Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-04
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS


On memorable Independence day
90 years ago, Admiral Sampson cabled
from Cuban waters the following his
toric message: 1.-THE fleet under my
command offers to the Nation as a.
Fourth of July present the whole of
the Spanish fleet" This Fourth of
July the War Department bestows
upon the country record Of a years
accomplishment, destined to be Of
UNNECESSARILY greater importance
than the capture Of Cerveras squad.
ron. 1t Is the record of the United
States Army Air Corps. Every one
of the air achievements which have
electrified the world during the past
six weeks stands directly or indirectly
to the credit of Uncle Sans military
aviation establishment. Lindbergh,
conqueror of the Atlantic, is the prod
uct of an Army air school. So is
Chamberlin, hero of the New York
Germany fight. Maitland and Hegen.
berger, who flew from San Francisco
to Honolulu. are Army pilots. The
earth induction compass used by Byrd
on his trip to the North Pole was
developed by the Materiel Division of
the Army Air Corps. Lindbergh.
Chamberlin. Maitland and Hegenberger
were served by the same contrivance
on their transoceanic cruises.
X n ~ "
These things stand out because Of
their spectacular and current interest.
Behind them lies story of persistent
and consistent plodding In the Army
Air Corps, without which more
dramatic developments might never
have been. AS materiel Is the bedrock
aIo, al 20 IN a
field are fundamental. Here's a par.
tial list of what's been done:
/. Engine development to insure
more power and more dependable
ity.
2. Development of air-cooled, in
stead of water cooled, engines.
g. Perfecting of supercharger to
enable engines to function at high
attitudes with the same efficiency
as at sea level.
4. Development Of new types Of
landing gear, propellers. etc.
5. Experimental construction in
all-metal airplanes wherein the
fabric covering on the wings is
replaced by sheet aluminium.
6. Replacement Of all wooden
training planes with modern
equipment Of all metal construc-
ton.
| It is not known to the country at
| large that the glory which came to
Lindbergh and Chamberlin produced
a flood of applications for flying
training from the youth of the land
That highly satisfactory development
comedies with the Army Air Corps
plans for expansion of training facili-
ties. A new school for flying cadets
was recently established at March
Field, California, and existing train
ing facilities at Kelly Field and
Brooks Field, Texas. have been
greatly extended. Arrangements are
made for increasing the number OF
| flying cadets from classes of IS to
| 100. The Air Corps expansion plans
include a new plant for the Materiel
Division at Wright Field, Dayton,
with every modern facility for exper-
mental work. Dayton citizens do
mated a field of 1900 acres for the
purpose.
| While the transatlantic fights OF
| Lindbergh and Chamberlin deservedly
outrank other air achievements of the
past year, our Army pilots and planes
have been accomplishing feats of per
haps greater practical value. The
2.400 mile nonstop hop of Lieuts
Maitland and Hegenberger from the
| Golden Gate to Hawaii is epochal lr
the extreme. Maitland and Hegen
berger demonstrated the feasibility OF
quickly reinforcing our air garrl
sons at outlying points in an emer
gency. OF hardly less significance was
the flight made by five Army planes
which visited % countries. in South
America on a mission of good will
About the time Maj. Dargue's squad
ron was bringing our greetings to the
Latin republics, the LIST Pursuit GROUP
from Selfridge Field, Mich, concluded
q flight through Canada with thu