The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-24
AERIAL SQUADRON
IS BUSY RAISING
FUND FOR FIELD
First Thousand Dollar Mark Is
Reached on Opening Day
of Campaign

Substantial support was given
yesterday to the civic committees
who are making a drive for $4,000
to establish a permanent aviation
field as site for the One Hundred
and Thirty-fifth aerial squadron at
Shadyside on the Tidewater carline.
Over $1,000 was raised on the
first day through solicited subscrip
tions and amounts sent in without
solicitation The drive will continue
until the amount has been assured.
Led by j. Mercer Barnett teams
from the Rotary club, Civitan club,
Exchange club, Community club and
Kiwanis club were active in the field.
Checks are being received by mail
by o. L. Bum, secretary of the Cham
Der of Commerce.
The preliminary letter sent out by
Mr.. Barnett read as follows:
The United States government has
offered to locate here the tS5th OBJ
servation squadron, Alabama Nation
al Guard, one of the few to be estab
lished in America. 1t proposes to
furnish 100000 worth of new equip
ment, to maintain an initial pay roll
OF $4,000 per year with the prospect
of adding three more big units later.
But before doing these things for
Birmingham the government requires
us to do a few things ourselves. 1t
requires flying field of certain pro-
portion, properly graded, that han
gars be erected to house the equip
ment. that an administration build
ing be built and that the personnel
be recruited.
Lense for Field
1--WE have secured from the Repub-
lie Iron and Steel company, under
a long time lease. the only available
field in the district The board of
revenue has indicated willingness
to partially grade this field.
1.-TWO hangers valued at $4,000
have already been shipped to us by
the government and are now on the
field ready for erection. The city has
built a road to the field and has
promised assistance In the erection
of the hangers. The personnel has
been recruited to a strength suffi-
cient to receive federal recognition.
"All OF this has already been done
and it remains only to this commit
tee to raise a sum slightly In excess
of $4,000 to enable us to meet ths
requirements of the government.
After we do this our liability ceases
and 1t becomes self-suppo rting
government project, differed by reg
ular army officers and maintained by
skilled mechanics paid by the govern
ment
The government recognizes the
Importance of Birmingham as a
strategic industrial center and we are
fortunate in having the refusal of
this opportunity as several other
southern cities. especially Atlanta,
are making strong efforts to get It
An Investment
ut is now up TO each of us to do
our small share In putting over
something big for our city that IS
practical, permanent and worth
while. You have been called upon
many times for donations: this is not
a donation, but an investment in the
future progress and development OF
Birmingham"
Teams Mt Work
The list of men appointed to CO.
operate with the Chamber of Com
merce in securing the funds neces.
squadron in Birmingham are:
Rotary Club: Oscar Wells, presi-
dent; C. Powell holland, captain team
Thornton Estes, captain team.
Civitan Club: Reid Lawson, presi-
dent; J. w. Allen, captain team COM
posed of L. B. Cast, C. C. Cook and