Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-31
Air Armada'S Maneuvers In.
marred by Injury to
Personnel.
SHIPS PERFORM MASS
FORMATION FOR CHIEFS
Observation, Pursuit and Bomber
Squadrons Participate in
Capital Defense.
BY JOSEPH s. EDGERTOS.

When the dust had settled on a half
dozen airports over an area of $50 miles
following the return Of more than 500
Army planes from the magnificent re-
view sbcve Arlington Memorial Bridge
yesterday noon. officers Of the lst Air
Division made a final check-up, which
showed that the division has won ons
Of the great victories IL set out to
achisve-the completion Of two weeks
of massed maneuvers by 672 planes
without single serious accident.
Since the fighting squadrons Of the
Army left their home fields throughout
the Nation early this month the planes
as whole have completed 100000
miles of flying without a serious acci-
dent Virtually all Of the 672 planes
called out two weeks ago will be back
at their home sta tons during the week.
Though many of the s1uaerons have
nearly 5000 miles Of travel ahead Of
them. Only one or two planes require
major repairs to put them back in
flying shape.
Review Most Impressive.
The review over the National Capital
yesterday ranks easily as the most i'm
pressive event during the two weeks
life of the division. The results of the
training of the past few days showed
in the perfect timing Of the units as
they entered the column TO pass In
review in close formation.
The reviewing stand was located on
the uncom pleted Arlington Memorial
Bridge It was the first time the span
across the Potomac had been used ON
cislly.
Secretary Hurley. accompanied by
Mrs Hurley and their children, was
among the first to arrive at the stand.
In the party were Secretary Adams.
Gen. Macarthur. Walter Newton, Sec
rotary TO the President, representing
the White House: Senator Reed OF
PENNSYLVANIA, Senator Bingham. OF Con-
necticut and other Government ofnciais
and military attaches OF foreign en-
bassies.
The review vas flown in 1. blazing
sun. beneath sultrv skies which held Q
threat Of thundershowers.
Combat Flying First.
The demonstration opened with nearly
an hour of combat flying by three crack
soua drons. the e5th Pursuit from Rock
we'll Field. Calf: the 18th Bombard-
ment also from Rockwell, and the 18th
Attack, from Fort Crockett, Galveston.
Tex
All three souadrons demonstrated
combat fcrma lions and the pursuit. then
launched series of diving attacks on
both the slower squadrons. The DEM
4aI with
fight between Lieut.. Irwin A. Woodring
and Lieut. George E. Price of the 95th.
Two minutes after the combat demon
strs ton had been concluded the head
of the mighty aerial column was sighted
through the ground haze over the low
Virginia hills. As the van. led by the
ID Bcmbardment Group, Langley
Field. Va. approached the reviewing
stand, group after group came into sight
until there was a Vcritablc wall OF
planes stretched across the sky.
The planes were maSsed in groups Of
three and four squadrons each-bomb-
eIs. attack and observation below, pur-
suit above. There vas scarcely break
OF three sous orons' length in the whole
column. The planes. moving at cruising
speed Of about 100 miles per hour, re-
quired sbout 10 minutes to pass the
reviewing stand.
Broke at Mount Vernon.
Con inuing down the Potomac to the
vicinity OF Mount Vernon. they broke
formation and headed for temporary
airports assigned them in the Capital
district extending from Langley Field
to Newcastle, Del. and Mlddletovn, Pa.
The pursuit squadrons circled to the
west over nearby Virginia and then
swung back over the bridge about 10
minutes after the last of the column
had cleared.
Landing by elements of three planes,
and later by flights of nine planes each.
the pursuit wing required nearly an
hour to get down again at Boiling Field.
Forty-f1ve transport planes. including
the famous Question Mark. first refuel-
ing endurance record holder, remained
at Middletown. Pa, during the review.
They have not participated in any c.
the reviews. but have been used merely
for carrying mechanics and cargoes
which could not be accommodated In
the combat planes.
Motor Trouble Small.
Since the maneuvers began 4 total
OF 10 planes have been forced out
temporarily by motor trouble. far be-
low the normal for the amount of fiy-
ing done, despite the fact that none OF
the planes have been under cover since
leaving home. A majority of the motor
failures occurred on the ground during
the warming-up periods. or manifested
themselves in failure Of the motors to
start A half dozen resulted in forced
landings, most of them made without
damage to the planes, and all of them
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