The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-01-21
Lilldy'S Own Story
WE

! l1LO Tie ground. AlHlOSL SVCLJ
class had one or two minor crack
ups as a result of stalling over the
hurdle string.
The De Havilands were not con-
sidered safe for hard stuntirg and
as result we were only allowed
to do wing-overs and split air turns.
Diving in excess of $50 miles per
hour was also forbidden. Conse
quently only air work allowing US
to be thoroughly accustomed to the
plane was included in the flying
schedule before our formation train
ing began.
The strange field landing training
was one of the most interesting
parts of our schooling. An instructor
would lead a number of planes and
land in some field we had never
seen before. Then each cadet was
required to land and take off after
the instructor. Some Of the fields
were small and full of distractions.
Yet we had comparatively few even
minor crack-ups. Later each cadet
was given an opportunity to lead
the rest and pick out field for
them to land in while the instructor
trailed.
At Kelly we were given more and
longer cross-country trips than at
Brooks. One Of the most important
parts of flying training is cross.
country experience. We made flights
to Corpus Christi, Galveston, Laredo
and a number of other places.
A Cunning Trip
Each class spent about two weeks
on a gunnery expedition at Filing
ton Field, between Houston and Gal.
weston. Ellington Field was one of
the few double fields built during
the war, but was later abandoned
and, except for National Guard
squadron. wac entirely deserted.
We set up our mess in the club
house and made the old building
which had served as officers quar-
tiers as comfortable as possible.
This was in winter and the weather
was cold, even in Texas. unusual
though it might have been. There
were no stoves available. so we
contrived all sorts of makeshifts to
hold a little fire in. If nothing
better was obtainable. we SHOW
eled several inches of earth on the
floor and devised a hood of some
kind leading through a few lengths
of the pipe to the chimney. OF
course. these fires could not be left
unguarded. so it was necessary to
put them out in the morning to be
rekindIed at the close of operations
for the day.
Our gunnery work was divided
into three parts: ground targets.
shadow targets and tow targets.
The ground targets We're large
sheets of paper similar to those
used on a rifle range and were set
up at an angle on the ground. We
shot at these with both the Brown
ing and Lewis machine guns.
The BrOwnings
The Browning gun on a De Havi-
land were mounted rigidly in front
of the pilot and were RynchroniZed
with the engine to shoot between the
blades. of the propeller They were
capable of firing up to 200 rounds
a minute, depending on the motor
r. p. M. when they were fired.
Several of us would form a large
circle with our planes and starting
our dive from about 1000 feet. would
fire short bursts into the target on
the ground. After completing our
bursts we would zoom back up into
the circle while the next ship started
It's dive. Each plane had its indi'
vidual target
After enptyinS the Browning guns
we gave our observers chance with
their Lewises by circling Low around
the targets, On the next flight the
pilot and observer traded places,
The Lewis gun is mounted on q
turret on the rear cockpit. Two
guns were usually used together
and they could be pointed in any di-
rection.
After a few days on ground tar
gets we were sent out over Trinity
Bay for shadow targets. One plane
is flown fairly high over the water,
while another tires at it's shadow.
The splashes from the bullets are
easily seen and the accuracy Of
craftsmanship very apparent.
ITO Be Continued tomorrow in The
Washington Herald
Copyright 1928. by Charles A.
Lind berghl