Evening star., 1927-03-13

can be reached While regular on
GERS are called into instruction work
many reserves will be brought back
to active duty for periods much IN ex-
cess of the mere two weeks annually
that most of them get Once the
schools have turned out the author
lied number OF pilots. however, they
then can begin work on applicants for
commissions I'm the reserves.
I,762 Ships by 1889.
The plan for the airplane expansion
will give the Air Corps ,148 airpianes
of pursuit, bomba rdment. attack OBJ
servation, training and transport types
by September Is of this year. But in
that number there will be many back
daters that will have TO be replaced,
will be 1.14S bfand.new modern up
to-date ships. BY June 80, 1928. the
plan calls for / .224 planes: by June 80.
1929, there should be 1888; by June
80, 1890, a total of 1.471; by Jone. 80,
1891, a total of 1851. and by June 30.
1882, the last year of the program,
1,762. The Air Corps Is permitted to
figure on 20 per cent requirements an
nually, or about 400 planes.
The largest number of planes in
1882 will be pursuit types; training
strength by observation, bombardment
attack and transport. OF these types.
the Air Corps Is pretty well satisfied
with the pursuit, observation, attack.
transport and training, but 1t has yet
to build q bomber that will meet all
needs.
While planes are changing every
day and new improvements are being
made hourly, the increase in perform
ance is not sufficient to justify scrap.
ping the present modern lot as "ob-
solete.'' The corps has not set policy
for duration of, standard types, but
the airmen here feel confident that
five years will hold for the recently
built observation. pursuits, attack,
training and transport types.
Plot Location Of Planes.
The Air Corps In it's plans has
plotted on chart the location or
every one of the / ,148 planes on Sep
tember 15 of this year and the loca.
ton and assignment of all new planes
to be acquired In the future. The
corps. received it's first benefits under
the program a few weeks ago when
the President approved the army ap-
preparation bill carrying $21 .S91 800
for the Air Corps. of which amount
$12 ,005 .050 is for new planes. Imme-
diately upon the signing OF the Dill
the corps drew up plans for building
$50 planes to cost the foregoing
amount, divided into the following
types: 258 for training, "a for pursuit,
61 observation. 45 attack, 25 lombard.
ment, 3 transport and is planes Of
various service test types.
The bill also increased the Air Corps
personnel from 912 to 1.100 officers
and from $500 to 10,00S enlisted men.
Under the Air Corps plans that many
officers and enlisted men should be in
the corps on June 80, 1928. Then by
additions to both officers and men
there should be 1.2S7 officers and H.
250 men on June 30, 1929; total Of
1874 officers and 12.604 men at the
end of the 1880 fiscal year: 1919 on.
GERS and 1882 men at the end of the
1891 fiscal year, and $50 officers arid
| nearly 10000 men at the end of the
| program.
| Prior to July ] squadrons at the
| following fields will be declared mac
tive to provide personnel for increased
training activities: Langley, Selfridge,
| Boiling, Wright, Chanute, Post and
Marshall Fields. Transfers prior to
that date Will affect squadrons at
| Fort Sam Houston. Langley, Brooks,
Kelly and Post Fields. Then new
units will be organized at Kelly,
Brooks and March Fields, all school
squadrons.