Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27
DAWSON PRAISES
!. WORK OF A|RMEN
California Maneuvers Re-
-sCarded as Proving Efficiency
.. of Aerial Unit.

~ The California maneuvers Of the
Army Air Corps, which have just come
60 a close, are an emphatic demonstra-
ton of the efficiency Of the training
system adopted for Army aviation and
an exhibition of the reliability and tao
tical value of modern military aircraft
not only against enemy aviation or
.. ground forces, but in coast defense as
well, F. Trubee Dawson, Assistant Sec
Rotary of War for Aeronautics, an
nounced last night in reviewing results
Of the month of maneuvers.
Beginning tomorrow approximately
/, $50 Army airplaneS which have par
ticipated in the maneuvers will have
MatheF Field, Sacramento, for their
home stations In various parts of the
country.
The exercises began April I, when the
various combat branches of the corps set
out to solve a series of training prob
lens designed to test and improve the
team work between the various air or
CARNATIONS and to develop new tactical
theories for aerial warfare. The train
ing program was expanded from flights
Of three planes to squadrons and groups
and, during the last week, came to a
climax with the coordination Of nearly
100 combat planes, operating as COM
plete wing, against q single objective.
AAuuS WVEA VI EAyCLSs
1--WE have had most emphatic DEM
onStration," said Mr.. Dawson, "of our
efficient training system as we'll as q
tactical value of modern military air.
craft, not alone in operating against
eneny aviation or ground troops, but In
coast defense as we'll.
while the military attachments Of
the maneuvers are Of compelling inter
est because they illustrate the efficiency
Of our air defenses, there are other
phases Of the demonstrations that are
entitled to countrywide attention.
"There Is, for instance, the marvel
Gus feat Of the 95th Pursuit Squadron
in climbing In battle formation to al
most 10000 feet, thus pushing the fight
ing front Of pursuit aviation more than
two miles beyond World War combat
attitudes. When we recall that only q
couple Of years ago $4,000 feet was q
record height for one plane, with special
equipment, to reach, we have a right to
be proud and happy over the fact that
the Army Air Corps has service type
Of plane that enables 10 single-seaters
as q matter Of military routine. This
quest for pursuit altitude is not stunt
but q grim necessity in aerial warfare.
One may indeed truthfully say that SO
far as pursuit Is concerned, altitude is
strength.
Another interesting demonstration
Of widespread public appeal was the
flight of q bombardment plane equip
ped with an automatic pilot. While
this apparatus Is still more or less ex<
perimental In military aviation, its
smooth performance in flying a heavy
twin-motored bomber from Sacramento
to San Francisco and back without q
human hand touching the controls
would indicate that the mechanical
aviation will soon be as indispensable In
tight operations as are the other mod
srn instruments that have given stability
to aircraft and safety to flight.
Wen Pleased with Results.
'The automatic pilot is pointing the
way to the day when fog or other men.
acing weather viii no longer hold planes
on the ground. -. r.
LESS spectacular than the high alti-
dude record Of pursuit formation and the
mechanical air1nanship Of the automatic
pilot, but OF equal Importance, are the
lessons the field exercises taught us in
the transportation Of supplies and air
plane maintenance on the ground. I
think 1t most impressive that about
1000 pounds OF miscellaneous supplies
ranging from airplane wings and heavy
engines to cotter pins and typewriter
ribbons were carried by Army Air Corps
transports over the 500-mile route from
the supply depot at San Diego to Sacra-
mento.
"Ail in all, the 1880 field exercises
gave q splendid accounting of the eff1-
cheney Of the Army Air Corps and the
progress Of American aviation as shown
In the speed, performance and reliability
Of American-built planes and engines"