for the army
air service, for the air mai. division
OF the postcffice department, and re-
cruIt men for all branches of the
service.
To ghow that the efficiency of the
air service in this country will over
coT.Ie almost any difficulty. the com
handing officers of the 'pathfind-
ELS squadron" decided las. week to
take thirteen planes instead Of nine
and to make tie official start of
their tour on the thirteenth Of the
mouth. In an effort to show addi-
tional defiance of hoodoos and su-
perstItions the pilots obtaiued per-
ntission from the war department
to >aint on the fuselage of every
machine a gigantic black cat, with
the tan of the beast tied up into
the figure "13"
= For the last two weeks the air.
pSanes of the squadron have been
carrying On practice flights between
Pittsburgh and the Long Island
fields. and the pilots have completed
their aerial mapping and photogra-
pny betW cen the two Foi It's. The
motor trick train will leave the
field early in 'he week. SO that the
eltire unit may be able tc go INTO
its first demonstration camp at
Columbus, Ohio, next Monday.
Instead OF taking along a war
=
aid $50 men, al! the uuits will be
skeIetonized and the strength IF
the entire squadron and its ,onvoys
will be about twenty-five officers
AMI $50 enlisted men. Tho sections
Of the expeditions are: Headquar-
tiers and advance section, recruiting
section. flying and fed operations
section, Photographic section, hal
loon and airship section, search
light and field lighting section, mo-
tor transport section. supply sec
ton and a detachment section to
handle mail and provide personal
comforts for the men. Major Ora n.
Baldinger, the commanding officer,
will operate the unit as a mobile
army post
Balloon Section.
The balloon section will carry six
propaganda balloons, an observa-
ton balloon. and a working model
at dirigib1e operated by electric
power. The searchlight division
VIII carry war light with a diam
aser of sixty inches and capable of
TIN owing strong light ABOUT three
miles. The strength of the light is
about 300,000,0 900 candle power, and
an airplane pilot is able to see 1t
az night for distance OF 10 miles
A special mobile power plant will
furnish electricity for this light and
for the lighting system of the con-
voy.
In the convoy will be kitchens,
repair shops, a motion picture ma
chine and screen, the new loud
speaking" wireless telephone or
ampIif1er, and many other features
to interest the public in the branch,
es of the service represented in the
unit. There is also equipment for
cbarting the air and making mo
sale" maps. 1t is pointed out by
the officers that the main object
CT the trip is to find sites for air
stations, hangers, radio stations,
and data for the air service, with
recruiting only as a side show.
The units have been assembled at
Iazelhurst field by Colonel Al chic
Miller, commanding the Long Is
land fields. No definite schedule has
been laid out, but the squadron will
proceed through Pennsylvania,
AQhio. Indiana. Illinois. Missouri,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dako-
ia, Montana, Idaho. Washington,
Oregon and California.