Evening star., 1932-01-31

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fueling duration record, who pa
plane which he had been warned
Aviation consolidated its posi-
Of transportation with a series
passenger fares over most of the
rates, and at the same time plan
effectiveness of air transport sche
contracted for new airmail line
service was inaugurated January
Naval aviation got away to an aus
picious start in 1882, with the U. S. S.
Akron establishing new duration
record of 81 hours for American air.
ships, work proceeding rapidly on the
Akron's sister ship and construction OF
the new West Coast airship base at
Sunnyvale, Calf, well under way
Five Navy squadrons participated with
great success in the Miami races early
in the month and then continued on
into tropical waters for maneuYers, be-
ginning tomorrow.
January proved to be an important
month for the Army Air Corps. Lead
ersh1p OF the corps changed hands
Maj. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois taking
over command from Maj. Gen. James
E. Fechet. Gen. Fechet, retired, began
an active campaign for strengthening
OF the Nations aerial defenSes and for
building up OF aviation generally. One
OF the first important steps of the year
was the appointment of Harold Gatty
as aerial navigation research engineer,
effective tomorrow. Gatty, hero of the
eight-day flight around the world with
Wiley Post, Is regarded as the worlds
greatest aerial navigator. His base is
to be the Army Air Corps Materiel Di-
vision, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio.
The Air Corps also was able to report
few days ago the results of vitality
important developments in national de-
tense at Wright Field, where a series
OF new combat planes of vastly greater
effectiveness than any this country has
known have come into being. One of
these planes, in routine high-altitude
engine test, established a new speed
record between Dayton and the Ma
tlonal Capital, covering the 1872 miles
in Sc minutes. Another is said by the
War Department to have greater rate
OF climb than any similar plane in the
world. A new bomber, visitor in the
Capital during the past few days, is
characterized as the outstanding de-
Yelopment Of the year in military avia-
ton. 1t Is As to so miles per hour
faster than any plane of its size in
the world and Is regarded as an exceed
ingly effective weapon.
Starving Indians Fed.
The month found the Air Corps en-
gagged in a great humanitarian under
taking-the relief of thousands of snow
bound Indians, who were starving in
the high tablelands of the Southwest.
Bombardment planes, operating out of
emergency bases in Arizona, carried
thousands Of pounds of food to the suf-
ferers.
The month witnessed a number of
unusual flights and some new records.
TWenty-three planes, flown by amateur
pilots, engaged in the first great cross
country effort for sportsmen pilots, fly
ing from New York TO Miami to engage
in amateur contests in connection with
the All-American Air Races. Mai.
James H. Doolittle flew from st. Louis
to Havana with three passengers in
less than half day, with time out for
a stop at Jacksonville. The Akrons
62-hour flight was not her only achieve
nent during the month; she also made
a safe mooring contact with the U. S. S.
Patoka. sea-tender for Navy dirigibles
J. R. Dulaney, jr., made the first fight
4IOIll I1dNdlld W vera SIuZ dCIOSS LIE
breadth of the Gulf of Mexico.
Other important January events have
been:
Offering of the Bleriot speed trophy
for international competition. Meet
ings of the National Advisory Commit
tee for Aeronautics in Washington, with
Col. Char IS A. Lindbergh attending for
the first time since his appointment to
the committee, and of the Federation
Aeronautique Internationale in Paris.
At the Paris meeting changes of rules
affecting future aviation records were
agreed upon. Passage by the Senate of
a resolution providing for investigation
of the manner in which the Post Office
Department has been awarding airman
contracts.
AS the closing event in an unusual
month of aviation activity, the Aero
Club of Washington, local chapter of
the National Aeronautic Association,
last night held at the Willard Hotel its
second annual reception and ball in
honor of American flyers who estab-
lished new records during 1881.
Westover Takes Office.
Lieut.. Col. Oscar Westover, Army
Air Corps, who has just been appoint
ed assistant chief Of the corps with
the rank of brigadier general, will as
sumo Office here tomorrow. He was
appointed for term of four years to
fill the vacancy created by the promo
ton of Gen. Foulois. Gen. Westover
has been relieved from duty as in
structor at the Command and General
Staff School, Fort LeavenWorth, Kansas.
Gen. Westover, like Gen. FoulolS and
his predecessor, Gen. Fechet, rose from
the ranks Unlike Gen. Foulols, who
has been flying for % years, however,
Gen. WeStover began his career as an
airplane pilot in 1924, at the age OF
IL years, when he was graduated from
a one-year course at the Air Corps Ad-
vanced Flying School, Kelly Field, Tex
There are few men in the history OF
aviation who have learned to fly at
that age; many pilots have retired from
active flying before reaching the age
of 40.
Though Gen. Westover did not qualify
as an airplane pilot until 1924, he has
been connected with the Air Corps In
one capacity or another for many years
Born in West Bay City, Mich, July
%, 1883, Gen. Westover began his mill
tary career as an enlisted man in the
Engineers upon his graduation from
high school. He was appointed to West
Point from the ranks, graduated in
1906 and commissioned lieutenant OF
Infantry. He remained in Infantry
until, with the rank Of captain, he
transferred to the Signal Corps and
was advanced to the temporary rank
of major in September, 1917.
Late In the war he took charge o1
the storage and traffic department OF
the Bureau of Aircraft Production anc
was promoted to the rank of lieutenant
colonel, Air Service, in August, 1918
From just after the Armistice until the