Evening star., 1935-10-20
radio control stations from Florida to
the Argentine and across the Pacific.

radio control stations from Florida to
the Argentine and across the Pacific.
Command Of the new 14th Bombard-
ment Squadron, stationed ut Boiling
Field, has been assigned to Capt. Hez
Mcclellan, Army Air Corps, who has
received temporary promotion to the
rank Of major. Maj. Mcclellan dur
ing the past Summer completed an
air tour of Alaska which ranks as one
Of the finest individual flights Of re-
cent years. It was made in q stock
amphibian transport plane taken on
the line at Boiling Field, without spe-
cial equipment Of any kind and with
no advance arrangements in Alaska
for fuel or servicing.
At one stop he made in Central
Alaska the only fuel available was OF
such dubious looking quality that Mai
Mcclellan poured some of it out on q
plank, stood back ut . safe distance
lighted o match and tossed 1t into the
puddle to see whether the stun would
burn. That match fell into the sup
posed gasoline and went out with q
hissl Nothing better being available,
however, the major poured some OF
the fluid into the tank, took OF with
the aid Of the last remaining high
test gas In his reserve tank and then
switched to the new supply, expecting
the engines to stop or blow up or do
almost anything but run normally.
The engines, accustomed to a dainty
diet Of 81 octane, however, behaved as
thoroughbreds and purred right on, he
reported.
Maj. Mcclellan made some beautiful
motion picture recordings of high
lights Of his trip. These pictures were
shown to local Air Corps Reserve ofIi-
GERS at the first training conference
d the season.
Capt. Lester J. Maitland, hero OF
the first Hawaiian flight and former
operations of1icer at Boiling Field, also
has received a temporary promotion
to the rank Of major and assignment
to command the 9th Attack Squadron,
Barksdale Field, La.
The wholesale permanent Army pro-
motions recently authorized by Con-
sress and the War Department have
brought advances in rank to many
Air Corps officers on duty in WASH
ington or formerly stationed here.
Eight lieutenant colonels. three of
whom now are serving In the tempo
rary rank of brigadier general, have
been promoted to full colonelcies.
They are Henry Conger Pratt, Gerald
Clark Brant, Ira Longanecker, Frank
Maxwell Andrews, Oscar Westover,
Henry Black Clagett, Jacob Earl
Fickel and Rush Blodgett Lincoln.
Among the 80 Air Corps ma ajors
promoted to the permanent rank of
lieutenant colonel are Martin F. Scan
lon, commanding ofiicer, Boiling Field.
and Howard c. Davidson and Harvey
s. Burwell, both former commanders
Of the local post. Scores Of lieuten-
ants were advanced In rank.
Kingman Reef, tiny dot sn almost
the exact geographical center Of the
Pacific Ocean. today has assumed a
prominent place on the aviation map
OF the world, although in the past
1t has been too small and isolated
to show on any general map.
Because Of its position on the line
between Honolulu and Auckland, New
Zealand, the lonely little reef has
come to assume an important place
in the plans for air transport con-
quest Of the Pacific, greatest expanse
on earth remaining to be developed
for air travel.
1t is reported by the Pan.Pacific