Evening star., 1931-12-13

especially on long flights. He must
snuff his breath of life out Of flasks.
The burden of working out the prob
lens the high altitude pursuit pilot
must face has been given to the gath
and 95th Pursuit SquadronS; the gath
at Selfridge Field, Mich, the 95th at
Rockwell Field, Calf Much of the task
has been inherited by the Gath from
the 95th and the work now Is going
forward at full blast up in Michigan.
Scores of high altitude missions are
being f1noWn by Capt. Eddie Ricken-
hackers famous wartime squadron.
Two squadron high-altitude cross
country flights from Selfridge Field to
Washington and return have been made
as a part Of the program. Rate OF
climb tests, gasoline consumption tests
at altitude, experiments with various
types of clothing, mittens, goggles and
oxygen equipment and the working out
of problems of navigation and accom-
plishment of missions have been part
of the strenuous high altitude program
Of the Gath during the past two months
and more.
First Long Altitude Mission.
The first cross s-country flight OF
pursuit squadron at an altitude OF
10000 feet was made by the. gath from
Selfridge to washington and return as
a part of its program. The flight was
made above heavy clouds for a greater
part of the distance, but the naViga-
ton of Lieut.. Harry A. Johnson, war
time combat pilot and leader OF the
squadron, was so accurate that no
change of course was needed when the
clouds finally broke in the vicinity OF
Pittsburgh.
A short distance out of Washington
members of the fight were startled by
the sight of one of the planes drop
ming out of formation in a. series OF
crazv maneuvers and then going down
in a steep dive. AS it disappeared the
other pilots kept on toward Washing
ton. They were delighted to have their
missing comrade join them again just
before they landed.
It was learned that the oxygen sup
plv tube had been accidentally de-
tached as the pilot reached for his
map. He was soon unconscious ana
his plane spun down to 1000 feet be-
fore the thicker air revived MN ana
he was able to regain control.
The Gath has found that hquld
oxygen is superior to the colnpresseo
gas, not only because it feeds more
evenly. but because it is lighter. to
carry. Feeding the gas into lace
mask and breathing through the nose
has been found more satisfactory IMAM
inhaling through rubber tube held
in the mouth.
Temperature 20 Below.
The temperature on many OF the
missions has averaged around ~ oe-
grees below zero centigrade, the, point
where frosting of goggles begins IN
most cases. The heavy flying SUITS
used prove warm enough Ior aoouo
an hour, but after that the intense
cold of the upper air works through.
Flights by two flights of six planes
each have been made to $4,000 feet,
where the temperature was II degrees
below zero. Great difficulty was ex-
perienced in maintaining formatlon
due to frosting of goggles.
Findings of the squadron after lts
repeated experiences are:
That planes and motors runctlon
well at 10000 feet and above When
flown by pilots who have hao llttie
high-altitude experience.
That pilots lose some OF their alert-
ness after being up for more than an
hour due to the numolng enect OF coio
and light air.
That 1t is almost impossible for
pilot to work at high altitude with
out electrically heated goggles and
mittens.
That liquid oxygen fed into face
mask is better than gaseous oxygen
taken from pressure tanks through
tube and mouthpiece.
That liquid oxygen is superior to the
gas because of simpler feeding system
required and because weight can De
saved.
Officers of the squadron now are en-
gagged in further tests and studies of
the desirability of he9sing open cock
pits and of new types II oxygen TASKS
which may be filled as quickly and
aa vily ay a., e}xrlane In reARled.