The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-05-10
~ 90 An Epic Of thelAir
wv II Col Charles
Lindbergh
An Epic Of thelAir
Copyrighted

where eight had been-this in
some part of the barracks on
which the "Benzine Board" had
fallen hardest. In another case an
entire bay was washed out and deft
entirely vacant. We never knew
who would be next to go, and We
could only continue to plug along
as best we could with our flying
and study little harder on our
ground school work while we
waited for the almost weekly list
of washout to be published on
our bulletin board. We were in
the full swing of cadet life and
under the constant apprehension
which accompanies it.
Along with our trials and wor-
ries went the fascination of flying
together with the priceless goal
before us of graduation with an
Air Service commission The
wings of the service would be for
those of us who were able to sur
vive the rigid training and disci-
pline of a year in the United
States Army flying schools.
Always there was something
new to look forward to. The start
of actual flying; the first solo |;
learning various stunts and maneu-
vers; transitions from Jennies to
faster and quicker ships; and fin
ally our transfer to Kelly Field, the
alma mater of Army fiiers.
The Army Air Service was an
eNacting instructor. There was
no favoritism shown and no
amount of politics could keep a
cadet from being washed out if he
fell down in flying. AS a result,
only small per cent Of those en-
tering Brooks ever graduate from
Kelly. In our class of 104, thirty
three finished their private training
and only eighteen of us received
our wings. This appears on the
surface to be an unusually low
number, but as result of the rigid
requirements and careful instruc-
ton, our Air Corps schools rank
among the best in the world today.
They have an extremely low fatal
ity list, not one man in our class
being seriously injured.
Probably the most exciting per-
ioi in our flying raining was WREN
the soloing began. The instructor
would climb out of his cockpit, tie
white handkerchief on the rud-
der as a danger signal, indicating
that the ship was usually out of
control, and signal his student to
take off. In some cases the plane
would take, off nicely, circle the
field and make a comparatively
good landing. In others the landing
would amount to series of bounces
resulting in the necessity Of a
second or third attempt before the
wheels would hold contact with the
ground more than a fraction of a
second at a time. In one particu-
lar instance, after several futile
attempts to get down, the cadet be-
gan circling around overhead. His
apparent idea was to clinch the
chances of landing on his next at
tempt by waiting until the gaso-
line ran out. His instructor was
out in the field trying ito flag him
down without the slightest success.
and for half an hour we watched
the ship intently for the first signs
of a lowering gas supply, hoping
that the fuel would not hold out
much longer, as the morning fly
ing period was nearly over and we
were all anxious to see him land
After half an hour, however, he
apparently regained enough cour-
age and determination to make a
last attempt at a landing, which
turned out much more successful
ly than the others.