Evening star., 1925-10-06

to ultra conservatism. Time and
proper education will cure this. But
1t il not believed necessary to wait
and see" TO the degree that ia ap
parenUy desired by the conservative
group. On account of some OF the
wild claims made by the proponents
of aviation there is undOubt edly
more conservative attitude on the
part of some in the naval service,
hich TENDS to indicate that they be
little naval aviation.
II do not believe that this belittling
attitude is intentional. hut 1t never
theless exists to a minor degree. Some
of this beIittling attitude is due to
ignora nee, and some of it Is due to
lack Of experience in the problems
which are presented by the advent OF
a new fighting arm. | feel that this
belittline attitude is very unfortunate
and has detrimental effect on the
progress of naval aviation. 1t is also
a source of unrest. not only with the
younger officers in naval aviation hut
also with those of more mature age
and greater experience. 1t Ia a mat
ter more Of regret than Of antagonism
hut nevertheless the feeling exists
that naval aviation is not properly
appreciated.
Design Held Slow Work.
''rhA department. being the reser-
voir of information from all the op-
Grating units should he ahead of the
fleet in ideas. but it il to he remem-
bered that 1t takes time to convert
approved ideas into production work.
The wartime idea that there were
Spring STYLES. Summer styles and Fall
styles of airplanes no longer obtains.
or. If ii does obtain. II is entirely in
correct. 1t requires from two to three
years from the time design Ia con.
Ceived to the time that the production
job ia in the operating units.
"Aviation liz in its infancy. but it
is a lusty infant and dema nds atten-
tion and nutrition.
With regar rd to the development of
material criticisms have been made
= nd proha bly, will continue to he made
with regard to the technical personnel
in charge thereof. SO far as personnel
is concerned. my answer to the above
criticism iS question. Where are YOU
going to get technical personnel more
capable Of developing aviation ma
terial than YOU have al the presen,
time The Navy trains it's ofYicer per
sonnel at the Naval Academy. and
gives its specialists post .gra dua te
work at the best institutions in the
United States. il not in the world.
They secure their practical experience
In the same manner a. In obta ined in
any other vocation. Transferring this
personnel TO some other form of or
ga nization would not furnish any ad-
ditiOnal brains to the personnel
Most of the worlds hest designers
of aircraft have been flyers at one
time or another during their lives" he
continued There are marked excep-
tions. hut it is fairly good rule to
go by. Technical officers are necessary
in design. assembly and repair inspec-
ton and procurement. Their technical
ability is undoubtedly enhanced il
added thereto Is ability to hy even
If for no other purpose than for Oh
servstion purposes. =
There should. therefore. he no
bans put on them In any way. and IL
they receive the same training from
flying point Of view as their fellow
officers receive they should he treat
I'd in the same manner.
Urges Same Training.
.'To he specific. II naval construc.
tors are assigned To naval aviation du.
ties which involve hyins. they should
he given the same courses and BE-
qualified in the same manner A.
their brothers in the line They
should he eligible for assignment to
duty the same a. other duAliftAd ON
GERS. the only restriction being that
OF command anoat. and this reetric-
tion should not apply to an airplAne
unit. In other worde. they should
he amalgamated into the organization
OF which they are a part. and ability
only should determine their assign
MT l,,t nj L.
there is little future for specialists
naval constructors In aviation. They
are divorced from their regular pro-
fession and after few years will
not he able to return.
My concluding comment with re-
gard to personnel ia that I place 10y
atty to the service and loyalty to the
cause above all other considerations
1t ia my opinion that loyalty IA one
OF the greatest attributes In the
world. Naval avia ton dAma nds fair
play and a square deal
III the Navy Department will meet
these requirements half way. no
maj ior changes are essential. II not.
then some operation must he per.
formed such Is the esta blishment of 4
line corps. in order to produce the re-
suits desired by naval aviation and de-
manded by the people of the United
States"
Other Witnesses.
Other officers who testified At the
afternoon session were Comdr. r. X.
L. Rellinker Of the battle fleet Lieut.
F. r. Sherman Of the naval air sta
ton At Pensacola. Fla. and Lieut.. C..
c. Cha mpion of the Bureau 81 Aero
nAutics. Comdr. Bellinker opposed
giving the Army control OF the coast
defense. declaring 1t to be against the
principles Of good judgment" Comdr.