The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-05-24
CHAPTER XIV

In September, 1924, we We're
transferred to Kelly. The time we
had looked forward to for half a
year had arrived. We were through
the period of just learning how to
fly. and were entering a new ex-
perience-that of learning how to
make use of our flying ability in
actual service. We would no longer
be floating around the airdrome IN
machines whose only purpose was
to stand up under the hard knocks
of inexperienced pilots; but we
were going to fly planes which lad
an actual military value in warfare.
We were old cadets and felt the
importance of our experience. We
were no longer treated rs ROCKIES
but as potential officers. Before
leaving Brooks we had conformed
with cadet traditions and allowed
groups of our new class 10 gather
around us while we gravely spoke
of examinations, check pilots,
<.Benzine Boards" and "washout.
We thoroughly enjoyed the awe
inspired by our seventy-five hours
OF flying experience.
AT Kelly our difficulties set IN
with renewed vigor. The De Havl-
lands did not maneuve- like tie
training Jennies, and we had never
flown before. If a cadet was not
able to handle his ship in a maneu-
yer which was at least equal to
the standard, he was usually head
ing toward home within a week.
We were allowed lew days to
become accustomed to flying tn"
new type of plane, then an instruc-
tc1 would go up with us to see i
our progress had been satisfactory.
If so, we were sent TO the next
stage; if not, we went up with
check pilot.
From landings we went to the
"eight" stage, where We were as
signed two landmarks such as a
tree and haystack several hun
dred feet apart, and reqlirei to 10
figure Fights around them. Then
came the spot-landing stage, when
We throttled our engine at about a
thousand feet and were required to
land in a large white circle with.
out using our motor. On this stage
We were graded on our takeoff,
climb, approach, landing, roll, dis
tance from mark AMI method Of
handling the ship. In fact at Kelly
we were constantly under observa-
ton and our only method of relax
alton while flying was when the
sky was cloudy and we could get
above the clouds.
On one occasion we were flying
with low ceiling and the visibility
was not very good. In fact it was
an ideal day to do the things we
were not supposed to. was hedge
hopping along over the country
when / saw another D. H. playing
around on my right. I flew over,
and after chasing each other a
round for a while we proceeded to
do chandelles, vertical banks, wing
overs, and everything else we could
think of; all within few feet of
the ground as the clouds them
selves were only about 800 feet
high. At last / decided to go up
close to the other plane for lit
tie low formation flying, but as /
approached / saw that there were
two men in the ship and that l had
been breaking every rule ever es-
tablished about low flying with an
instructor watching me from an
other ship. / left that locality with
wide-open motor and for several
days expected to be called on the
carpet before the commanding Of
ficer on a washout offense. That
instructor must have been good
sport, however, because | never
heard from him and never was able
to find out who he was.
On another occasion, near the
end of my course, 1 came very
near being washed out for some
thing knew nothing about. I had
been practising landings in an S.
E.-5 on one corner of Kelly Field.
When my time had expired, land
ed on the pursuit stage, TAXED up
to the line and turned the ship
over to the mechanics. That after
noon / was called from class and
ordered to report to the operations
officer; whereupon he informed me
that my flying days were over and
that as knew why, there was no