The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-12-21
MORE FLIERS
NAVY'S NEED
SAYS M0FFETT
Must Have Increased ApprO.
priations for Expansion
of Navy Aviation
AIRCRAFT IS LIMITED
Shortage of Personnel Has
Been Handicap, Says
Chief of Bureau


Washington. Dec. 81 P) Will"
naval aviation has developed to the
point that it "iS now an integr:,, part
OF the fleet" the shortage Of per-
sonnel has been a handicap and adc-
quatc expansion can not be made
without increased appropriations
Rear Admiral ". 4. Moffctt. chief OF
the Navy Bureau Of Acronautics, said
today in his annual report.
Until there is sufficient per
sonnet the naval aeronautic orGaniza-
tioh cannot "assumc its proper place
as a balanced arm Of the fleet" he
said. and unless there is an increase
in appropriations. there can be no
material increase in numbers of air
craft
The report dealt with the fiscal
year ending last June 80 and did no,
discuss the air controversy which has
since arisen.
Rccummc ndatiOns
Summarizing his recommended ons
Admiral Moffctt said:
NAVAL aviation has continued its
efforts to give the fleet sufficicn,
planes OF the types to meet naval
requirements, and this has been sue
cessful to the point where nava
aviation is now an integral part Of
the fleet, accompanying it wherever
it goes.
"The use Of aircraft abroad ships
imposes upon the designers of naval
aircraft problems not met in the dc.
sign of other aircraft. The limita.
tions Of weight and size are the two
outstanding problems to be dealt
with. These limitations have been
met as far as the engines are con.
cerned by the development Of air.
cooled engines, which has progress
ed satsfact orily. The development
of metal construction Of aircraft is
progressing satisfactorily, hut has
not yet reached a point where it is
entirely practicable for production
orders.
"The design and operation Of cata
pults during the past year has been
highly satisfactory.
Only Navy Using Cataputts
"It is believed that our Navy is
lue uIiN one '" "ulCu USES ~
any practical extent. Our develop.
ment has progressed to point where
planes are now catapulatcd upon sig
nal from the flagship.
1.-The number Of flying hours is in
creasing yearly and the bureau is
desirous of encouraging AS far as
cause it is believed that the more
l. .,,,,, ~
the more proficient they will be.
"The shortageEof both commi ssion-
ed and enlisted personnel has been
a handicap during the past year
While it is realized that this has
shortage throughout the service it is
aeronautic organization can not as
arm of the fleet until it has suffi,
cient personnel.
Cooperation Satisfactory
"The annual report Of the Bureau
Of Aeronautics would not be complete
without an expression Of appreciation
Of the assistance rendered this bu-
reau by the United States Army Ail
Service, the National Advisory Com
mittee for Aeronautics, the Bureau
Of Standards. and the Forest Pro.
duets Laboratory. The heartiest CO.
operation has existed between this bu,
reau and the agencies named, and
their assistance has been of great
value and source of economy to the
government.
"In past annual reports this bureau
has recommended that the depart.
ment do everything possible to place
upon the statutes Of the government
adequate legislation covering civil
aviation. l wish to emphasize again
the necessity for such legislation if
commercial aviation is to make real
progress in this country.
"While the progress during the
year has been reasonably satisfac.
tory. considering the funds appro
priatcd, it must be realized that un'
less appropriations are increased
there can be no material increase in
numbers of aircraft, as the apppro.
prations for the last five years have
been just about sufficient to pur.
chase planes to meet the normal at
triton"
Gain Of 81 Aviators
Despite what he described as "un.
usually heavy casualties" u net gain
Of "a naval aviators during the year
was noted by Admiral Moffett but he
emphasized that greater yearly in
crease is necessary to meet the de-
mands of the service. Because o1
the shortage it was necessary to con
tinue the operation of l2-plane
squadrons instead of expanding tt
, 18-plane squadorns, as authorized.
The casualties numbered 81 killed
.nine seriously injured and 33 who
sustained minor injuries. This com.
pared with 18 killed, IA seriously in.
jured and 26 who sustained minor
injuries in 1924. The number OF
naval aviators was 382 on last July
compared with 1928 a year before.
The casualties were sustained dur
ing a total of 63,7S2 flight hours in
which there were l66 crashes. This
compared with 5S,838 hours and l8(
crashes in 1924. During the past
year 27,63l flights were made from
the aircraft squadrons Of the Battle
Fleet, 9,l39 from the aircraft squad
rons of the scouting fleet, and .95t
from the aircraft carrier Langley
Others from the Asiatic fleet and ali
stations brought the total Of flights
to 85,447.
Insects have to rise to great height.
to drift with the wind.