Evening star., 1927-08-26
STUNT PILOT GOES
BEFORE NAvYCO
Lieut.Wi|Iiamson Faces Low
Flying Charges-Father
Aids Defense Counsel.

Defended by his father, Thomas
! Williamson of Edwardsville. ILL.,. in
addition to the regularly appointed
service counsel, Lieut.. Thomas 3. VIII
hanson of the aircraft squadron
scouting fleet based at Hampton
Roads, Va. was placed on trial today
before a naval court martial, in the
commandments Office of the Navy
Yard. on a charge Of conduct to the
prejudice OF good order and military
discipline" which grew out Of his
fight In q Navy plane in :he vicinity
Of Sixteenth street and Columbia road
Sunday afternoon, July "a.
The trial is the most unusual ever
held in Washington and is the first
on record growing out OF allegations
that military airplane pilos violated
low.fying regulations ovet corgested
areas.
After the formal opening of the
trial Capt. Field Harris, Marine Corps,
service counsel for the young naval
aviator, presented the accuseds oh.
jections to all the six specifications
three of which charged violation of
Bureau of Aeronautics regulations in
volving flying at attitudes below 1900
feet and acrobatics over congested
areas and the other three referring
to similar regulations promulgated
by the Department Of Commerce.
Object to Specifications.
Both Capt. Harris and Mr.. William.
son made their objections on the
ground that the specifications called
for conclusion and not facts. They EN-.
phasized that the words low alti.
tude," "populous district" "acrobatic'
and "congested area" meant nothing
as far as setting forth the actual of.
fense committee. They wanted to
know at what altitude the prosecutor
charged the defendant with flying
what section of the city was populous
and what he did to call forth term
"acrobatic."
Capt. H. N. Porter, Judge advocate
Of the trial, replied that naval court
regulations gave him authority to sub.
NIT proof to supply any defects in
the specifications. The court over.
ruled the objections of the defense to
the specifications and ordered the trial
to proceed.
Lieut.. Williamson then was asked d
to stand while Capt. Porter read the
officer replied. mot guilty"
Test Pilot Testifles.
The prosecutions first witness,
Lieut.. Frederick Buse, a test pilot at
the Naval Air Station, Anacostia. was
called shortly before the noon recess.
He testified on direct examination
that about 1:15 o'clock Sunday after
noon, July "a. Lieut.. Williamson ap.
preached him while he was on duty
as officer Of the day at the air station
and requested permission to "shove
off" for Norfolk. This permission was
granted. Lieut.. Buse said, and from
that time on he did not see the plane.
Using Lieut.. Buse as an expert in
aeronautical matters. Capt. Porter
called for definition of the term "acro.
batic," and the aviator replied that, in
his opinion, 'acrobatic" consists OF
placing an airplane in any naneuvei
other than normal fight, normal glide,
normal climb or turns. He defined
altitude AS the distance above sea
level and the function of an altoineter
is to record the distance of an air.
plane above sea level.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Will
hanson the witness admitted that the
definition he gave Of "acrobatic" was
not his own. but had been given him
by a superior officer. He further ad.
mitted he was in doubt as to the
actual definition of the term. Mr..
Williamson asked the pilot IL he knew
Of any regulations governing flying
over the city that were promulgated
by the Secretary Of Commerce, and
Lieut.. Buse replied that he did not.
VyNI Evnadtfa Trial
The trial will be expedited, Capt
Porter informed the court at the
luncheon recess, "as had orders
| from Assistant Secretary Robinson tc
this effect" Further testimony Is ex
pected to hinge around the meaning
Of "acrobatic," ''low altitude" and
"congested area
The members of the court are
| Comdr. Leo r. WEIGH, president
Lieut.. Comdr. I. N. Kiland and Lieuts
William p. O. Clarke. Clyde Fl. Nc
| Clellan, Herbert r. Mytinger. George
Paille. Frederick w. Nelson and
Ernest w. Lynch, the last two named
| botpo r,,olifiad naval avia forS