Evening star., 1935-12-08
NAVAL AVIATION
EXPANSION URGED
Admiral King Advocates
Building Up to Treaty
Strength in Report.

Expansion of naval aviation to treaty
limits was advocated yesterday by
Rear Admiral Ernest J. King, chief
of the Bureau of Aeronautics, in his
annual report to Secretary Swanson.
Admiral King urged an increase
in personnel, as well as more air
planes of maximum performance abil-
tiles. He recommended that the total
number of airplaneS be enlarged IN
accordance with the treaty, and that
prompt requirements be made for OBJ
solete or damaged planes.
The bureau chief also urged crea-
ton of a fleet air force to operate
under the commander in chief of the
United States Fleet.
Experiment Pledged.
The report pledged the bureau to
constant effort" to Improve the eff
cheney of naval aviation, by vigorously
pursuing an experimental program
which will develop aircraft Of maxi
mum speed, range and striking power"
The report said, in part:
1.-THE development and employment
of patrol planes as potent striking
force is expected to continue. service
test of larger seaplanes OF TINS type
with increased range, bomb LOADS
and speed, is in sight.
Continued efforts will be made
to increase the striking force OF car
rier based aircraft by including ar
raneements for all carrier airplanes to
increase their effectiveness in attack.
THE development of new and i'm
= proved instruments, armament and
accessories will be prosecuted Wig
orously.
The manufacture of certain air
craft and engines at the Naval Air
craft Factory will be accomplished.
Continued efforts will be made
further to increase the efficiency OF
overhaul bases, including all practl-
cal reduction of upkeep and overhaul
costs.
Development of Engines.
'The DEVELOPMENT of more powerful
engines is expected further to improve
the performance of naval aircraft.
Improvement in carrier launching
and arresting arrangements Is ex-
pected."
Recommendations made by Admiral
King to the cabinet officer include;
provide for an adequate number
of suitable tenders for patrol planes.
= "obtain maximum efficiency from
naval aviation by establishing a tieet
air force, with commander dlrectly
under the Commander in Chief.
Improve existing carriers and air
plane handling facilities on all ships,
as may be required ana found practi-
cable.
Establish a naval air station in
the San Francisco Bay area, with
immediate development of patrol plane
operating facilities.
Continue improvement in perform
ance of aircraft by a wel-consldereo
experimental program.
Provide necessary increases IN IA
ci1ities at short stations, as required
by the increases in numbers OF meet
aircraft, as recommended by the
Shore Station Development Board.
To Improve. Morale.
srmnroye the morale, heath and
efdciency of junior officers attached
10 the Fleet Air Base, Coco Solo, G. L.,
bv constructing adequate officers
quarters on the Fleet Air Base.
Replace bird-clasS tenders with
small fast tenders designed for that
purpose.
"Provide required increase in naval
aviation personnel.
Continue training of personnel IN
non-rigid airships, pending the report
of the special committee appointed by
the Science Advisory Board to review
the situation regarding dirigibles.
Improve the efficiency OF the base
force by assigning U. S. S. Langley to
that force"
Recalls Feats of Fleet.
Admiral King recalled some OF the
%eats. of naval aviation during the
7scal IL months, including the flight
of 43 patrol planes from the Fleet AR
Base at Pearl Harbor, T. H, to Mid
way Island and return, during the war
games: the landing of U. S. S. Macon
with loss of only two lives a1ter
structural failure" and the great fleet
aircraft concentration, terminating
with a demonstration of carrier, battle
ship and cruiser based aircraft Oh the
Virginia Capes on September 6. 1884.
Touching on the loss of the Macon,
of the California coast on February
IL, 1885, and the future of airships In
the Navy, Admiral King said:
Pending report by the special Air.
ship Committee that has been ap-
pointed, the chief of the Bureau Of
Aeronautics does not consider it ap-
propriate to make recommendation
regarding the construction of addi-
tional large rigid dirigibles. 1t is
hoped that the report from this COM
mittee viii be available within a few
months and that shortly thereafter
the present uncertainty with refer
ence to future departmental action in
regard to large airships can be