The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-16
135TH SQUADRON IS
READY FOR EVENTS
At STATES CAT ITAL
Roberts Field, Equipped by
Government, Aided by Bir-
mingham Business Men,
One of Leaders


ton flying by three planes of the
1s5th observation squadron. Alabama
national guard. theiE pilots lowering
over the parade line of march.
Capt. sumpter Smith, field off,
Ger, and Capt. James A. Simpson,
chief observer. flew to the capital
city Sunday from Roberts field.
Planes carrying Lieut.. James K.
Kirkham, pilot. and Lieut.. James H.
Willis, observer, and MAJ James A.
Meissner, squadron commander, with
Photographer st. John of The Age
Herald as passenger. left Roberts
field at o'clock Monday morning.
Major Meissner returned to Biz
mingham Monday afternoon picking
UP H. G. Baird, Age-Herald photog-
rapher. at Montgomery. with photo
graphic plates CT days events. Mr..
St. John returned by train. The.
other planes are scheduled to return
Tuesday.
In the 135th observation squadron
Birmingham has one of the most &C
tive of the five national guard aero
souadrons established by the United
States militia bureau Through cour-
tesy of the squadron, The Age-Her-
aid Tuesday morning is able to pre-
sent the first airplane pictures OF
the Inauguration of an Alabama gov
ernor.
Credit for obtaining the squadron
for Birmingham is due Maj. James
A. Meissner, one of Americas aces
during the World war. Major Meiss-
sner was assisted by young business
men of Birmingham who served with
the American air forces.
Among Best Municipal Fields
Roberts field home of the squad
ron, is classed as one of the best
municipal fields in the United
States. The field was named in com
memoration of Lieut.. A. Meredyth
Roberts, Birmingham aviator, kllied
in action in France. 1t has been
aleased for long term from the he
public Iron and Steel company.
Through work of committee OF the
Chamber of Commerce, headed by G.
A gMoffett, president of the Gulf
states Steel company, sufficient
funds have been obtained from state,
sscounty, city and private individuals
ito grade and drain the field.
Steel hangers have been erected
and all government requirements
save building of an administration
structure have been complied with
through efforts of this committee.
Fire connections have been installed
by the city of Birmingham and
street connects with Eighth avenue.
s@x During the latter part of January,
the committee plans to raise me re-
naming $4,000 necessary to erect the
administration building. Members or
the committee. appointed by j. ID.
Moore, president of the Chamber or
Commerce, include ]. w. Donnelly'
Karl Landgrebe, vice chairmen; Col.
w. e. Bare, ]. Mercer Barnett. Nor
ris w. Bush, ]. E. Chappen, George
Gordon Crawford, Harry Coffin, Dan
B. Dimick, w. Thornton Estes, c. I.
Fairbairn, J. Knox Fleming, Charles
r. Hilty, B. H. Hartsfield, r. l. In
gals, C. E. ireland. James j. Johns,
John l.. Kaul, DIR. B. S. Lester, j. H.
I,oyeman, Thomas w. Martin, Hugh
Morrow, R. S. Munger. j. w. Nc
Queen, ]. r. McWane. DR.. j. s. Nc
Lester, w. d. Nesbitt, ]. S. Pevear,
e. j. Rowe. w. V. NJ. Robertson, Jr,
B. A. Smallman, l.. Sewer, c. M.
Stanley, j. T. Stokely. Maclin Smith,
Col T. o. Smith. II. E. Smith, II. G.
Seibels. 0. G. Thurlow, Major e. M.
Tutwiler, DIR. Cunningham Wilson
and S. L. Yerkes.
Capt. Asa North Duncan of the
United States army, brother in-law
& of William II. Sadler, Jr, of Birming-
ham, has been detailed to the
squadron by the government IS in
spector instructor. Captain Duncan
mas lust received a DeHaviland $50
horse power Liberty motored plane
to be used here by him.
The 135th observation squadron Is
equipped with eight training planes.
"a wireless station, transportation
vehicles, extra parts and other equip
ment, representing investment
more than $250,000.
Notable Record of Service
In addition to acting as the first
line of national defense after the
regular army squadrons, it is en-
gagged actively in paving the Way for
commercial aviation in Alabama by
making surveys of the state. Air
routes have been laid out connecting
with Mississippi, Tennessee and Geor-
gia. Landing fields have been To-
Fayette. Akron. Boligee, huntsville,
Decatur Sheffield, Seottsboro. Gads-
den, Admission, Calera. Clanton, Sell
ma Montevallo and Montgomery. In
zdispatching this work the squadron
has flown $50 man hours without
mishap to personnel and has covered
10000 miles.
work of the squadron has led the
Alabama Power company to pur-
chase a powerful passenger
4 French Brigued to be used in aerial
mapping, the first plane acquired by
an Alabama corporation for business
purposes. This plane can do the
work of large corps OF engineers
with greater speed and accuracy.
The officers Of the squadron are
Mai James A. Meissner. Tennessee
company, pilot, commanding; Capt
". ". N. Robertson. Jr., the Alabama
Home companies. pilot, operations Of.
ficer; Capt. Sumpter Smith, Ala
bama Power company. pilot, field Of
ficer; Capt. James A. Simpson, Lange
& Simpson, attorneys, chief observer
Can't, Robert G. Nelson. medical Off.
Ger; Lieut. Edward r. Saunders, In
Falls Iron works. pilot; Lieut.. Edgar
w. Stanford, Warren & Knight
pilot; Lieut. Thomas G. Wingo, War.
rem & Knight, observer; Lieut.. Franz
p. Cornell, Scouten Motor Co., engi
neering officer; Lieut.. Henry l.. Bad
ham, Jr., Bessemer Coal and Iroi
company, pilot; Lieut.. James Z
tKirkman, manager library bureau
pilot; Lieut.. John S. Scott, Alabama
Power company, supply officer
Lieut. James H. Willis, attorney. OBJ
server, adjutant; Lieut.. A. Key Eos
ter, Tillman, Bradley & Baldwin
radio officer, observer; Lieut.. Georg
w. Archer. American Lumber Expor
company, pilot; Lieut.. John j. Begga