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


CT Navy planes here year ago during the fleet
TnaneuverS.
THE main demonstration over washington
! on Memorial day will bring together from
their scattered airdromes all the planes Of the
division. The resulting spectacle, with more
than 900 planes of all military types parttci-
pating, is expected to be the mightest aerial
pageant the Capital ever has seen, involving the
maneuvering Of a great army Of the skies-an
aerial force so great that, even in olose-fOTma-
ton, the column stretches distance Of more
than 20 miles.
After the demonstration here the squadrons
will return, without landing, to the stations
signed them at Langley Field, Baltimore and
Middletown, and will put in the following day
getting in shape for their return to home sta
tons all over the United States, beginning
June l.
Briefly outlined" it was explained by Mr.
Dawson, "the principal features Of the tests to
be conducted during the field exercises fall into
the following major classifcations Problems of
command incidental to handling huge volumes
of personnel and equipment in the air and on
the ground; expanding and developing combat
theories; teaching the various units within the
Air Corps to function as a team and, last but
not least, means of subjectng both planes and
personnel to exacting endurance tests Moving
an entire air army - mechanics spare parts,
staff and all-over battle sectors that are hum
dreds of miles apart and in few hours, de-
mands perfect organization and one that can
be built up only through experience and such
experience can only be obtained under actual
field conditions.
Never in its history Mr.. Dawson said, has
the Air Corps held field exercises on q scale
similar to the one to be employed this year.
It is necessary, he declared that they should
take place because 1t is only by putting tactical
and technical theories to the acid test Of pEac-
tice that the military service can learn whether
existing methods of handling modern air units
is feasible, eficient and effective.
The exercises viii call into use every piece
of available equipment except training planes,
which are useless for military purposes. In
order to create the emergency atmosphere the
War Department Is drafting for active duty
the graduating class Of the Advanced Flying
School as well as calling National Guard units
to active duty.
'Tn other words" he said, I'VE function as
we would in case Of an emergency in order
to introduce thorough tests of peace-thme train
ing and supply methods.
1T is simple to say that 670 planes OF various
types win take part in these field exercises
and it will be an impressive spectacle TO see
them in the air, but the job of keeping that
number Of planes in tip-top flying trim, get
them in the air and keep them there, presents
intricate problems Of supply, maintenance and
command"
For several months Gen. Foulois and his
provisional wing staff officers have been work
ing on the problem Of providing these a1rplanes
en- route with oil, gas and other necessary
supplies. The amount of gas and oil necessary
to serve the units en- route had to BE de-
teTmined and arranged for.
when q large number Of planes are gathered
into one unit" the War Secretary for Aviation
explained, problems begin to pile up-prob-
lens that can only be solved through pracCca
tests Let me mention q few Of the questions
which these exercises are designed to provide
the answer TO:
al Are our present tables Of organization
and equipment and our supply and ioEstac
schedules adequate?
"2 How many, and what, spare parts must
be laid down at various airdromes to insure
proper maintenance Of aircraft?
"3 Can an organization the Eize Of an air
division be handled with the present size Stan2
80 Are present methods Of communication
ADEQUATE and what are the most effective
methods Of communication?
"5 Can t. or parts Of it, be controlled by
radio so that changes in operations or routes
may be made after it is in the air?
&C. How many airplaneS can be successfully
operated from one airdrome? Hence, now many
airiromeS would we need in time OF war?
"7 What length of time does 1t take Tor
large organization to take on from, or lano M
an airdrome? How long does 1t take to service
o large air organization?
-"8 Can recent graduates or members OF the
graduating class at the Advanced Flying School
at Kelly Field Immediately take their place In
combat organizations in time Of war without
going through q higher SCHOOL,"
Not only will the naneuvers Of the Air
Division supply the answers to these and other
questions Mr.. Dawson said, but they also Will
prove Of immense benefit to commercial av1a-
ton and to all those who hy in air transport
planes.
In their fights to and from the eoncentra-
ton points and during the exercises Mar.
Dawson explained, "Air Corps units Will ny
over every State In the Union. Every large
airport viii be used, and many others not so
large in addition to the Army a1rdromeS