Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

airports capable of handling great
masses Of planes, except perhaps at con-
centration points in the center Of the
country.
Need for More Airports.
In the vicinity Of the seacoasts, In
GLIDING such areas as that around the
Capital, the need is for more and
smaller airports and flying fields, the
maneuvers showed. In time of war the
Air Corps would not have more than q
squadron, or at most a group, at any
one field. Splitting up of the forces ir
this manner would reduce the danger Of
destruction If enemy planes should
locate a field, and also would reduce the
| risk OF having a great force OF planes
grounded because of local fogs or thick
weather which might close in on one
field while others a few miles away were
clear.
Distribution Of the squadrons among
many small fields, however, creates q
need for rapid and utterly dependable
communications. The maneuvers brought
to the fore new flying radio station
q big tri-motored transport plane
equipped with complete radio apparatus
for operations over considerable dis
tances. This plane was used both as q
flying and a highly mobile field radio
obablOlly dllA HULL Va Vic
tons work OF the division went over its
antenna.
In time Of war, however, 1t is feared
the mass of radio messages necessary to
handle a large operation would clutter
up the ether so badly as to hinder COM
munication. The recent maneuvers
showed that some other form of COM
munication must be considered, and II
is possible that small fast courier planes
may be adopted for handling messages
between temporary airdromes where
telephone or Geographic communica-
tons may not exist.
Safety Cause for Rejoicing.
The safety with which the maneuvers
we're conducted was one of the greatest
causes for rejoicing to ranking officers
Of the Air Corps. The safety record, in
volving 3,150,000 miles of flying without
a single death or serious accident. shows
the value of high-caliber leadership and
thorough training, air officers contend.
The maneuvers showed that the exist
ing weather information service set up
by the Weather Bureau and AeronauticS
Branch of the Department of Commerce
is adequate for military operations of
an emergency character along airways
where such service Is available. There
was no lack of information regarding
weather conditions at any time during
the maneuvers, it was pointed out
Communications systems along the Fed
eral airwayS for the handling of weather
and other information also were found
to be adequate and of enormous value.
The maneuvers proved a vindication
Of methods of training in force for Ma
tional Guard pilots and for the flying
cadets at the Air Corps Advanced Flying
School, Kelly Field. Tex. Cadets and
Guardsmen were called upon for the
first time to participate in great air
demonstration, and acquitted themselves
with glory, flying like veterans among
veterans. though the cadets are but
little more than fleldglings, not yet
having received their wings.
1t is the belief of those in the Air
Corps that the 1881 maneuvers have
been Of tremendous value to the service
and to the country, and that they will
stand as a peace time milestone in tbs
progress of military aeronautics.