The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-10
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court" said Moreland. 1.-The court
can read them. 1 object to the wit
ness telling his opinion about them. -
THE records show certain alien
individuals were establishing flight
organizations in Central America
and the War Department was so
notified" said Reid.
81 only want the witness to tell
in a few words what each Of these
letters contain"
Moreland renewed his objections
and Reid finally abandoned the
subject.
Below Legal Requirement
Earlier, Oldys told the court the
army air organization was far below
the. peace time requirements, laid
down by the Lassiter general board
AS a result Oldys said, the island
possessions are not fully manned
with air defenses.
The Lassiter report was rendered
on March %, 1923. and approved
by the then SECRETARY Of War on
April "a, 1928. The report, Ildys
said, laid down the required war
organization for the army and the
peace organization necessary as a
nucleus on which to build the war
organization in an emergency. 1t
has never been carried out, he
On September 80, 1925, oldys tes-
titled, the Hawaiian air forces in
cluded eighty-five officers and $50
enlisted men, the Panama air de-.
tense hfty-eight officers and 678
enlisted men and the Philippines
had fifty-seveh officers and 621
men.
OIdys read several statements
from the Lassiter report. One was
The condition Is critical in the
air service in respect to aircraft
on hand and contracted for" An
other was Unless steps are taken
to improve conditions in the air
service, it viii practically demobi.
lie at an early date" A third
ing In IAN unfortunate and critical
situation"
Wheeler Tragedy Recalled
A touch Of drama was injected
into the trial when Oldys told how
a Major Wheeler sacrificed his life
at Hawaii after his superior officer
threatened to punish him If his
plane in a forced landing was dam
aged.
Hawaii told Major Wheeler twenty
minutes before his death that "he
would hold him as group COM
mander for disciplinary action f
any more planes were damaged in
forced landings and that pilots
would be held financially respon-
sible for damages to their planes.
Wheeler came to me-, said
Oldys. He said he had Just been
bawied out a few minutes before
he took. off His motor quit 200
feet above the field. In spite Of the
fact that he always told his men
to fly straight ahead when their
motors quit, to save themselves
and not the planes. Wheeler tried
to turn back into the field to save
his plane. He crashed. and when
/ reached his side, forty-five sec
onds later, he had been burned up
with his observer.
Names General Summerall
who was commander Of the
Hawaiian department at that time?"
General Summerall' was Oldys
reply. He referred to Major Cen
eral Charles P. Summerall who was
removed from Mftchell's jury Of
generals on the opening day Of the
trial.
Olyds created small sensation
when he declared there was no
army air force on the Pacific coast.
WAS there any recommendation
made TO put an air force on the
Pacific coast?"
The chief of air service, on sew
Aral occasions, has recommended
that the third attack group now
stationed at Kelly Field. Texas, be
transferred to the West coast said
OIdys.
WAS it ever carried out by the
War Department."
Disapproved the Plan
NO. the War Department disap-
proved it,
On being questioned by Major
General Robert i. Howe, president
of the court. Oldys said navy air
force was stationed on the West
coast for service with the battle
fleet.
Another question was intended to
show that the War Department re-