Evening star., 1921-06-20
AIR HOSTS TO SCATTER BOMBS
IN TEST WITH NAVY THIS WEEK
Flocks of Army and Navy Air Craft
Armed With Explosives of Every De-
scription, to Launch Attacks on Ships.

miles distant. The flyers will have
only an approximate idea OF the loca-
ton of the Iowa, and will be required
to take off at a given signal, search
the wide area involved. and. II they
find the vessel, bomb it with dummy
bombs and get back to land safely.
The control officer on the Ohio will
be allowed to Eaneuver the Iowa as
he pleases during the bombing. simu-
latinG as far as possible the moves
battleship might be expected to
make in war to escape aerial attack.
The conditions involved are that the
| Iowa shall continue to steam in the
general direction of the shore and
the attacking planes stay at an alti-
tude of at least 1000 feet Eight
o'clock. in the morning will be Zero
hour"
DlriEibles to BE Used.
In the test against the Iowa all
available naval aircraft will be used.
including at least four dirigibles.
Under present plans the Army will
not use any land planes in this test.
but the naval detachment will in
elude four Martin bombers assigned
to the Marine Corps. 1t is expected
that more than 100 aircraft will take
part in the search for and bombing
! from 23O to 1000 pounds each. will
/ be used. The Army personnel involved
will fly seaplanes.
AS soon as contact is made by any
| of the scouting aircraft a radio signal
will be sent out and reserve planes
held at the Hampton roads here and
at Langley Field win form in division
and rush to the attack. Destroyers
| will be stationed in long lines along
the coast in the general vicinity OF
: h. pf nj G
! forced down into the water
| Live bombs will not be- used in the
experiment, as the Navy wishes to
preserve the Iowa. the only radio
controlled battleship in existence. for
| target practice with the Atlantic feet
| next fall. The problem in the air tests
is designed to furnish reliable data
! on the probable number Of hits to be
| expected from air craft operating
! against battleship at sea Data on
an attack will be obtained in a later
!; attack on the former battleship Ost-
F., friesland. O modern vessel.
! The third of the series Of bombing
+. tests will take place on July 13. with
the former German destroyer G-1o9
as the target. The Army will make
| the first attack. using twelve Martin
4 bombers and eleven DH-4 machines
/ and 250 pound bombs. "a of which will
be dropped. The conditions of the
i flight commanders II the destroyer
is not sunk by the Army's attack the
/ naval air detachment will attempt te
l sink the vessel. If the G-102 remains
afoat then it will be sunk on the
following day by gunfire by AtlantA
! fleet destroyers. along with the for.
mer German destroyers S-132 and
Via. Should the destroyers fail tt
! sink the vessels battleships will bt
assigned to the task.
Attack on German Cruiser.
| An attack on the former German
cruiser Frankfurt will be the fourth
phase of the tests and is set for July IS
The vessel, completed in 1915. took {
prominent part in the battle of Jutlano
and represents a good type of moderr
cruiser. She will be at anchor during
the attack. and the attacking aircraft
flying in mixed formation. will use frs
250 and 800 pound bombs and then 52t
and 600 pound missiles. All types ol
| aircraft will be used. the first attack Il
take place at 9 o'clock in the morning
II the vessel remains atioat after the
final attack it will be sunk by destroyer.
at f range Of 5000 yards. ....
The final test in the series thus fal
arranged will be the bombing of the
former German battlesnIp Ostfrieslant
naught of o. 500 tons, mounting twelve.
inch guns. and was surrendered to tn,
allies at Scapa Flow During the battle
OF Jutland she formed part OF the Ger.
man first battle squadron and was badl,
damaged by mine.
The principal value Of the Ostfries
land experiment is expected to be tht
IreSulting data regarding the amount o.
damage aerial bombs may be expected
to inflict on a battleship. The vesse
and will be attacked by Army and Nav
aircraft. The conditions Of the test re.
quire three hits each with 250 and 30,
pound bombs, two hits with the $50 anl
500 pound types. and at least two hit.
with 1000 or 1000 pound projectiles
attack thirty-two Of the 1.000-pount
bombs and three of the 2,0o0-pount
type.
May Be Ship Guns Target.
If the .Ostfriesland remains afoa
after all the required hits have beer
made the vessel will be used as q targe
for the main battery Of the battleshiI
feet, as all the German ships were turn
ed over to the United States on condi
ton that they be destroyed within {
Extensive arrangements have beer
Obtained during the bombing tests
Motion picture cameras will be uset
to permanently record the results
and boards Of officers stationed OF
tugs and other craft near the vesse
attacked in each case will make notes
Can't, Luke McNamee OF the dread
naught Nevada has been detailed a.
the senior member Of the observing
party. Among the duties with which
the board Of observers Is charged ar,
the following: Observe and repor
The number and type Of bombs drop
ped, the number Of hits, the actua
damage to the vessels, bearing IL
mind the age and state Of preserva
ton of each ship attacked, the prob
craft defenses and light equipment
and structure exposed on the uppeI