Evening star., 1930-06-15


ton that now surrounds the
American West Point will be dedicated next
Friday and Saturday, June 20-21.
1t is Randolph Field-the "West Point Of
the Air" the largest flying field in the world,
the United States Armys most beautiful post
$50 900 900 military dream come true. Tt is
16 miles northeast of San Antonio
It doesn't look much like a great flying field
yet. though you can pick out its checkerboard
pattern of gravel roads and half finished build
ings from an airplane as far as 20 miles away.
- Two years ago Randolph Field was nothing
: more than 1900 acres of mesquite and wooded
: land, with a few dirt roads running through it,
and few houses and barns on it.
Today it is a torn-up 1900 acres, Graded
and leveled and full of tractors and plows, with
queer dge-podge of village beginning to
take form in its center.
-- Two years from now it will be green, sod
covered flying field 2h miles across in every
direction with Spanish city Of 5000 popu-
laion in the middle, probably the most per-
fectly planned city in the world
There every who is to be an aviator
In Uncle Sans Army will go to school There
students will live and fly under ideal condi-
tions. Their campus will be greer mirage
on Texas prairie, as beautiful in its way as
West Point is to the Regular line officer The
students will build into it their own traditions
When they come out they will be Randolph
men" Every cadet who wins the much sought
appointment to the Army Air Corps will GO to
Randolph.
As soon the first unit of the field is
ready, probably a year from now the pri-
mary training school at March Field Riverside
Calf, will be moved in. When the next section
Is ready the primary school at Brooks Field
on the other side of San Antonio will 60 over
Eventually the advanced training school now
at Kelly Field may be moved in, but this uues-
ton is still up in the air and will not be
decided until the field is in use and officers
can determine just how congested the air traffic
Is to become
Scores of airplanes and the high military
officials Of the Nation will be at the dedicatory
exercises this week. San Antonio is full of
civic pride over this newest and greatest of
flying fields and the citys pride is just, for it
bought the land and gave it to the Government
San Antoine" is remembered with fondness
by thousands Of young men who tasted of its
spaciousness and hospitality in war time It
has kept up that reputation in its friendship
toward peace-time soldiers, and is still a yerv
military minded" town. Men who soldier in
any of the many camps around San Antonio
like it there
Randolph Field is the latest link in the
cham OF flying fields surrounding San Antonio
making it the greatest military flying center
In the world There are already four Army
nelds within a few miles of San Antonio
Kelly and Duncan Fields lie to the southwest
Brooks Field to the southeast Fort Sam Hous-
ton landing field to the north. Nearly half
cf all the flying done by the Army Air Corps
Is done around San Antonio In addition to
all this, there are several commercial fiying
fields there. And besides there are other ARMY
posts, camps and repair depots. Uncle Sam
has $40, 100000 invested in that area in his
military establishments
Il HE Army has been thinking about a JJto-
plan flying school for long. time. It has
1rawn plans, figured figures, dreamed dreams
or years. Then a few years ago the CITY of
san Antonio bought 1900 acres of land and
'oio II TO the Government for 81. That was
low Randolph Field started
Work began early in 1929 The iob was
urned over to the Quartermaster Corps. Col
Arthur W. Parker was placed in charge Of
uilding the field. The first task was clearing
nd gruobing Houses and fences were torn