Evening star., 1935-04-12
BOILING IS HOME
TO NEW AIR UNITS
Two Tactical, One Service
Squadrons Organized
at Army Post.

Army Air Corps today has reached
Boiling Field and made it for the
first time in its 18 years history the
home of combat squadronS OF the air
force. It was learned today that two
tactical squadrons and one service
squadron have been organized and
now are functioning at the local Army
post, opening the most active period
In the peace-time history Of the field.
The two tactical squadrons are en-
tlrely new and are being created
from the ground up. They are the
14th Bombardment Squs dron, unit
of the 9Th Bombardment Group of
the General Headquarters Air Force,
and the 21st Observation Squadron.
The Tooth Service Squadron also has
been organized and is functioning.
All three squadronS now are on a
skeletonized basis but will be built up
to strength as rapidly as personnel Is
made available. 1t probably will be
another year before sufficient air
planes of the proper types are avail.
able for use. In the meantime the
squadrons are using pos airplanes OF
the types most nearly approximating
those with which they will be perma-
nently equipped.
21st Expects Another Plane.
The 2lst Observation Squadron, a
long-range amphibian squadron, is
commanded by Capt. William v. An
dreWs, Air Corps, operations officer at
Boiling Field and brother of Brig.
Gen. Frank M. Andrews, command
ing general of the G. H. @. Air Force.
Lieut.. Stewart w. Towle, jr.. is sec
ond in command. This squadron now
has one twin-engined Douglas long
range amphibian reconnaissance air.
plane and expects early delivery of
a second. The ultimate officer strength
of the squadron is to be "a. The
squadron today has about 10 enlisted
men.
The 14th Bombardment Squadron
Is commanded by Lieut.. Donald B.
Phillips. with Lieut. William A. r.
Robertson second. This squadron also
is to have "a officers under the pres
ent tables of organization. 1t has
about 10 enlisted men at present.
This squadron has no bombardment
airplanes today, and, for training in
the flying of heavy planes, Is using a
twin-engined Curtiss Condor trans
port and tri-motored Ford transport.
When brought up to strength, both
these tactical squadrons will be CON-
manded by majors, with captains as
flight leaders.
been organized and is functioning
under the command of Capt. Aubrey
Hornsby. 1t has only three airplanes
assigned to it at present.
Organization OF the tactical squad
rons at Boiling Field has made neces-
sary the complete reorganization OF
the field administrative system. The
headquarters unit at the field has
been abolished and the administra-
ton of the field turned over to sta
tion complement as is the case at
other fields which are the homes Of
tactical organizations.
Maj. Martin F. Scanlon. Air Corps.
Is commander of the station compile
ment. Under the reorganization plan,
the complement includes only eight
Air Corps officers of the Regular
Army, freeing other officers at the
post for duty with the squadrons.
Boiling No Tactical Post.
Although Boiling Field has become
the home of its first fighting units of
the Air Force under the new G. H. @.
Air Force set-up, this arrangement
is only temporary, it was explained
by officers of the headquarters of the
Air Force when interviewed at Lang
ley Field, Va, by representative of
The Star.
Boiling Field is not intended to be
q tactical aviation post and in case
of emergency the local squadrons
would leave 1t for duty with their
G. H. @. units. The 14th Bombard-
ment Squadron would go to Mitchell
Field for duty with the 9th Bombard-
ment group and the 21st Observation
and Tooth Service Squadrons probably
would go to Langley Field for duty
with the I'd Wing.
The local Army post is intended
chiefly as a training center for Air
Corps officers on duty in the War De-
partment, who must continue regu-
lar flight training although assigned
to desk jobs. The local field also
serves as reservoir for airplanes re-
quired for travel by Air Corps officers
between the War Department and
tactical posts in the field. In war
time, this service of communication
between Washington and combat units
in the field would be the principal
function of Boiling Field, it was ex-
planned at G. H. O. Air Force
In the meantime, however, the
fighting squadrons here are to be
built up to strength as rapidly as
personnel and equipment can be OBJ
tained and Washington will be given
Its first experience with actual COM
hat