The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-09-01
AMERICAN AVIATION
MADE RAPID GROWTH
STARTING WITH SMALL FORCE
WAS SECOND LARGEST IN
WORLD AT WARS CLOSE

WASHINGTON.-Although its or
igin was an almost insignificant corps,
the United States naval aviation serv-
ice was expanded so rapidly during
the war that when the Germans quit
it was the second largest naval flying
force in the world. Development of
the service, hitherto a carefully guard
I ed secret, was disclosed by the Navy
department today in the first of
series of announcements dealing with
naval aerial activity since April, 1917.
When the United States entered the
world conflict it maintained small
naval aerial establishment, with the
principal station at Pensacola, Fla.
The personnel at the station was 38
avlators and 163 enlisted men and the
equipment consisted of 22 sea-planes,
five Kite balloons and two free bal
looms
A department. of aviation was or
ganized Immediately and the various
bureaus took up the work of provid-
ing men and equipment. The Bureau
OF Steam Engineering took charge of
the development and manufacture of
motors and radio equipment; the
Bureau of Construction and Repair
dealt with the hulls and wings of the
planes; the Ordnance department pro-
vided machine guns and bomb launch
ing devices and thousands of tons of
high explosive and the Bureau of
supplied and trained thous-
ands of officers and enlisted men.
The armistice found the navy with
more than 1,500 aviators, 300 ground |
officers, and $4,000 enlisted men with I
4 1000 flight officers and 10000 en-
listed men in training. There were in
commission 1,400 seaplanes and air
planes and about 300 lighter than-air
craft of all types. More than 1,20O
officers and 10000 enlisted men to-
sether with 388 seaplanes, 14O air
planes and AZ kite balloons were sent
20 the war zone.
Meantime. the single station main
aimed in the United States prior to
he war had grown to seven training
stations, ten petrol stations, nine rest
ind refueling stations, two expert
mental stations and a number of ad-
[itional stations for various pur- s
oses were under construction. They
ormed a girdle that encircled the en- :
ire seacoast of the country. In !
,urope there were established and in ,
peratlon 28 American naval flying +
ca atlons and IL bombing stations To- 7
ated In England, Ireland, France and +
5aly. There also was a marine avia-
on station in the Azores. T
A capable administrative force. d
rawn by the navy from civilians, ad- S
mustered the affairs of the service F
lth great success, but regular navy tt
Ulcers were in direct charge. Tech S
cal and manufacturing experts of Il
ternatlonal reputation represented
e navy at the bases abroad and in II
is country. Their loyal service with ct
ose Of the fliers, made possible the in
Movements which brought from Il
dmiral William S. Sims the follow C
g praise for the work of the naval OF
latlon service in the war: ii
please express to the naval avia- ic
RS of America my most sincere ap- w
ec1atlon of their courageous and hs
val performance of duty at home We
d abroad throughout the war. Their st
llliant exploits, their determination tn
win, will ever remain one of the
CHEST tributes to American manhood.
- ~ AAAe~AA~O VI OQCy VI tu0SG
ung naval aviators under my com wi
md has not only been in keeping H,
tn the very best traditions Of our he
val service but has in addition won of
: America the enthusiastic praise is
her Allies. ch
The American naval aviators car liv
d out joint patrols with the British, tri
ench and Italian naval air. forces, we
ding enemy submarine bases and tin
craft bases at Ostend, Zeebrugge, da
lges, Helogland, Pola, Trieste and CHI
'ious other points. Large quantities
planes, submarines, materials,
ldings, hangers, supply stations,
munition dumps and other valuable res
itary projects were destroyed. 20,
seaplane patrols and aerial con- IA
IS were particularly successful.
Ter the installation of American he4
plane patrols and during thousands an,
miles of convoy, only one ship in me
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