The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-11
THIRTY-SIX LAND
PLANES ARE HERE
Arrangements Completed for lncress-
ing the Size of the Dirigible
Landing Field.

With thirtysix land planes already
arrived at the Pensacola Naval Air
Station, and arrangements completed
for increasing the size or the difigible
landing field to an area OF 900 by 500
feet for use of these planes, assurances
have been given by the navy depart
ment that active operations at PEN
sacola for land planes will be inaug
urated July 1, 1922.
The government has accepted the
Tered the navy department by business
Organizations of the community.
through the Chamber of Commerce,
and Lieut. @. p. Mason. superintendent
of the aviation training school of the
Pensacola Air Station, who has been
closely in touch with the situation for
several months. stated last night that
the planes which will be used for land
practice will comprise twenty planes
of the JN-6-H type; eight planes of
the DEI-4-B type. and eight Voughts
The first two types of plane are used
respectively for training and spotting
and the third are combat planes.
The navy has accepted the offer Of
Per sacola OF two landing fields. one
Of which, known as the Kiwanis field,
is near Goulding. While this landing
field can be used at its present area,
of the navy it should be a mile square.
It is now 600 to 500 acres, but the navy.
will ask that the size OF the landing
field be increased. and 1t IS understood
that immediate steps Will be taken to
increase the size Of the field. and to
finance such movement.
The other field is west of Pensa-
cola, and is about one hundred acres.
The two fields will be used.
Word was received yesterday by the
Chamber CT Commerce from the Sec
rotary OF navy. Edwin DENLY, accept
ing the offer of the Chamber of Com
merce to provide landing fields for
the navy department. Secretary
Denby's letter reads as follows:
yours of December %. 1921, re-
ceived. Allow ne to express my APP
probation of your generous offer.
cat the present time we do not con
template active operations prior to
July i, of this year. but should con-
dltions change we will ask your CO.
at an earlier date"
The receipt of this letter brings to
A successful conclusion negotiations
which extended over period OF more
than four months.
Some months ago 1t became known
that the policy of the navy department
in regard to aeronautics was under
going a radical change, in that land
planes were TO large extent to re-
place seapianes in naval aviation. 1t
was therefore apparent that the life
CT the Pensacola station in all prob
ability was dependent upon the navy
taking up this branch of
aviation at this station, and in order |
TO bring this about, suitable facilities |
Tor this work must be made available. |
It was further evident that the navy
was without available |
suads to procure the necessary land |
Sor fields in this locality, and that |
facilities to carry on this |
worB, and thus seriously menaced the |
life, and activities of this station.
i committee composed of represen |
tatives of Industrial Commission of /
he Chamber of Commerce, the XII |
wants club, the Rotary club, and the /
.seiail Merchants Association, realiz- /
ing tho above facts, held meeting in
The rooms of the Chamber OF Com
nerce fer the purpose of assuring the |
ontirElarce of operations at the local |
station
Early in September, the committee. to-
gether with Captain c1iristy, Captain
Muslin. and Lieutenant Commander Ma
son made a trip throughout the county
'or the purpose of ascertaining whether
he general land conditions in this VII
Unity We're suitable for the establishment
II school to train land fiiers, and If
sach was found to be the case, what To-
atoms would be available for landing
md practice fields, The committe was
ldvised that the nature of the lana
yould meet all requirements and tn
representatives. of the navy department
iointed out as the most suitable sites a
ocation near GouldinG, embracing the
Siwanis field. and location near Yves
oensacofa and options were secured on
he tracts.
Your committee, realizing the neces-
ity of immediate action, after receiving
-erbal assurance from the representa- ,
ives of the several interested organiza-
ions that the committee would be sup .
orted in whatever action they thought
dvisabIe to take, through the indusria
commissioner of the Chamber OF Com
aerce, addressed to the secretary Of the
avy the following letter under date 0
ept. II, 1921:
THE Chamber of Commerce, through
Is Industrial Commission. offers you
snding field for land planes, most adj
airably suited, we believe, to your needs
"The field was inspected by Captain
Justin during his recent visit TO Pen
acola. and is adapted, we feel sure, TO
II purposes for which You intend to
Sc it.
Enclosed herewith is a blue print
howing location, in relationship to the
avy yard and the city proper. also
howing the character of roadways be-
ween the navy yard and the proposed
inding field.
There are approximately 300 acres IN
his tract, which is level without any
Intervening building to prevent proper
lnding.
I'm making this offer, we are also led
0 ask the following question: If this
,naSner field is turned over to YOUR de-