Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-08-30
Twenty Air Records Held by
u, S, Filters = AirpIane
Shortage in Army and
Navy Grows Acute
BY CHARLES p. STEWART

WASHINGTON, Aug. Zo.-AL re-
ord breaking, American navy avia-
tors lead the world.
Forty-two air records are officially
recognized. Twenty of them are
held by United States naval filters.
Both the army's and the navy S
aerial equipments have been severely
criticized.
It's denied that they represent fair
values for what they cost. Men like
General Patrick and Rear Admiral
MOffett, respective heads of the two
branches aviation services, speak of
the planes as mostly War-built and
too slow for today.
Nevertheless the navy's showing
in the matter of records is wonder
full. Experts give credit to men
rather than to their machines.
The United States navy has $50
planes, a personnel of 1886; the
army $50 planes and 10,300 per-
sonnet
Other countries group their army
and navy services together.
France has $50 planes, personnel,
$780, Britain 500 planes, personnel,
29,283; Japan $50 planes, personnel,
300; Italy $50 planes built and $50
building, personnel, $500.
Some authorities say that of Amer
lea s combined army and navy planes
$40 in all-nOt more than 100 are
SerViCeable.
Men Good, but Few
However, an airplane shortage is
less serious than a shortage in fight
ing ships. Planes can be built faster,
or adapted from commercial uses.
The shortage is serious rather in
that it implies a lack of trained men
and the record indicates that Amer
ica's personnel, man for man, is at
least as good as any in the world.
Besides its planes, the navy has
! the dirigible Shenandoah. Soon it
will have the ZR-3. Navy men think
| exceedingly well Of both, as the very
| latest make of lighter-than-ai craft,
| perhaps without equals.
OF Americas deficiencies in the
matter of naval aircraft carriers and
| tenders, there S no difference of opin-
ion among experts.
For the planes there's the old con-
/ verted collier Langley of -, 700 tons
for the dirigibles the Wright, also
old and slow-11 900 tons. In add
! ton, two old battle cruisers, the Lex.
| lngtOn and Saratoga, fast boats of
| 1926 tons each, are being converted
as aircraft carriers, but at the pres
ent rate this work will not be fin
ished under three or four years.
The Langley" said Admiral r.
| E. Coontz in his report on the Guile
! bra maneuVers this year, was sup.
| posed to carry So planes, but actu.
| ally had only six. which, however,
served good purpose, considering
| their number and capabilities, and
! the Langley's own characteristics. -
Catapults Fail
| Aside from regular carriers, battle.
! ships and cruisers also now launch
| planes from catapults. Of their eff.
| fectiVeness at the Culebra maneuvers
Admiral Coontz said:
/ The Atlantic squadron had 81 sea.
| planes which were most successful
! working from a base, catapuIts not
working well on ships. Therefore
! the Langley was the only shin ia
| send up planes.
| 'Arresting gear, deck Lighting and
| the material requirements to permit
/ night flying should be DEVELOPED
| Aircraft carriers should have sepa.
| rate radio receiving rooms in order
that planes in the air may be com.
! munlcated with efficiently while ra.
! Clio work with other units is going
/ on.
! 'Anu-aircraft batteries of the
/ older ships are incomplete and this
/ Is the more serious because of the
lack of aircraft carriers.
The construction of the two car.
riers building should be expedited. -
/ Admiral Coontz adds, land it should
/ be borne in mind that each will 70.
/ cure the constant attendance of
/ from three to six destroyers. which
/ should be provided"
As compared with Americas one
/ completed plane carrier, Britain has
! ), Of a total of 4S,I90 tons. with 2
! more building, representing another
9o'5Vo tons. Japan is building >, of
63,4O0 total tons.
Both British and Japanese battle.
! ships and cruisers of ali classes of
J course carry planes.
/ just Beginning
AVIATION IN all countries is admit.
! tedly in a formative stage.
/ The fliers, as scouts and gun spot.
/ recognized. as scouts and gun SPOT.
/ tiers, and 10 some extent for actual
attacks on fighting ships, although.
with the best. possible luck. an aerial
/ bomber can count on no better than
/ hit in %, according TO recent
| navy bulletin-and as many as five
/ such hits probably would not sink A
! modern battleship
However, important as aviation is
/ conceded 10 be. the best authorities