The Washington times., 1921-07-29
IS
WRECKED
BY PLANES
Bombing Squadron Makes Quick
Work Of Destruction" New
York Next in Test Attack.

Large sections Of Washington, in
Guiding the Capitol and the SEN
ate and House office buildings. are
now theoretically in ruins, with
scores of fires raging unchecked
over the wreckage, as q result Of q
bombing attack delivered shortly
after 10 o'clock by a large force
Of bombing planes from Langley
Field. Hampton. Va.
Led BY General Mitchell.
These planes. which played .
prominent part in the sinking Of ex-
German naval vessels off the Vir-
sinia Capes during the past month.
were led by Brig. Gen. william
Mitchell, assistant chief of the air
service, in person.
Leaving the more important por.
tions Of this city wrecked by heavy
bombs. the bombers. without paus-
ing. flew on to New York City,
which will be bombed this after
noon.
According to present plaHs. the
bonbers will then proceed to Chica-
go, which is the next city slated
for destruction. The expedition ID
a part Of a series of tests to show
the speed with which strong
bombing force can be moved over
long distances and concentrated In
sufficient numbers to inflict Sc
rious damage on a modern city.
The force which attacked Wash
ington was divided into two groups
the first OF speedy pursuit planes,
the second of the bombers.
The attack really began at about
dawn this morning when two OF the
fastest pursuit planes at Langley
Field. both Thomas-Morse scout
ships. arrived at Boiling Field on
the first leg Of a reconnaissance
flight which will cover the Atlantic
Slip Away to New York.
Refueling at Boiling Field, these
planes slipped away unobserved
through a haxy sky to the north, on
their way to New York.
The results of their observation
work over this city. including all
available data on the air defenses Of
the city, were sent by radio to the
bombing formations just before they
took off from Langley Field.
Led by General Mitchell, the first
force Of the attacking division, a
formation Of thirteen sE-5 pursuit
planes. took off from Langley Field.
IL hxv t,.xA ~.
Haviland bombing planes.
The combined forces arrived over
Washington at 9:55 o'clock this morn.
ing. At this time the pursuit forma-
ton, flying slightly in advance of
the bombers. swept the air of hostile
airplanes over the areas to be
bombed.
Immediately the bombers, in two
formations, under one group com
mander, swung to the attack, releas-
ing salvos of bombs as they swept
over their allotted targets.
The attack was over within a very
few minutes, several tons of high
explosive and incendiary bombs, with
a scattering of poison gas bombs,
having been dropped-theoretica
Then. with their first mission &C.
complished, the formations flew to the
northwest. disappearing over Chevy
Chase, on a slightly roundabout route
to New York.
Chicago to Be Attacked.
The bombing of New York completed
this afternoon, the airmen viii land al
Mineola, i. T., where they will com.
plete preparations FOR the long dis
tance attack on Chicago.
The bombers composing ehe squad
rons which are conducting the work
are among the most experienced in
the service. For several months they
have been carrying on almost daily
bombing practice, With live and
dummy bombs, on targets laid out on
the salt marshes near Langley Field
and on the sunken hulks OF the old
United States battleships Texas and
Indiana, which now lie In Chesapeake
Bay near the field,