Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17

~ AxTON, Ohio, home Of thick,
Juicy beefsteaks and ct least
half the visible dandelion pop
H. ulAtion Of the Nation, Is host
today to the greatest air ar
n1ada this country has ever seen.
Prom every part Of the country squad
1ons Of pursuit, attack, bombardment.
observation and cargo planes, bearing
the olive drab Of the Army Air Corps,
have been concentrating for several
days in preparation for two weeks OF
naneuvers which will stand as q SUI
preme peace-time test Of modern mill
tary aviation.
Yesterday there was formally organ
ized ct Fairfield Air Depot. magnificent
Army atrdrome seven miles outside of
Dayton, the LIST Air Division, under
command of the dean of all military
pilots, Brig. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois.
This is the first time there ever has
been organized under the United States
flag an air division, the largest aviation
body Contemplated In the Army tables
Of organization.
BY mastering National Guard squad.
rons from the 10 corps areas and call
ing out the senior students at the Army
Air Corps Advanced Flying School,
Kelly Field, Tex. the War Department
has been able to form provisional
wings. composed of Is groups, as the
component parts Of the division.
The squadronS, groups, wings and
divisions have begun stiff training
program to prepare the units for opera
lions together on q large scale. This
training is expected to be of great value
to Air Corps officers Of all ranks and
could be obtained only through a con-
centration of the squadrons, such as
has taken place at Dayton.
Air Division Organized.
Yesterdays program called for or
Eanization Of the wings and of the
division, with this morning reserved for
airdrome discipline for all units. This
afternoon, twice tomorrow and on Tues
day morning there are to be aerial as
semblies and reviews of the entire divi-
sion, which will correspond to close
order drill for infantry, putting the
division in shape for the formation
operations to follow.
The training period also has been
planned to include demonstrations Of
experimental planes and new equip
ment and inspection OF the Materfel
Division. Wright Field, where the Air
Corps laboratories are located. Ma
neuvers OF the type now being held are
the birthplace OF new military planes:
From the smaller scale Inaneuvefs OF
type tWo-seater pursuit plane, unique
in Air Corps history; faster and more
specialized observation planes, includ-
ing O twin-engined flying wing" re-
conraissanee plane, now undergoing
test at Wright Field; designs for new
bombardfnent planes, new Photographic
planes, pursuit transport ships Of great
speed. and plans for attack planes Of
high speed and terrific offensive power.
FROM the maneuvers also have been
evolved new tactical methods for en-
ployment Of the various types Of air.
craft. There has been created o better
understanding among the various
branches of the military service of the
part aviation must play In all future
military operations. The necessity for
new types Of bombs, guns and other
equipment, especially Of radio, has been
driven home forcefully by actual field
experience.
Seek Cross Country Data.
On Tuesday afternoon the division
Win undertake its first cross-country
mission as o whole when it will move
In open formation from Dayton to Chi
eago, scattering there to spend the
night at four main airports in the Chi
ca9o area. Since any aerial combat
unit must be highly mobile, able to
move On short notice to any threatened
point, cross-country training is of
major importance. The movement Of
an entire air division never has been
attempted in American aviation history
and the experience to be gained In the
coming two weeks of shifting the di-
vision from point to point, over dis
tanees of hundreds Of miles, should
prove invaluable. Problems Of COM
mand. fueling, maintenance ana ground
handling Of q great cir force must be
worked out In detail. They are prob
lens which cannot be worked out in
an ONCE; there is ample Illustration Of
this In American military history.
On Wednesday morning there viii be
Q division assembly, combat demonstra-
ton and review over the Chicago water
front; the public debut Of the Nations