Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-03-23
Lions Club
Is Surprised By
Members Talk
Elmer Phillips Describes His Service in
Air Branch Of Uncle Sans Army
Lieutenant and Licensed Pilot.

The Libby Lions devoted some time
Monday evening to discussion of the
coming joint meeting by the civic or
CARNATIONS of the town and also lis
tened to committee report on SWIM
ming pool matters. l. S. WEIGH was
appointed to represent the club on a
committee that is preparing a program
for the Joint meeting
The Lions discussed these matters
little knowing of the unusual treat in
store for them This turned out to be
most interesting talk by Elmer Phil
lips, who was introduced by Don Har-
greaves, in charge of the evenings en-
tertainment Mr.. Phillips, as everyone
know. is the competent manager of
the Libby fish hatchery But his dis
course was not concerning the thous-
ands Of little guests Of which he takes
such marvellous care each year. While
nearly everyone knows Mr.. Phillips as
fish culturist, practically no one
knows that he is trained airplane
pilot and has worn the uniform Of
Uncle Sam in the army aviation serv-
ice.
Mr. Phillips held his audience for
some little time In close and amused
attention as he recited one humorous
incident after another IN his expert
ence in the service. He narrated how
his first attempt to enlist failed when
he was obliged to produce birth GER
tficate and his age was disclosed. He
was laconicallv told to Come back
at the end of another year and per-
haps you can get in" This he did and
soon found himself a student in the
air service. He took his listeners step
by step through the course he followed;
impaired no small amount of informa-
ton regarding aviation matters; and
described humorously his first expert
ences aloft. when he found himself
$500 feet up in the air and in control
of the ship for few brief minutes. He
had been possessed of great deal
of conceit and self-confidence, stated
Phillips but when that plane began to
cut up antics he apparently could not
control it required only about five
seconds for all that conceit to flow
right out of him and he was more
than willing for the seasoned pilot to
again take charge Of affairs. He told
OF his first attempt to land ship.
striking the ground so hard that the
ship jumped at least 30 feet into the
air; of the peculiar "lost" sensation
one has when he takes off in his first
solo flight and of his almost paraiyzing
concern in attempting to land alone
for the first time.
Finally, however, Phillips passed all
the examinations and tests and found
himself licensed pilot in the army.
He then set out for a Iieutenancy and
obtained that in due time. when he
was assigned to motor instruction in
aviation schools In that capacity he
was moved from one flying field to
another. His first experience was in
California but later his duties called
him throughout the Middle West.
Throughout the entire discourse
Phillips kept narrating incidents that
called out outlaws and smokers of
laughter.
He closed with brief reference to
the need of strong air. service for
the nation as an arm of national de-
Tense. stating that the huge modern
dreadnaught is helpless before bomb
ing airplane At his close he was
loudly applauded and freely compli-
mented. President Russell aptly re-
marked, Here we've had this blushing
violet with us for three or four years
and no one has known thing about
all this