Evening star., 1932-10-02

Of from $4,000 to $4,000 feet. Pilots
are rotated at this duty.
The closely knit Navy weather serv-
ice is intended to permit flying person.
mel to take advantage Of every hour OF
favorable flying weather and to pro-
vide warning Of sudden squalls or
storms in time to recall planes in the
air and secure against damage those
on the field or on board ship.
Investigations Are Made.
The Navy disseminates all but cur
rent weather information through the
Navy photographic Ofhce, which is
charged with the preparation of aero
logical charts and other material. The
theological service IS charged with a
number Of Investigations. 1t has in
stalled two radio goniometers, one at
the Anacostia Naval Air Station, for
obtaining bearings OF atmospherics and
correlating them with existing weather
conditions as shown on the daily
charts. These Investigations indicate a
great field for further development,
particularly in giving advance informa-
ton Of regions Of vertical instability.
which often give rise to thunderstorms
or line squalls. always potential sources
Of serious trouble.
Research investigations into wind
gusts are carried on at the Lakehurst
Naval Air Station, home of the Nays
chief lighter-than-a organization.
This information is of vital Importance
IN the handling on the ground Of large
rigid airships. Virtually all large
dirigibles suffer damage at one time or
another as result OF gusts while being
handled on the ground. The Akron has
hnn do +,iaa To-, t,tc
Development OF more sensitive and ac-
curate wind recorders Is part of this
work.
Investigations Of temperature in
versions near the ground of upper -air
conditions and surveys of theological
and Genealogical conditions in va
rious parts of the world are a part Of the
duty Of naval aerology.
More accurate weather information
is one of the pressing needs of mod
ern aviation. It is being obtained and,
as 1t Is obtained, means of overcoming
the handicaps of weather are being de-
vised. to the great advantage OF all
those who have to do with mans con-
quest Of the air.
Air Corps Expands.
Expansion Of the peace-time frame
WIN VI IAic hiuly AL SOipS WILL SOll-
tinue with the creation during the next
few weeks Of new pursuit groups at Al
brook Field, Panama, and Barksdale
Field, La. The Albrook Field group
will constitute part of the aerial de-
fenses Of the Canal Zone and that at
Barksdale will become a part Of the
Sd Attack Wing to be formed by the
movement of the Sd Attack Group
from Fort Crockett, Tex. and its ex-
pansion to wing by addition Of the
cooperating pursuit group.
Albrook Field is to become the home
of new composite wing as result of
the organization of the new pursuit
group. The 18th Composite Wing
headquarters have been organized at
Mitchell Field. N. Y, and have just
been ordered to the Canal Zone to take
over the administration of the new
wing. The pursuit outfit will be known
as the 18th Pursuit Group. It's head
quarters has been organized and the
headquarters detachment of 20 has
been ordered to Panama from Mather
Field. Sacramento. Calf The S0th
Pursuit Squadron is beirg moved from
Mather and the oath and 18th Pursuit
Squadrons from France Field, Panama,
to Albrook to compose the group
The BarkSdale Field pursuit group
will be known as the Goth Pursuit
Group and will include the 55th and
77th Pursuit Squadrons and a service
squadron, yet to be reconstructed. Sixty
four men are being moved to Barksdale
as nucleus Of the new group.