Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDdERTON.

also is understood to be in proc
ess of development.
The theory upon which the re-
connaisSance plane is based is not
new, though there has been no
concentrated effort made since
the World War to develop a spe-
cialized plane of this type. Dur
ing the great European conflagra-
ton of a decade ago allied fight
ing pilots experienced moments of
bitter chagrin because of their in
ability to climb up to where Ger
man RumplerS went inSolently
and cheerfully about their bust
ness of spying out military doingS
below.
The Rumplers sacrificed many
things to gain altitude. They
carried no guns and they were
very lightly built. But they could
climb when climbing meant some
thing more than the ability to get
cool on a hot day. The Rumpler
pilots, as their f1imsy ships
droned contentedly through the
cold, thin upper air, were prone
to flip a deriSive hand over side
as allied pilots ragged below, stand
ing their pursuit planes ION the
prop" in an effort to climb up
close enough to let go a burst of
machine gun fire.
The French also had one of
their funny paraSol planes which
could do an extensive job of
climbing. Though it was quite
frail and had a tendency to go to
pieces If the pilot stuck the nose
down too far, it was able to out
climb the German pursuit planes
part of the time. The immunity
of the Rumpler also began to fade
as the war drew to a close and
better pursuit ships came along.
Observers Show Skill.
The work of the observation
during the Ohio ma
neuverS last month was regarded
by military observers as excellent.
Observation pilots in both Blue
and Red air forces revealed them
selves to be industrious and re-
sourceful gentlemen, skilled in the
art of theoretical war.
The Ohio operations showed a
need for a different type of mill
tary map. The pilot who had to
fight with a large, much folded
map was Sorely haraSSed per-
son, who could give only passing
attention to the war. So the Army
have been asked to
get busy and prepare some con-
venient type of map which can
be handled by a pilot who is
obliged to do other things at the
same time.
It was shown conclusively that
aircraft radio equipment needs
more attention, not only to find
the extent to which it can be used
but also to determine the extent
to which 1t cannot be used. An
effective but readily workable
code must be devised. During the
Ohio maneuverS Red messages
from planes to the ground, trans
by voice, were picked up by
Blue stations and vice versa.
Nevertheless, the code must be
fast and simple. The prime i'm
portance in observation work is
speed and If there are long delays
caused in deciphering the code
the value of the observations may
be lost.
There also is need for telephone
communication between the pilot
and observer, it was demonstrated.
This will be even more necessary
when the reconnaissance planes
are placed in commission, it was
said by tactical experts.
Squadron Observers Needed.
Red and Blue army command
erS alike were warm in their COM
of the accuracy of the
work done by the observation
The work of locating
hostile formations was carried out
with remarkable exactneSS of de-
tail, the reports of the various
observers coinciding time and
again with a nicely that spoke
volumes for the training of the
personnel.
While military observation must
be intrusted primarily to the
planes, there is need,
it was developed during the Ohio
war games, for trained observers
in the bombardment and attack
plane squadrons. Mai. w. H.
Frank, head of the Air Corps
Tactical School at Langley Field,
Va, and chief air umpire during
the maneuvers, declared that
there should be at least one
skilled observer in each three
plane attack formation and a cor
responding percentage of observ-
ers in the bombardment squad
ronS.
While there is little opportunity
for glory, but many splendid OPP
portunitieS for hard work in the
observation SquadronS, they are,
from the standpoint of the Army
as a whole, among the most i'm
portant of the aerial units. The
preparations now in progress in
dictate a thorough realization of
the real Importance of unlimited
observation in military operations
and future developments are
being awaited with keen interest
by all branches of the Army.