Evening star., 1931-05-31
600 PL.!l !l..,ES' FLIGHT
NPLETED SAFELY
Air Armada's Maneuvers Un-
" marred by Injury to
Personnel.
Continued From First page.)


planes occurred in landings.
The cnly serious casualties Of the
expedition we're II cases of mumps,
Of which broke out In Dayton,
and the others in New York. All were
sent away to military hospitals in the
new Air Corps hospital plane now at
Boiling Field. The plane also brought
to Walter Reed Hospital a soldier who
hurt his back in a ground accident
at Dayton.
Serious Trouble Absent.
The combat demonstration and re-
view over the Potomac, between the
Lincoln Memorial and Arlington
National Cemetery stirring climax Of
two weeks of almost superhuman ef-
forts. was unmarried by trouble, except
Of the most trivial character.
Our pursuit plane suffered a bent
propeller landing in a rough spot amid
a cloud of dust at Boiling Field. A
plane of the Sd Attack Group, piloted
by Lieut. H. R. Parker, was forced out
of the column by motor trouble, and
landed safely miles west Of Lees
burg, Va. Lieut.. Parker Immediately
wired division headquarters at Boiling
Field that he expected to have the
motor running soon and would rejoin
his squadron at Logan Field, Baltimore.
The splendid safety record OF the
division during its strenuous two weeks
of operations over an area extending
from Chicago to the Atlantic Ocean
and Bangor, Me, to Hampton. Va was
cause for rejoicing among all omcials
Of the maneuverS.
Despite long hours OF close formation
flying. operations from airports taxed
to capacity and operation over miles OF
dangerous flying country. the safety
record has been better than the average
for normal operations at home airports.
This is regarded as all the more re-
markable in view Of the participation of
flving cadets, SO strong, from Kelly
Field. Texas. where they still are in
training. and National Guard pilots
from all 19 National Guard squadrons,
many Of whom fly only intermittently,
and who do not often have an oppor-
tunity to fly formation in squadron
units.
Squadrons Stay at Fields.
Yesterdays combat demonstration
and review brings to close the opera.
tions of the First Air Division. started
at Fairfield Air Depot. Dayton, Ohio.
two weeks ago Today the sQuadrons
remain at their temporary fields-pur-
suit at Boiling Field. bombardment and
observation at Langley Field. Va; at
tack at Baltimore, observation at New
town, Pa. 1t is a day OF preparation
for the home journey.
With the beginning of the general
movement to home stations tomorrow
morning, the division. first in the his
tory of American military aviation, will
cease to exist.
In q formal announcement Of the
completion Of the maneuvers, Brig.
Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois, commander
of the division, said last night:
THE First Air Division has conclud
ed successfully the largest air maneu-
vers ever assigned to the Air Corps in
peace times. Operation over an area
bounded by Chicago, New York and
Washington. with its far-flung recon-
Nuisance extending from the Great
Lakes to the Atlantic seaboar5. and
from Maine to Virginia, the division
carried out its mission.
CongratuIates Personnel.
Monday the division breaks up. It's
units returning to their respective sta
tions throughout the United States.
With them they will carry the thought
of successful performance carried out
in accordance with the traditions OF the
Army. To these officers and men who
have so Loyalty performed their duty
under my command, l extend my con-
ITO the communities who have so
warmly welcomed the division in its
pilgrimage, to the thousands OF indi-
viduals who have so generously Coop
Grated in our problems Of maintenance,
extend my appreciative thanks
Gen. Foulois and the officers and
men of the division we're warmly COM
mended by F. Trubee Dawson, Assistant
Secretary of War for Aviation in
formal statement issued last night
Dawson Commends Men.
THE main phase of the largest and
most instructive air maneuvers ever
conducted in times Of peace has just
been completed" Mr.. Dawson said.
1.-The chief of the Air Corps and Brig
Gen. Foulois, in command of the 1st
Air Division, and every single ofEcer
and enlisted man of his command, de-
serves the highest commentator for
the extraordinary efficiency, safety end
precision with which these exercises
have been conducted"
The record of the past two weeks
Mr. Dawson said S:anGs as the
highest possible tribute to the person
mel and equipment" The record OF
safety, he declared, could not have
been accomplished but for the superior
equipment produced by the American
aircraft industry, the excellent staff
cipline.'
Mr. Dawson emphasized the fact
that the maneuverS have not cost sin
gle penny more than w-uld normal
training operations Of the Air Corps,
but merely represent MESSING of the
units for training together rather than
a dribbling out Of training in small
units.
Had Greatest Cooperation.
1T is obvious" Mr.. Dawson said,
"that there are perpiex.ng questions
involved in supplying, maintaining and
commanding over 500 planes as a single
unit. These answers cannot be found
in an office; they must be worked out
in actual exercises. Furthermore,
there are additional problems in operat-
ing la'ge numbers Ct plenes from
civilian exports and over civilian air.
ways. Municipal and airport authori-
ties. as we'll as civilian pilots and
operators. have furnished invaluable
cooperation.
II 6oubt if any air maneuvers have
eve- ben mere productive than the
pre-ent cnes from the training and
technical standpoint They clearly
r'ace the United States in first place
IN so far IS the operation OF large units
is concerned"
Secretary of War Patrick j. Hurley,
Secrstary of the Navy Charles Francis
Adams and Gen. Douglas Macarthur,
chief of staff, added their congra tula-
tions to the officers and men OF the
division.
Observation Group to Leave.
Though rehabilitation Of the division
Is not to begin off1cially until tonor-
rcv morning, several units are expected
to start on their way today. The 102nd
Observation Group, composed OF the
2O5th. 206th and 207th Squadrons,
manned by cadets and instructors from
EI1iI V1nv De ~ laaya TanOloV