The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-01-30
Naval Aviation

AS with many other specialties it
took the water to bring out the value
of Aviation in the Navy. In 1916, Ma
val Aviation was made up of $50 Off
GERS and men. AT the end of the war
the personnel was about $4,000 and
growing every week. Naval Aviation
made good Wherever there was any
fighting at sea the Eyes of the Fleet
were found invaluable.
The United States Naval Aviation
Forces were the first fighting unit to
land in France from this country. it
started quickly and, although small,
went straight thead throughout the
war, keeping it's record UP and prov
ing a valuable aid to the success of
the U. S. Sea Forces.
In this country several colleges
were converted partially or wholly
into Aviation schools. These were
the ground schools where the theory
of fight was taught to the future
flyers. The Massachusetts Institute
of Technology was the largest such
school There were at one time near
ly fifteen hundred men undergoing
training at that place. This school
was for the officer personnel only.
At Great Lakes, and some of the
other larger bases, enlisted men were
being trained to care for the planes
that the officers would pilot, or in
many cases, which enlisted men
themselves would fly. At Columbia
University mechanics were given
special training in the Liberty and
other motors.
After the arnlistice these schools
were returned to their former direc-
tors and the regular courses resum-
ed. But the special equipment and
many of the instructors were trans
fered to the new Naval Aviation cent
ers and the training is being carried
on there as actively as before, though
not in such large numbers. The cours-
es have been expanded and made
more complete.
There are at present, Great Lakes,
San Diego, Hampton Roads and Pen
sacola. The courses taught include
mathematics, electrical engerneering,
meteorolgy, photography, wireless in
structions, and elementary physics.
There are also special courses in such
work as caring for and training carrier
| pigeons. All courses are thorough
and equal in many cases the courses
given at our colleges. In fact there
are seventy two colleges in the Uni.
! ted States which recognize and give
credit for the work at our Naval Avia-
ton Universities.
These schools are Intensely practi-
cal. 4 student is taken through the
work of building and repairing the
engines, the magnetos or the carbu
/ retors. He does lathe work, black
!, smithing, and wood-turning. If he
finds that he has abilities along some
particular line he may specialize in
that direction. During the course Of
instruction he has the opportunity to
plane, from engine to wings. A mans
future will be limited only by his own
ability.
The picture at the left shows the
students hanging Liberty motor IN
an HS-2 sea-plane. AT the right some
men are securing the cloth covering
to the skeleton of aIand plane. The
bottom picture shows the future cleo
tricians of the Aviation forces in the
electrical laboratory. where they will
learn the fundamentals of the most
necessary branch of Aviation.
After man has gone through these
schools he has several channels be-
fore him which will lead to higher
ratings and eventually to a commits
sion. His first promotion win be that