Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-11
ARMY. AVIATORS ON TOES
| UNDER NEW CORPS PLAN
Building Program and Reforms Not All
Desired, But Enough to Assure
E Enthusiastic Work.

transfer from other branches of the
service or by increasing the size OF
the Army.
If the transfer method is adopted,
junior officers, who in the past have
been subjected to command by higher
ranking officers with an elementary
knowledge of flying, will not su1er
as much. Rigid entrance REQUIRE
ments are placed about all those from
the other branches who wish to be
In the Air Corps. Before they take
their place in that branch they must
nave 200 hours in the air as pilots,
70 of which must be solo, or alone.
With such a gauntlet to run, the air
men feel that they will not becrowded
out by applicants of higher rank.
Furthermore, 80 per cent OF the
corps must be qualified pilots and the
remaining 10 per cent must have an
aviation speciality, such as radio, pho
Biography and aerial gunnery.
May Enter From Bottom.
If the size of the Army is Increased
the flow into the Air Corps will come
from the bottom, and although no
one on the list would be materially
advanced, neither would any one be
retarded.
Many junior officers throughout
the corps now are in command OF
units that, under the law, should be
in charge of higher ranking men.
Where these increased grades can.
not be obtained for such duty, the
junior officer will be given that rank
with pay and allowances for the dura-
ton. of his tour. This provision ap-
plies for two grades in advance or
to the rank of colonel. Thus first
lieutenant in command of a squadron
will hold the rank of captain or ma
jor with pay and allowances of that
grade. The provision also applies to
staff duty and should affect several
officers ON duty here.
Other provisions call for the grant
of flight pay to officers who, although
detailed to Notifying duties, such as
the War College, continue to keep in
flying condition; the grant Of fight
pay to persons not airmen but as
signed to flying activities, the num-
Der of such assignments also being
increased from 60 to 120 persons, and
greater latitude to the Air Corps in
purchasing aircraft.
General STATS Plan.
The general staff officers plan to
settle the promotion question, which
the airmen are backing to a man,
calls for the creation of temporary
promotion list for the aviators. AS
large number in the corps received
their commissions more than three
months after their fellow officers in
other branches, they therefore did not
take their place on the promotion
list at the same time. Although an
Air Corps officer and an Infantry Of
ficer entered the service at the same
time, the latter, by virtue of his
shorter training period, was commits
stoned and placed on the list first
The three months or more difference
has greatly affected the standing Of
the airnen.
The plan would be to give the Air
Corps officer "a" for example, the
same relative standing on the tempo
rary promotion list that Infantry Of
ficer .B" enjoys on the permanent
list. Whenever "B" is promoted by
seniority ''A' also would move
forward on the temporary list. At
the same time "a" would be on the
permanent list in his original posi-.
ton, far below 3D." When the time
for retirement arrives "A" would be
pensioned as Of his rank on the per-
manent list.
The airmen feel they are indebted
to Representative James, Republican,
Michigan, acting chairman of the
House military affairs committee, for
the legislation, which bore the stamp
of approval of Secretary of War
Davis.
Public Interest Wanes.
Although public interest in the con.
troversy, which began with the
Lampert aircraft investigation COM
mittee, increased in intensity with the
Presidents Air Board deliberations
and climaxed with the Mitchell court
martial, died soon after this last big
step, the airmen by no means took
the same attitude. The House mill
tary affairs committee sought to
straighten out the tangle, and at one
time a measure was evolved that
brought such a storm of disapproval
from the airmen that it was advised
to grant nothing at all instead of the
then proposal. Then Mr.. James, the
airmen say, brought about a com.
promise, and when the bill went to
the Senate "a amendments were add
ed. The bill at one time threatened
to die in conference, but the Senate
conferees finally receded from their
stand on the amendments, to which
the House had objected, and the
measure was pushed through.
Something has resulted from our
efforts after ALL" say the airmen.