Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-04-14

L refreshing as a cool, pine
overheated, Stuffy, smoke Laden
new life and a new hope.
The old Air Corps was Stif1ed
the average layman realized. ms
of the service. The planes were
not get even the minimum of nj
motion system was hopelesSly in
The airmail experience of ca
ultimate Salutary effect intended
OF the service. Launched into tn
equipment. without experience in
service, without time to set up ;
and in the face of the worst f1ylr
was mercilessly handicapped.
mostly unmerited criticism, Whic,
the circumstances. That the A
service which, at its close was I
period than civil airmail had bee
tract cancellation, escaped public
The Air Corps felt that 1t had been
stigmatized unjustly, though Air Corps
officers did not say so. Most OF them
felt that the airmail experience was a
time of darkness for the whole service.
Actually, however, the Army's trou-
bles during the airmail struggle
marked the turning point. Since that
time the flying service has been on
the upturn.
The airmail service served to throw
harsh limelight on the terrible lack
of proper radio equipment and naviea-
ton instruments, insufficient flying
time and other handicaps which were
cutting into the effectiveness OF the
Air Corps. The effect has been no.
ticeable in the new appropriation bills
for national defense.
New Goal Set Up.
| Creation of the General Headquar-
/ tiers Air Force in effect has set up
corps d'elite' within the Air Corps.
Coupled with temporary promotion
system the hope for new equipment.
greater flying time, more adequate
training and a new goal. the whole
sale reorganization which now is IN
progress has mad happy effect upon
the whole Air Corps.
The General Headquarters Air Force
is functioning as an air force should
function; in the field, actually dig
ging in a practical way into the null
titude of little problems which must
be worked out If an effective organi-
cation is to be in readiness Tor
emergency.
There is a different and more
friendly feeling on the part of men,
bers of Congress and on the part OF
the high command of the Army to-
ward the Army flying service.
All the problems have not been
tackled. The Nation does not have
as yet an adequate air defense. There
is an acute shortage of personnel, es-
pecially of flying officers, and there are
not enough airplanes. But there Is a
better approach, more practical I'M
Outstanding of the problems, re-
newed vigor and courage and a real
hope that the country is on the road
finally to clearly defined goal.
Treasure Hunt Today.
An aerial treasure hunt" today will
open the 1885 series of flying events
arranged by the Washington Air Derby
Association. The hunt will start and
finish at College Park Airport, College
Park, Md. The various clues will
carry pilots to airports in and around
the District in the search for the
treasure"
A silver coffee service and cocktail
shaker have been offered as prizes,
winner to take his choice. Harrisn
Buddy" Somerville, president Of the
Derby Association, Is in charge of ar
rangements. The public is invited to
College Park Airport to witness the
start and finish of the event. Free
parking space will be available.
Plans for the annual Langley day
air meet, largest of the local flying
events, are being pushed to completion
by the derby group. The meet will be
held at College Park, Sunday, May s.
Last year approximately 40 contest
ants took part in this meet.
Bill Payne, in charge of the miscel-
laneous flying operations at Washing
ton Airport, reports that last Sunday.
for the first time since last Summer,
sightseeing flights were made by more
than 200 passengers.
The flight training class has been
augmented by Chinese student
named WI, first name not recorded,
who is taking military flying course
In preparation for military service
back in China. WI has a student
pilots permit.
Passenger traffic on the scheduled
air transport lines in the United
States showed healthy increase dur
ing the month of February, according
to a report for the month just made
public by the Bureau of Air Commerce.
Informal reports from individual air
transport operators indicate that even
greater increases were the rule during
March.
The Federal report shows that dur
ing February the domestic airlines
carried "a, 998 passengers, as compared
with % ,922 in January, and with 27,62A
in February Of last year. Passenger.
miles down showed IN even larger in