Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-27
AIR FORCE COMING.
FROM ALL OVER U.s..
ManeuVer Here Saturday to
Climax Series-Experi-
enCes of Big Value.
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON,
Aviation Editor of The Star.

FIELD HEADQUARTERS, FIRST
AM DIVISION, Mitchell Field, N. Y,
MAJ 27.-The field maneuvers Of the
LIST AYR Division have entered their final
phase with the noses of more than
COO combat planes from all parts of the
Nation headed toward the National
Capital. w.Ncre the maneuWers will come
to a climax Saturday.
The close Sf the New England ma
neuvers Yesterday found the officers
and men tired, after days of the hard
vest kind of flying. complicated by bat
Ting with adver.Se weather, but with
the Ar1ny's aerial defenseS in the best
condition they ever have been as a
result of the intensive training of the
last 10Adays.
1t isNthe opinion Of ranking ofAcers
of the Hyision that the units of the
force upoHf, which this Nation must rely
for aerial defense OF its coasts have
benefited tremendously by the oppoE-
tunity given them to function as q
single great unit The lessons which
have been gained already, they believe,
have increased tine efficiency OF every
pilot and mechanic In the service and
have opened the way to new training
methods following, thes return to home
stations, which witt greatly strengthen
the aerial arm of She' service.
New Conception Gained.
"The officers and men have gained
an entirely new conception OF what is
required of them in operating as a
great combined air force" it was ex-
planned. Matters which, two weeks
ago were mere theory nov have been
discredited or proved as fact by ex-
perience of the hardest And under
service conditions. We have at far better
understanding of the parts Of pur train
ing programs which must be stressed
at home stations to build up the
efficiency of the whole service and have
a new yardstick with which to measure
our future progress"
When the air division was organized
10 days ago at Dayton, Ohio, 1t was
quickly made apparent that the OPERA
ton of a massed air force required tlnc
training of the individual pilots and
squadrons in large scale operations. AS
squadrons they were efficient, but as
wings and division they had much
to learn.
The preliminary maneuvers were
ragged and often unsatisfactory. During
the Boston maneuverS; however, the re-
suits Of days of operation as a division
were made clear in the precision with
| winch all the units acted.
To Be Greatest Air Force.
BY the time the division reaches
Washington on Friday it is expected to
be the most solidly organized great air
force in the world, capable of operat-
ing anywhere at any time as a hard
hitting, effective unit, each squadron
understanding its precise relationship
to the division, and all the units able
to work together to the best possible
advantage
The movement Of the division from
Massachusetts, to New York yesterday
was perfectly timed and executed. The
bombardment, pursuit, attack and OBJ
servation squadrons, though travelling
at different speeds, fell in with the plan
of operations so effectively that a solid
column was formed at West Point and
again over New York with the smallest
amount Of maneuvering required at
any time since the division was created
Today the division will complete its
last day of maneuvers before the ad-
vance to Washington Friday. Tomor-
row is laid aside as a day OF rest for
the pilots and for the overhauling and
maintenance of the planes, the first
day available for the purpose since the
maneuvers began.