Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10

Glen CuTtESS, ar pioneer, seat
Of the Air Corps in operation, going TO- during
and returning from the maneuvers. The re-
Sultant awakened interest In aviation, not only
military aviation, but aviation generally, Is
obvious People win have not only the OppCr-
tunity of seeing modern airplanes IN flight In
large formatiOns, but they win have an incen-
tive to visit their local airpOts for which they,
as Taxpayers have spent money, and 70 go
how an airport operates under pressure.
THE Air Corps OF this country must keep
race with that OF the other leading powers,
both IN the quality and quantity OF It's air.
planes and flyers, and in its STAFF as vel.
Without an Air Corps operating on . barge
scale, as we are planning this year, We win
not be pFacticed IN the handling Of large NUM-
bers Of aiplanes and flying personnel Without
such practice we cannot say that we know
how a wartime air force would be operated"
THE maneuvers could not be undertaken ut
ct all On the scale planned were &c not
for the development Of the country's airport
system during the past year, military experts
are agreed. The maneuverS are to determine,
in addition to all the military factors involved,
how far the Nation may depend upon municipal
and commercial airportS In maintaining and
increasing the mobility Of the Air Corps.
1t would mean little, It was pointed out, II
the Army ahd fast and eficient hgl1ting planes
II those planes were unable to serve their pur-
pose because Of Inadequate landing and service
ing facilities.
Bear in mind" Secretary Dawson told ma
national airport executives in a speech q few
days ago at Tulsa, Okla, that all aircraft
is irrevocably tied to the ground and that be
hind the Hash and glory Of night stand eflctene
ground forces and up-to-date landing 0eldS
with efAcient servicing facilities
"The Army Az Corps Is an important branch
Of the countrys coast defenses. So far ~ the
Air Corps Is concerned the difference between
the Atlantic and Pacific Is little more than a
hours Of forced night. We can fling our forces
to the defense Of either coast IN time 20 meet
any crisis
"But-and underscore this most enphat-
icaly-our Army AIR Corps coast defense IN
no stronger than the system Of airports from
which It must operate, and am not overStat-
ing the fact when say that airports located
IN States that are far from the sea are just
rs important links IN that system as are the
supports that serve cities or near the sea-
boards"
The cross-country flying scheduled Is part
Of the concentration and return home Of the
units Of the First Air Division covers more
than $1,000 miles Of anyways and win enable
the Air Corps to take q very comprehensive
inventory Of the military usefulness OF arports
throughout the country. Units varying In sire
from IL 10 20 planes will make stops Tor fuels
ing or overnight stops at more than 90 airports
In all sections Of the country. These atrports
would be on the national military airways IN
case of emergency.
Knowing the zeal with which you men who
are interested IN the operation OF airports apply
yourselves to the task Of keeping their stand
ards of efficiency to the highest mark up-to-
date equipment and planning permits" Mr..
Dawson told the airport operators, Il have not
the slightest doubt but that the experiences OF
the Air Corps win reveal that present landing
facilities will demonstrate enormous progress
during the past few years.
This does not by any means mean that We
have reached the last word IN airport con-
Stluction. On the contrary, aviation Is still
going through It's evolutionary stages and air
port planning Is no exception. Ground de-
velopment and aviation progress must advance
hand in hand It has done so up TO now ana
I am sure that It will continue to do so In the
future"
Though the Air Corps VIII muster total OF
672 planes for the maneuvers, according TO War
Department chiefs, this does not mean tnat
all these planes are fighting planes ut TO 60 20
war In case Of emergency. The fact Is, u Is
declared that war should break out tornor-
row the Army could muster but AS combat
planes 1t for nghting. The remaining afr
craft in the maneuvers win be cargo and school
planes which could play no active part IN re-
pelling enemy invaders.
The object Of the maneuvers, 1t Is SAID d
not to create an Impressive picture Of aerfal
strength which the country does not actually
possess-as the Air Corps still Is behind IN the
totals called for IN the dve-year program-put
to test tactical theories, equipment and person.