Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09

| The first great test of aerial defenses
of the Pacific Coast will be made by the
Army Air Corps in April, when more
than 100 Army fighting planes of all
| types will be concentrated at Mather
Field, Sacramento Calf, for three
weeks of maneuvers. Several tactical
theories new to aerial warfare will be
given practical test under field con-
ditionS.
The California maneuvers will be the
second of series of annual Spring ma
neuvers to test the readiness of the
Army Air Corps and to develop tactical
methods and cooperation between the
air forces and ground units. Lessons
learned at the maneuvers last year have
resulted in development of two new
types of fighting planes, new types of
bombs and changes in the methods of
aerial combat Further vital improve
ments in the Nations aerial defense
may result from this years combat ex-
ercises.
May Use Bombs on Planes.
Among the startling new theories to
be worked out in the field next month
Is proposal that enemy aircraft be
attacked not only with machine-gun
fire, which has been standard since
early in the World War, but also with
bombs, dropped from higher attitudes.
Radio will be used to organize pur-
suit plane defense and in an effort to
devise q defense against attack avia-
ton, which was able during last years
maneuvers to sweep through every type
of defense created by military science.
All the Army planes engaged in the
exercises, which will fly total of more
than 1000, 900 miles in connection with
the maneuvers, will be concentrated at
Mather Field, under command of Brig.
Gen. William E. Gilmore, assistant
chief of the Air Corps, in charge of
training and operations.
While the major portion of the preb-
lens will be staged at Mather Field,
one of the most important features Of
the month will be an aerial defense of
San Francisco against simulated naval
attack, a night bombardment attack on
San Francisco, operations against enemy
ground and aerial forces in the vicin-
ity of Stockton and Modesco, Calf,
and demonstrations at Los Angeles.
Is First Coast Concentration.
This will be the first concentration
of modern Army aircraft of all types In
such large numbers on the Pacific Coast
and will be the first participation of
Army aircraft in simulated coast de-
tense operations.
The exercises will be divided into
three distinct phases, the first two COW
ering week each and the third q
period of about four days.
The first phase will be the training
of the elements within the pursuit, bonn
bardment, attack and observation
groups. This will involve training in
airdrome discipline, including the traf-
nc problems in connection with the
mass take-offs and landings of so great
number of planes from single oper-
ating area. Upon the efficiency of the
ground traffic management will depend
not only the success of the tactical
operations, but the general safety OF
pilots and planes.
The second week Is to be devoted to
elementary tactical problems involving
each type of aviation and including
practical tests of new, proposed and I'M
tried tactics which have been evolved
from previous exercises, particularly the
Spring maneuvers last year at Dayton,
Ohio.