Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

It has been a trying week, not only
for Mr.. Fokker but for Mr.. Young ana
their subordinates. It's bad business lor
Fokker and it has been most unpIeaS-
ant business for Mr.. Young, but 1t is
a wholesome sample OF the et1ortS pelng
expended to increase the safety OF ny
ing and probably will go down IN aero
nautical history as an important St9p
forward for all concerned with the real
development of aviation.
Formation Drill Needed.
The corning maneuvers of the Army
Air Corps may be compared in som"
respects with e.ose-order drill for In
fantry. without close order drill there
cannot be really efficient infantry out
fits. without maneuvers the Air Corps
would be seriously handicapped IN Its
training program.
Experience has shown that combat
planes cannot operate as lone wolves
of the sky. They must hunt In packs.
The more compactly they can fly and
fight the stronger they are in battle.
The we'll drilled pursuit or attack or
bombardment squadron should be able
to maneuver and fight in formation.
This requires persistent drilling.
Formation flying is an invaluable
builder of "air discipline" in the opinion
of Air Corps experts. The training de-
velops to a high degree aerial effective
ness in peace and in war.
The coming maneuverS will permit
the organization for the first time in the
history Of American military aviation OF
an air division, the largest aerial unit
provided in the Army tables OF or
ganization. The drilling, made possible
by the concentration of this organiza-
ton for two weeks. Is expected to De
of the utmost benefit to all units OF the
aerial army. It is expected to give
pilots in the individual squadrons and
groups a comprehensive idea of what
they must expect in large-scale opera
lions and TO give point to their routine
training in smaller units following ther
return to home stations.
A staff Of nearly $50 officers Will be
required to handle the LIST Air Division
| in the field, so great will be the PROB
lens of command, maintenance, supply
and operation on the ground and IN
the air. The staff will be divided into
three parts-the division command and
general staff, the special staff and the
various stats of command for the
wings and 13 groups which comprise
| the fight organizations represented IN
! the maneuvers.
Gen. Foulois in Command.
Brig. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois, the
Army's first military pilot, will be in
supreme command of the division. His
| division staff will include Lieut.. Col.
F. M. Andrews, chief of staff; Maj. Carl
Spatz of Question Mark fame and Capt.
A. B. Mcdaniel, deputy chiefs Of staff,
with Maj. S. w. Fitzgerald and Mai.
r. C. Candee attached. Maj. Q. P.
Echols and Lieut.. j. B. Haddon will act
as aides to the commander. The gen
eral staff also will include Lieut.. Col.
H. H. Arnold, supply and maintenance;
Lieut. Col. Ira Longanecker. press re
lations and intelligence; Maj. willis
Hale, operations, and Capt. Harold L..
McCielland, personnel, each with a
staff of assistants.
The special staff consists Of five
branches, headed by Maj. Hugh Mitchell.
signal service; Capt. Donald Wilson,
headquarters command and provost
marshal; Maj. C. L. Beaver, fight sur
geon; Mai. D. c. Cordiner, quarter
master, and Lieut. Myron Wood, finance,
with Lieut.. Ray L. owens as adjutant.