Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-13
DEPRESSION HITS
lRMY AIR PROGRAM
IFive-Year Plan" Cannot Be
- Completed in Six, Fechet
: Reports.

n@The Army Air Corps "five-year" pro.
&Tam, already behind schedule, cannot
De completed in its sixth year, due tC
Ink of funds, it was revealed today By
Mai Gen. James e. Fechet, retiring
HHief of the corps, in his final annual
FSport. Gen. Fechet is to be retired or
December 81. after 80 years of service.
@During the past year officer strength
has increased by only 80, as compared
With 1913 during the preceding year
xkough 203 vacancies still remain to be
fi2ed under the f1ve-year plan, Gen
FSchet reported. It is becoming appar-
RMt, he said, that during the next five
Years, at the present rate, the Air Corps
cannot expect to increase its number
DS Regular Army officers to more than
5a50, as compared with the 1895 now
on the rolls.
sDue to lack Of vacancies for officers
and to the business depression and re-
xt1ting lack of demand for pilots in civil
lie. there has been an increase In the
3tnmber of Air Corps enlisted pilots to
- total Of 81, with further increases
eWected.
90 Training Completed by 1875.
~The average number of flying cadets
nd duty during the past year was 1856,
although 400 were authorized by the
frogram. A total of 1875 cadets COM
paeted training during the year and were
commissioned in the Air Corps Reserve,
syVith ratings as airplane pilots.
"@Army lighter than air training ceased
dnring the year, due to lack OF funds
SeDuring the past year the use OF air
hfane ambulances has doubled as COM
11ared with 1880. The feasibility of this
service has been we'll established, Gen
Fechet said, recommending that addi-
4lenal ambulance planes be acquired for
A@further extension of the service. One
new ambulance plane was acquired In
1881, he said, but other types are need
e which can be used for landings IN
emergency fields.
1.-THE year was marked by gratifying
seduction" In accident rates, both fatal
$Qd non-fatal, and in power plant fail
ave rates, the Air Corps chief reported
Sc Procurement Programs Speeded.
1.-THE outstanding accomplishment OF
the year in procurement and industrial
4Elations has been the speeding up OF
disbursement programs SO that the bulk
p new planes now are being delivered
Sd the fiscal year for which appropria-
E1Ons are made.
"Coincident with this work." Gen.
aechet said, has been the work of CO.
Inclination with the industry, particu-
5arly with view to supporting it during
the period of business depression"
S@During the year the Air Corps made
photographic mapping surveys of 19,400
&auare miles, chiefly for the Geological
survey, and the corps has undertaken
me photographing of 10000 square miles
1@r the survey during the present year.
"a flying Photographic laboratory has
9&en developed and used with consider
aable success. A new camera has been
Developed which at one exposure from
m16 900 feet will cover an area Of 1854
square miles.
= Due to the increased efficiency of Ma
-4onal Guard observation squadrons and
10 the lack of funds for Air Corps Re
agerve training, Gen. Fechet said, serious
Reconsideration must be given to the train
Gag of combat units for emergency serv-
See within the National Guard. Ma
Stacnal Guard aviation now is confined to
observation, but it is proposed to expand
~~he service to include all types Of COM
Gisat squadrons.