Evening star., 1936-09-04
--LATEST AIR CORPS
SHAKE-UP AFFECTS
BOILING FIELD
Post Transferred to Direct
Jurisdiction of War
Department.
14TH AND 21ST UNITS
TO BASE AT LANGLEY
Reorganization Is on Wartime
Basis to Make Field Available
for Instant Service.

Complete reorganization Of the
Army Air Corps setup at Boiling Field,
involving transfer of the post from
the General Headquarters Air Force
to the direct jurisdiction of the War
Department, transfer to other posts
of the 14th Bombardment and 21st
Observation Squadrons, and the crea-
ton of new l4th Base Headquarters,
a new l4th Base Headquarters Squad.
ron and of two new type squadrons,
to be known as the lst and I'd Staff
Squadrons, is in process today.
The reorganization, which affects
every unit at Boiling Field, is a part
Of a general remodeling of the ma
tional air defense system resulting
from years operation of the new
General Headquarters Air Force plan,
it was explained by Air Corps officers.
The Boiling Field reorganization is
in line with the setting up of Army
aviation on wartime basis to make
it available for instant service in case
of emergency. Under the reorganiza-
ton plan now in operation, Boiling
Field will serve as the War Depart
ment base of aviation operations and
aerial communication.
Traffic Would Increase.
In case of war, it was pointed out.
Army aviation traffic at Boiling Field
would become 20 to 80 times as heavy
as it is today, because it would serve
as the air base for the Air Corps
headquarters here. Boiling Field would
be called upon to supply aerial mes
senger service and airplanes for the
use of administrative personnel Of the
Air Corps travelling between Washing
ton and the tactical units. There also
would be a constant flow of subordi-
nate commanders from General Head
quarters Air Force units in the field
and main headquarters here.
To provide an operating organiza-
ton which could handle this vast in
crease of activity in case of emergency,
it was decided that Boiling Field
should be removed from the General
Headquarters Air Force, which is
strictly combat organization, and
transferred to direct supervision Of
the Office of the chief of the Air Corps
in the War Department.
Under the new organization plan
the peace-time function Of Boiling
Field of providing airplanes in which
Air Corps officers on duty in the War
Department, at the Army War College
and q tho TyodY1cfria1
can keep up their flying training. Will
be accommodated more efficiently, it
is believed.
Up to the time of the reorganiza-
ton Boiling Field was operated by a
station complement, responsible to the
chief of the Air Corps, and was the
base for three aerial organizations.
the 14th Bombardment Squadron and
the 2lst Observation Squadron. at
tached to the General Headquarters
Air Force, and the Tooth Service
Squadron, mobile service organiza-
ton available for use in any emergency
area.
Squadron Broken Up.
The Tooth Service Squadron has
been broken up to provide personnel
for the new Base Headquarters and
the Base Headquarters Squadron.
These new units are the equivalent
of a brigade headquarters and will be
charged with the operation Of the field
and shops
The two staff squadrons will be
composed of personnel of the former
station complement and will be
charged with the maintenance of the
38 airplaneS of all types now assigned
to Boiling Field and with the flying
Of special missions for the War De-
partment. There now are 65 Air
Corps officers holding aviation ratings
either stationed at Boiling Field or
attached to the field for flying pur-
poses while on duty at War Depart
ment desks or in the military colleges.
The 14th Bombardment and 21st
Observation Squadrons have been
transferred to Langley Field, Va. This
transfer, however, was largely
paper operation most Of the person.
mel being detached for duty in the
new Boiling Field organizations.
Under the new set-up, Boiling
Field is left without a single tactical.
or combat, organization. Langley
Field, Hampton, Va, ITO miles TO the
southeast, the home of the great 2nd
wing of the General headquarters
Air Force, is the air defense base for
the entire Middle Atlantic coastal
area, including Washington.
Col. Ryan in Command.
Col. William Ord Ryan, former
commander of the station complement
at Boiling Field, has been designated
commander of the 14th Air Base.
Maj Aubrey Hornsby. Air Corps, is
commander of the new 14th Base
Headquarters Squadron; Maj. Samuel
c. Eaton. j-., of the 1st Staff Squad
ron. and Maj. Donald r. Fitzgerald of
the 2nd Staff Squadron.
The 21st Observation Squadron.
moved to Langley Field, is being re.
constituted there as an active squad
ron to be known as the 21st Recon.
naissance Squadron, also a new desig-
nation in Air Corps annals. The 14th
Bombardment Squadron, for the pres
ent, has become inactive, although
formally designated as one of the
G. H. @. Air Force tactical organiza-
tionS.