Evening star., 1928-05-08
SEPARATE NAVY AIR
UNIT ODE STUDIED
Personnel Probe to Deter.
mine Cause of Crashes to
Renew Question.

Out Of the order of Secretary Wilbur
Of the Navy Department for an inQuir,
into personnel matters IN Naval Avia
ton looms the matter again of {
separate Naval Air Service. a question
which appears to have lain dorman
since the famous Mitchell controversy
But the board of inquiry appointed vii
have TO face this matter SQuarely. in 1t,
efforts to determine how it may saw
lives from air crashes, many Of which
have been blamed directly to disohedi.
ence of orders. DiSobedience mean.
lack OF discipline. and as the chief ol
the Bureau of Navigation is responsible
Tor the discipline in the service. among
the commissioned and enlisted person
nel, that official has asked the question
whether this condition is a matter Of
discipline, and in an effort to get the
question settled has asked Secretary
Wilbur to appoint the board.
Rear Admiral Richard H. Leigh. chief
OF the Bureau of Navigation. in going
over the matter today, said that one OF
the matters which probably would be
determined by the board would be
whether the aeronautic branch of the
Navy should have control of its person
mel as well as its material.
The aeronautic branch. as at pres-
ent constituted. is like other bureaus of
the Navy, having control only of the
material. getting the equipment. repair
ing 1t and maintaining II. But to do
this, 1t has 10 look to the Bureau of
Navigation, which has exclusive charge
OF the personnel.
Would Consider Improvement.
n was pointed out that if the per-
sonnel has been lax, as appears to be
indicated by an accident analysis of
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett. is
sued the lst Of the year. then it is time
to make inquiry as to the steps needed
TO correct Il, and one of these TO be con-
Sidered Is as to whether it would be i'm
proved by separating the personnel en-
tirely from the other branches OF the
naval service
Admiral Leigh said that since he came
here he has been studying and thinking
over the reports that have been coming
over his desk relating to airplane
crashes. The chief of the Bureau of
Aeronautics has officially reported that
many of the crashes which resulted
In 20 deaths were due to disregard OF
orders. When this report came to his
desk. Admiral Leigh said, he said he be-
Ieved that others we're thinking the
content to let his convictions stand,
but decided TO ask the Secretary of"the
Navy for the appointment Of O board
OF officers to go into the whole question
!. of personnel in the Air Service.
The step was not taken without
knowledge of the air branch, it was
explained, although In the interest Of
speeding up the inquiry the letter
seeking the inquiry was not routed
through the air service. AS soon as the
letter requesting the board was sent TO
Secretary wilbur copies also were sent
to Admiral Moffett and TO the Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy for Air. Edward
r. Warner.
II was pointed out by Admiral Leigh
that II many of the crashes we're due TO
disregard OF orders, then ii becomes a
matter Of personnel. and II the per-
sonnel is not complying with the
regulations, then the Bureau Of NaYiga-
ton becomes intensely interested, being
charged with indoctrinating the service
personnel
Cites Moffett Report.
As the basis of his action, Admiral
Leigh pointed TO the report Of Admiral
Modett, and particularly 70 the follow
ing paragraph
However. the important lesson to be
learned from q study OF these figures is
N the actual causes themselves.
Twenty Of these deaths came as a
direct result Of low stunting in VIOLA
ton Of all the dictates Of better judg-
Ment and existing orders covering this
matter. This further shows that this
peculiar form Of asininity Is INDUCED in
Tar mere frequently than reports indi-
"a II 4.
entirely within the power OF those con.
eerned. and If the respongibiIity d
lacking In the pilots themselves. com
mancing officers. division and section
leaders can certainly keep on the alert
sufnciently 70 detect and properly pun
Hh individuals who are inclined 70 in-
dulge In such performances. This is q
matter which IL would seem Enneces-
gaFy 10 eaii attention 10, but the proof
Of general GlackneGs IN this regard Is
too plainly evident TO be overlooked In
q matter where the lives Of individuals
are a. stake il is beyond all understand
ing that officers IN authority should
overlook such occurrences. That the
reason therefor has been false feeling
OF personal friendGnip. as indeed some
cases have indicated is q. reflection
upon the probity Of any such individual
II16t CoulSEElS ID lie All HIbouln EaIlk
among the three Leading causes OF ia
talities is extremely di6cuieting. Sucn
accidents can, almost without excep-
ton, he termed avosdable. They are In
dicatiye Of caTelessness, unduly hazard
Gus operations. or, IN certain cases. n.y.
ing of an unauthorized nature. In this
connection Il should be noticed that
close formation work Is no lonGcf con-
si6ered necessary. The elimination of
this type Of accident must be brought
about"
Later on Admiral MofTetts report says
that within certain limits tne number
ef crashes and fatalities are indicative
Of the state Of discipline Of the various
units"
Seeks TO Correct Conditions.
In the opinion Of Admiral Leigh
these paragraphs appeared TO put
the matter Of crashes directly up "a
the Bureau Of Navigation. because oi
the charge II contained agslnFt the dis
cipliJse Of the personnel, and he deter
HniTlGa that steps should be taken, biii
only after q thorough inquiry, 70 cor
Yect them
In the Navy Department there mas