Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-08
AIR FORCE Of j. S.
IN FOURTH PLACE
Combat Aviation Unit Has
Shortage of Planes as
Well as Pilots.

The year which has just closed finds
the United States reduced to fourth
place among the world powers In the
strength of its "air force" or purely
combat aviation. as separated from OBJ
Servation aviation, according to a review
OF the year just completed by the Army
Air Corps.
Though the year marked the close of
the five-year program Of the Air Corps,
strength in personnel and equipment fell
far short of that contemplated, and
there now are no prospects that the
combat strength Of the Nations aerial
defenses will be brought UP to standard
in the near future. ..r.
Although the Air Corps is 3e6 pilots
short of Its requirements, there is little
hope that the shortage will be mate
rally alleviated during 1888" 1t was
reported. New officers received from
the Military Academy at West Point and
trained at Army flying schools now are
the only new pilots being received in
the Regular Army Air Corps and these
are not more than sufficient in number
to compensate for losses due to death,
retirement and resignation.
Short of Enlisted Men.
There also is a shortage Of enlisted
men in the flying service, though not
so acute shortage as that among COM
missioned pilots. The last consolidated
personnel report, 1t was stated, shows
the following Air Corps strength. Reg
ular Air Corps officers, 1898; officers of
the Regular service detailed to the Air
Corps to undergo flying training, II;
Reserve officers on extended active duty,
300; warrant officers, 81; enlisted men,
10 Q03 and flVinQ cadets DOL
The Air Corps today consists OF the
following larger units: First Bonn
bardment Wing, March Field. Riverside,
Calf; 10Th Bombardment Group, Rock
well Field, San Diego, Calf; Primary
and Advanced Flying Schools, Ran
dolph and Kelly Fields, San Antonio
Tex; goth Pursuit Group, Barksdale
Field, Shreveport, La; Sd Attack
Group, Fort Crockett, Galveston, Tex.
Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell
Field, Montgomery, Ala. 18th Observa-
ton Group, Brooks Field, Tex; LIST Pur-
suit Group. Selfridge Field, Mount
Clemens, Mich; Air Corps Technical
School, Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill;
21st Airship Group. Scott Field, Ill.
Air Corps Engineering School and Air
Corps, Materiel Division Wright Field
Dayton, Ohio; I'd Bombardment Wing
Langley Field, Hampton, Va. 9th OBJ
servation Group, Mitchell Field, N. Y.
and 10 National Guard observation
squadrons scattered throughout the
country.
In It's possessions the Air Corps has
the following major units: Panama, one
composite wing, consisting of two OBJ
servation, two pursuit, one lombard
ment and one service squadron and a
pursuit group; Hawaii, one composite
wing, composed of two observation, two
service. two pursuit and one attack
squadrons, and the Philippines, one
composite wing of one observation, one
bombardment, one pursuit and one
service squadron.
Five additional pursuit squadrons are
to be organized if the provisions OF the
five-year program are carried out.
Shortage Of 221 Planes.
On the basis of latest returns, which
showed approximately 210 planes I'M
serviceable, either because they were
undergoing major repairs or overhaul
there Is a shortage Of 221 OF the 300
serviceable airplanes which were the
goal OF the f1ve-year program, all in
the Regular Army and Reserves. The
National Guard Squadrons were up to
full airplane strength.
Few contracts" it was reported
have been contaminated for the cur
rent fiscal year as yet, but several new
models which have been lately received
| and which have been given experiment
| tai and service tests to determine their
| suitability have given such PROMISE
that purchase Of larger lots from exist