The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-10
IS
/ ADDING TO The
( STATION FORCE
Did Class Remains and Fifty
New Officers Report For
Advanced Training.
NEW APPROPRIATION TO
PROVIDE FOR CIVILIANS
Ls No Basis For Report That
Activities Here Are to Be
Greatly Curtailed.

Indications from confidential sources
are that instead of decrease in the
activity of the naval air station there
win be gradual increase in the work
of the service here, both with respect
to the enlisted and officer personnel
of the station and also that Of the
civilian employees. A new class Of so
officers of the grade of lieutenants
has reported for flight training and
practically every member of the old
class has been retained as station
personnel
The naval appropriation has been
delayed because of the slowness OF
congress to reach an agreement on
the question of plane carrying ships
but officers in close touch with the
situation believe that it will be but a
matter OF a few days before the new
appropriation becomes available. Just
as soon as congress acts, the regular
routine viii be continued, and prob
ably increased.
Naval Officers, especially those do
ing aviation duty, believe that con-
gress is certain to see the necessity
for pressing the air program and they
feel confident that although the ap-
propriation may be pared with refer
ence to ship construction there will be
no curtaiiment Of the general flying
service.
The new appropriation wsts noulded
with an active flight training and ex-
perimentation program in mind and
the department has been eager for an
increase in the number OF line Of
ficers qualified for aviation duty.
Under the new regulations all aviation
men must be available for sea duty
and the result is that most of the
flying recruits now come from acad-
emy graduates or from enlisted men
OF the old regular service.
The purpose of the department to
maintain the flight operations of the
service at a high stage of efficiency
means, In the opinion of high naval
officials, that there win be no change
in the activities of the Pensacola sta-
tion, but rather that the number of
men In training hero will be grad
ually increased as the other branches
OF the service are curtailed.
There have been unfounded rumors
from various quarters that orders had
been received to cut down the activi-
ties. Such reports were evidently
based on the fact that delay in pass
ing the appropriation measure by con-
gress has made It necessary for tenn
porary curtailment of civilian actiSi-
ties. These activities will be resumed
just as soon as congress acts. There
will be no cessation Of service activi-
ties.
The Pensacola station supplies all
the flight officers OF the navy. other
stations are maintained hut only men
who have completed training are as
signed to such stations for duty, every
man in the flying service being re-
uuired to spend his student period at
this station.
The lighter-than-ai division at the
Pensacola station has supplied the
lrained officers for service in connec-
lion with the construction, testing and
Dver-sea flight of the giant dirigible
ZR-2 which is to start across the At
I4ntic shortly. The zR-2, modelled
On the lines of the R-S4, but much
larger, has been completed and has
held it's first test flight in command
Of Commander Louis H. Maxwell.
Commander Maxwell was formerly in
The operations office. aviation division,
1t Washington, and previous to that
no was on duty here. Many Of the
other officers and men doing duty in
England were trained here.
The zR-2 will attempt to duplicate.
the performance of the R-34 which, IN
1919 successfully negotiated trans
Atlantic flight without being conveyed.
They crew of the zR-2 win number
d5 to 60 men and practically all of
them We're trained here and ordered
overseas direct from Pensacola.