Evening star., 1932-11-06

designated VIZ, Is cOmmanded Dy
Capt Gilbert B. BudWig, director
Of air regulation aeronautics branch.
Department Of Commerce. Fiske
Marshall and George Gardner OF
the Airline Inspection Service, De-
partment Of Commerce aeronautics
branch, are executive officer and
engineering officer OF the squadron.
James Webb secretary to Representa-
tive Edward w Pou of North Carolina.
is operations officer and adjutant. Other
officers of the squadron are Bayard
Barber. personnel officer and quarter
master; Nelson Gaunt. communications
officer. and John A. Tlmmons IS
ordnance officer All except Capt. Bud
wig hold lieutenants' commissions.
The squadron is fortunate in haVlng
a group of well trained pilots at the
outset. Several Of them have recently
completed tours of active duty with reg
ular Marine Corps squadrons following
their graduation from training school
at Pensacola. Fla.
Despite the rigid requirements gov
erning enlistment of nom on-commlssloned
personnel of the squadron, more than ~
men already have been signed up and Ii
is anticipated that the squadron soon
will be up to fun authorized strength
The Marines also have night training
sessions on Tuesdays, in the newly
equipped reserve building at Anacostia
Naval Air Station, alternating IN the
use of the equipment with VN-6R, which
has its meetings on Thursdays. Inc
Marines and sailors use the flying equip
ment in rotation during the thrre week
~ flying periods on Saturday and sun
day afternoons and Sunday morning.
Navy Pilots Study Navigation
Lieut. Comdr. Edward w. Rounds.
skipper" of VN-6R, is putting his oft-
cer-pilCts through a stiff course in aar-
ial navigation. The procedure at pres
ent is to send the officers out in teams.
pilot and navigator to plane. The
navigator. without maps, is required TO
direct the pilot on a flight away from
the field for given length of time and
then return, navigating by dead-reck-
oning and being forced to compute wind
drift and compass errors for himself.
The pilot, with maps. checks the course
actually flown for future critique pur-
poses. The results are described as
surprising, some of the reserves wind
ing up at the end of the run with less
error than experienced old-timers of the
regular service.
This week end finds eight pilots OF
VN-6R holding authorizations for an eX-
tended flight for training purposes. in
Guiding navigation. which will take them
to the Boston area. Officers not max
ing the flight spent their training period
yesterday in ground work.
The Marine Corps East Coast Expe-
dictionary Force, at Quantico, Va, has
arranged to turn over three airplaneS,
two observation and one training, to
Anacostia for use of the two Reserve
outfits This will make nine planes
available regularly for the use OF the
Navy and Marine Reserves, with tenth
plane on hand in case of emergency.
VN-6R is holding examinations to fill
IL vacancies in its enlisted strength. An
examination was held last Thursday
night and one will be held next Thurs
Gay night Some 80 applicants ere to
be examined, and with this number to
choose from, the squadron hopes to get
good material
Transatlantic Line Delayed.
After thorough tests in the open sea,
the German steamer Westfalen, des-
tined to be used as a midocean fueling
point in the proposed German South
Atlantic airplane service, has been re-
turned to its home port for reconstruc-
ton found to be necessary as result
o. the tests.
Inauguration Of the transatlantic
service, which, according to unofficial
reports received in this country, was
to have taken place November Is, prob
ably will not be undertaken for several
months, as the Westfalen, following her
reconstruction, will be subjected to fur
ther sea tests before actual service is
undertaken.
The trials with the Westfalen, ac-
cording to word received in this coun-
try from directors of the line in charge
of the proposed service. were conducted
under the severest difficulties, but have
proved the practicability of dragnet
canvas arrangement which breaks the
force of the seas and aids in the land
ing and taking aboard ship OF seaplaneS.
The canvas drag is toWed out behind
the steamer. forming sort OF break
water, behind which wave turbulence
is reduced greatly.
In practice, the board reported, sea-.
planes will land on the surface, taxi to
the Westfalen to be hoisted aboard for
fueling and inspection. They will be
launched by catapult. The catapult
aboard the WeStfalen will be of the
same type used at present on the
Bremen and Europa in the North At
lantic "ship-to-shore" service.
Five contracts have been awarded for
the conditioning Of the Westfalen, in
cluding installation of the catapult and
other equipment. The Westfalen will
be provided with the first regular ocean
weather station and with powerful radio