Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11

successful search by the NAVY
and Coast Guard, with the ale
of aircraft and destroyers, for the pursss
seiner Fidelity, with IL men aDoaAu' Va
the California coast.
Though naval aviation searched ap'
V,roxinnstely 10000 square miles, a.
fandlubbers measure square miles, ~
trace of the Fidelity has been 1ouno
Vanishing IN the teeth OF a gaze on CIls
fishing banks near Santa Barbara OF
November 81. the Fidelity, apparently oi 4
numbered among those Inflated VeSSeL
which have disappeared without leaving
The Navy began its search for the
Lost fishing vessel on December s, con-
tinuing its operations for five days. The
aircraft carrier U. S. S. Langley, VIII
its brood of planes, augmented py wv
additional scouting squadrons, WenI ou s.
while the seas were running hlgh ~
the aftermath of the gale. Operating
Conditions were diff1cult and dangerous
due to the heavy pitching OF the carrier
making landings and take-o1S naH-
In spite of the fact that two of the
scouting squadrons were unaccusCone0
to the flight deck OF the Langley SINAI 1sL
In comparison to the great decks OF the
carriers Lexington and Saratoga, ano
the further complication Of the shlps
rolling and tossing, there were no accl-
dents during the search operations,
which involved 119 carrier landings and
about 291 plane hours in the air Dur
ing the search all planes operated az
distances up to 100 miles or more IFoni
the carrier. -, -
In addition to the search by the car
rier planes. naval aviation was repre-
scented by seagoing patrol planes WIicLl
cannot operate from the carriers. On
December 8, according to reports JusI
received here, six of the big patrol
boats were in the air from s am. 70
z pm, extending their operations 10
distance of AIS miles on shore.
Radio Test Valuable.
II uas in connection with the opera
tion of the patrol planes that the most
valuable benefits to future naval oper-
ations were derived. Sent out from "a
troll Plane Squadron 2, four OF tne ny
activities the most thorough test OF
patrol plane radio equipment MADE IN
recent months.
THE search conducted by the patrol
Yoianes on December is characterized
by naval aviation officials here as the
most comprehensive yet undertaken.
The area assigned to the patrol planes
direct line toward Hawaii from the fleet
base at San Diego.
saThe planes have progressed in their
navigation" it was reported 10 The
Navy, Ito such an extent that the
scouting line was maintained and ma
neuvered by signal with almost the ac-
curacy expected of surface ships.
Four planes of the squadron averaged
10 hours and 5 minutes each on the
fight, and during the entire search the
soiadron few a total of 121 hours.
It was found that the poor function
ing of smoke bombs issued to the
squadron constitutes serious deterrent
to the accuracy of navigation by oead
reckoning. Radio bearings from Point
Firmin. Point Hueneme and Point
Areuello were taken by the planes and
were proved to be exceedingly accurate
and reliable up to the limit Of their
ranges Bearings from the station at
Imperial Beach, however, were found
to be most unreliable, errors up TO IA
or Is degrees having been noted.
Though their search was unsuccess-
full, the Navy pilots who participated
have reaped rewards which will con-
tribute to the efficiency of future oper-
atoms of naval aviation at sea. Accu-
rate aerial navigation Is the hfeblood
of the aircraft squadrons while on sea
duty and anything which serves TO i'm
prove navigation methods or to reveal
errors such as those revealed during
the Pacific search is Of benefit to every
Navy pilot.
Spring Maneuvers Planned.
The Army and Navy flying services
now are in the midst of preparations
for coming Spring maneuvers. Naval
aviation viii get its training with the
feet in tropical waters, with the U. S. S.
Los Angeles participating on its first
purely military mission. The Army Air
Corps will use the Atlantic seaboard
from the Virginia Capes to Boston as
its battle-ground, basing in the Ma
tional Capital during one phase OF Its
maneuvers.
rons are wearing most businesslike
air these days. In the Navy squadrons,
inspection, radio drills and tests, COM
pensating Of compasses. Standardization
flights and the work Of starting to move
aboard ship are being carried out In
preparation for the coming Southern
cruise. Test flights have been con-
Quoted for high altitude anti-aircraft
practices. In the Army squadrons, In
addition to the checking Of planes and
instruments and the overhauling Of
equipment, preparations must be made
for weeks of service in the field, away
from home bases, under conditions APP
proximating those of war times.
The dirigible Los Angeles has been
operated by the Navy for seven years
as a non-military aircraft, under the
terms Of the peace treaty. She has
been used for experimental and train
ing purposes. Her assignment to duty
with the feet, though it will constitute
q continuation Of training activities
also will involve operations Of a dis.
tinctly military character. The Lof
Angeles is TO leave the Naval Air Sta
ton, Lakehurst, N. j., her home base
about February 10. In Panama water:
she will be based on the u. S. S. Patoka
which has been equipped with stee
mooring mast to handle the airship.
The Los Angeles has been given q
thorough overhaul during the past few
weeks, extending into every part of the
ship. The program has included re-
placement Of large areas of the 7-year.
old original German outside covering
Much Of the original cover, however
still is in serviceable condition.
A Worthwhile Record.
United States air transport lines
during the last half of 1880 estab.
lshed record for safety which might
well be envied by any form Of marine
or terrestrial navigation. This was thu
flying Of some 100000 passenger
miles with only one crash fatal t;
passengers. In this crash which oc.
CURED at night during Pacific Coas
storm, one woman passenger and {
mechanic of the air line owning thu
plane, also riding as a passenger los
their lives. There were only two othe
fatal accidents in air transport op
erations during the six months. II
each of these an air mail pilot lost hi
life. Both accidents also occurred dur
ing storms at night
This splendid record Is all the NOR
encouraging when the two passenge
deaths in a single crash are com
pared with the record for the first ST
months of last year During tina
period there we're six fatal accidents
1l.laich cosA The Hue of 8 rnilnte co