Evening star., 1934-02-28
F0UL0|S DEFENDS
ARMY AIR CORPS
Points to Fact That Only
One Pilot Was Killed
Flying Mail.

Pointing out that only one Army
Air Corps pilot has been killed while
actually flying the airmail, Maj. Gen.
Benjamin D. Foulois, chief Of the
Army Air Corps, in radio address
broadcast last night denounced as
untrue, unfair and unfounded" Ger
tain of the accusations which have
been made rejecting on the efficiency
Of the Air Corps and against the
administration.
Foulois said the safety of Army
pilots has been and would be the
prime consideration in flying the air
mail. He assured relatives of Army
pilots now engaged in flying the air.
mail and the people Of the country
as q whole that no attempt has been
made and none will be made by the
Air Corps Ito maintain a high per-
centage of mail schedules regardless
Of hazards involved"
Safety Is Paramount.
ION the contrary" he declared, 81
have from the very start continually
stressed in my instructions that the
safety of operating personnel is the
paramount consideration in these op-
erations"
Foulois disclosed that on February
"a he had directed that only pilots
with more than two years service
in the Air Corps were tc be used for
night flying unless weather condi-
tions along the route were excellent" ]"
IT have dwelt," Foulois said, some
what at length on our safety first
policy primarily to give assurance
to the families of the pilots who are
flying the airmail. as well as to the
public at large, that every possible
precaution has been and is being
taken In the interest of their well
fare. I am honestly and frankly of
the opinion that the hazards involved
in flying the mail are not as great as
those involved in peacetime military
hying. when military flying is con-
sidered as a whole.
II would like, also, to ask you to
discount as untrue, unfair and un-
founded certain of the recent accusa-
tions and headline-seeking phrases
which have reflected not only against
the efficiency of the Air Corps per-
sonnel, but also against the present
administration. Much of this, in my
belief, is nothing more nor less than
partisan propaganda designed to ad-
vance interests which are by no means
unselfsh. These attacks in number
OF cases have emanated from persons
absolutely unqualified, in my opinion,
to pass Judgment on such matters,
especially if any weight is to be given
to the adage that air experience is
the best teacher
Questions Statements.
II seriously question the many
statements which have been made by
individuals in public and private life
during the past few weeks to the ef-
feet that the Army Air Corps is poorly
trained and poorly equipped, as COM
pared to foreign air powers. l will
promptly agree that in so far as
quantity of aircraft is concerned we
are behind at least four foreign air
powers. This fact has been frequently
stressed in the past. But I will not
admit that the normal quality of our
material and the general efficiency
O4 O0l pGl oOlilCl Id ChSCCoCa w alAS
air power in the world.
Much has been said lately of the
type of Air Corps officers now actually
flying the mail. Some would have you
believe them bunch of rosy-cheeked
young babies. On the contrary, they
constitute a corps of highly intelli-
gent, rugged, determined, loyal and
fearless young officers Today
they have no superiors in the world
as military flyers and. given a fair
chance, am certain they will, in a
very short time, be carrying the air
mail in favorable comparison with
their excellent commercial pilot COM
rades. Our military pilots are not
weaklings looking for sympathy! They
should be treated like men and not
like children. If there is anything
that the average red-blooded Ameri-
can military pilot resents, it is this
recent twaddle about inexperience,
rosy checked boys being sent to their
deaths.
Gives Roosevelt Message.
II wish to deliver a message from
the President, received through the
Secretary of War He has from the
beginning been personally and vitally
interested, not only in the welfare
Of the Regular Army and Air Corps
Reserve personnel now on duty in con-
nection with airmail operations, but
also personally interested in the pres
ent and future welfare of the pilots
and mechanics who are now or have
been employed in the civil and COM
mercial air transport service. He has
instructed me to utilize the services
Of the experienced civilian air line
pilots and mechanics, where practi-
cable. These instructions are being
fully carried out by the Army Air
Corps"