Evening star., 1934-07-01

ciflC flight but one swings along
With the advent of long-ra
the United States no longer ca,
Tended aerial highway such as t
flights by 10 new Martin Bit
airplanes and II new Navy Mart
with an eye to the future detenS
Important to Aviation.
While inspection of the air COM
merce facilities of the Territory is but
one of the several objects of Secre-
tary RoperS journey. his studies are
likely to be of considerable impor-
tance TO civil and military aviation.
Alaskan air commerce is growing rap
IDLY and today holds a vital place in
the life of the Territory, which sadly
lacks communications facilities.
So marked has been the growth OF
civil aviation there that the Com
merce Department has been forced,
during the past few weeks, to assign
a permanent aeronautical inspector
to the Territory. Alaska today boasts
greater number of intermediate
landing fields than any single State
in the Union. The rapid communlca-
ton made possible by scheduled air
line service and numbers OF charter
planes is pouring new lifeblood into
the arteries of the Territory, and busl-
ness and aviation are growing there
in the closest of relationships.
Previous Studies Made.
Establishment in Alaska of aerial
L., he
ject of several more or less ndepen-
dent studies during the past several
years. The Army and Navy, obvi-
ously, have been forced to give the
most serious consideration to the
problem. officials of the Alaskan
territorial government also have been
concerned. National defense organlza-
tions in the United States also have
INDUCED in some agitation for Alas
kan defense.
Anthony J. Dimond, Alaskan dele
gate to Congress, during the past ses-
sion introduced in the House a bill
providing for establishment by the
Army of an air-defense base at Fair
banks At this base would be sta
toned permanently commandment
and pursuit squadrons necessary as a
nucleus for the air defense OF Alaska
and the direct route from Asia to the
United States. While no action was
I had on the measure, it served as
notice that the defense OF Alaska Is
becoming a problem which cannot be
ignored much longer.
1t is regarded as significant that
one of the members OF the Army
fight to Alaska is to be Capt. West
side T. Larson, who two weeks age
received the Mackay Trophy in rec
ognition of his pioneering flights in
connection with the development OF
methods and procedure of aerial
frontier defense" Other officers OF
the expedition, headed by Lieut. Col
Henry H. Arnold, one of the Nations
three senior military pilots in point
of service, are exceptionally able and
experienced.
Large Area to Be Covered.
The Navy fight is to be made by
two patrol squadrons from the Pa
cific Coast Base Force, under COM
mand of Lieut.. Comdr. James E
Shoemaker. 1t will cover not only
the coast line from San Diego tc
Alaska, but far out along the Aleutian
Island chain to Dutch Harbor. nun
dreds of miles southwest of the Army s
goal at Fairbanks.
Between them. the two services
will cover in these interesting ano
important flights a major portion OF
the territory Of Alaska. Many Gays
will be spent in the territory and hun
dreds of aerial photographs are tc
be made.
The results of the next two months
work in Alaska are certain to be oil
great importance to the Territory ano
to the Nation, not only In the Iur-
thering of aerial defense OF the Ter
ritory and the northwestern gateway
by air to the United States. but also
in the promotion there OF better
faster communications and the COM
mercial and business development OF
the resources of our northernmosl
I possession.
VN.6R Goes to Camp.
On Friday officers and men ol
VN-6R. local Naval Aviation reserve
Squadron, will begin leaving WASH
ington for the annual l5-day active
duty training period at the old Naval
Air Station. Cape May, N. j. Lieut.
Lloyd v. Berkner will be in command
The squadron is to be mobilized
Friday and will move all personnel.
baggage. engineering stores, ordnance
stores. office stores, etc, to Cape May
by planes, trucks and automobiles.
At the New Jersey station, the squad
ron will set up a completely self
sustaining organization.
The mission is the conducting OF
training in aerial free machine gum