New Britain herald., 1923-08-02
TO ATTACK ships
With AERIAL BOMBS
Plans Of AYiatOrS for ManeuYerS
Are Made Public

Washington, Aug "Details are
announced of the plans for the de-
struction by the army air service In
bombardment practice of the old bat
tleships Virginia and New Jersey off
Cape Hatteras late this month or early
in September.
Since the Ostfriesland tests in 1921
army bombing has gone ahead ire
nendously. The largest bomb used
then, weighed 1000 pounds. Army
planes now carry 1000 pound bombs
and a 1000 pound bomb for aerial at
be prepared to turn both ships over
to the army air service about Aug. 20.
Martin bombers equipped with two
400 horsepower Liberty motors, sim
liar to those used in the bombing
tests in the summer of 1921, will be
used. These airplanes are capable of
carrying a load of more than 1000
pounds of bombs in addition to their
regular military load and will bomb
from attitudes above 5000 feet. For
bombing at higher attitudes, from 49,
WV " GOtUuu lCClt tIC PluhCo "hi 10
equipped with superchargers to en-
able them to reach higher attitudes
with heavy loads
Patrol Fleet Assigned
The so fathom curve, so miles east
of Cape Charles and about so miles
cast of Langley field was the scene of
the bombardment tests against the
former German battle cruisers in the.
summer of 1921. but this location is
so far from shore that considerable
overwater flying would be necessary,
increasing the hazards of pilots and
hombers. This Is considered unneces-
sary since the so fathom curve lies
only 20 miles off shore east of Cape
Hatteras, and 1t is contemplated that
the battleslfips shall be sunk in this
vicinity, where they will be placed at
their final anchorage after being tow
ed from Boston.
AS additional precaution against
possible accident and for patroling
and observing purposes, five or six
small seagoing craft such as mine
planters or vessels of a similar type,
will be stationed at intervals between
Cape Hatteras and the target. The
army air service is also taking action
to procure a larger sized vessel for
the use of observers and officials who
may desire to view the exercises. |
Parachutes and Kapok vests will be
worn by the crew of each airplane as
an additional precaution in case of |
forced landings.
Major Gen. Patrick, chief of air
service. has detailed Brig. Gen. Mitch
ell, assistant chief, to take charge of
the tests with headquarters at Cane
Hatteras. The present plan is to es-
tablish a sub-airdrome from which
point the bombing planes will oper-
ate near the Cape Hatteras meteoro-
Logical station of the weather bureau
and adjacent to the Durants Coast
Guard Station 1856, now inactive. This
will give valuable training to the
army air service in establishing an
advanced airdrome under simulated +
war conditions for the protection of
vital aeras from air and sea attack
Crack Filters Chosen.
The general plan contemplates sink
ng one of the battleships with LOO
pound bombs and the use of 1000
pound bombs in destroying the Sec
md. The expectation is that two
;quadrons of approximately six air
planes each will be available for the
The majority of the Off
,ers assigned to the tests are crack
'iots and bombs with wartime train
ng and experience who took part in
he 1921 maneuvers. Prior to the
linking of the warship, night maneuv-
RS will be conducted involving the :