Evening star., 1936-03-01
LONC.RANCE SUPERPLANE
HELD NEEDED In DEFENSE
Air Corps Expert Sees Attack Upon
Far.Distant Critical Areas as
Vital Military Threat.

great not to expect a reasonably safe
development Of its use in war;"
Improved flying instruments and
aviation engines have contributed
greatly to effectiveness Of military
aviation. Diving speeds of pursuit
planes, however, have exceeded the
capabilities of engines to keep up with
them. The valve mechanisns, gear
driven superchargers and crankshafts
cannot stand up under the high en-
gine revolutions induced by long
power dives.
Drop the P-26 over 5000 feet in
q power dive with any power on at
ALL" Col Jones explained. "and when
it is pulled out of the dive the engine
is Throughout happy thought for
a pilot in combat. especially over the
lines. In such dives normal maximum
engine revolutions of 1900 rpm. easily
run up to 5000 rpm"
THE capabilities of any good weapon
exceed these of its combat crews
Col. Jones said. The value of the
airplane as military weapon depends
upon the native ability training and
experience of its operating personnel
The present one years course for Air
Corps student flyers does two things
1t eliminates unsuitable personnel tan
average of SO per cent year over a
siX-year period). thereby reducing ac-
cidents and saving lives and equip
lo1tx,a,c Ix,
for unit training.
Good unit commanders who con-
centrate upon this new material can,
with approximately 60 hours of prof.
liable flying, develop them into ex-
cellent combat personnel. From then
on only experience, industry and their
native ability can improve them.
Raising the standards of student prof.
cheney, coupled with vigorous elm
ination, could correct to a considerable
degree the deficiencies of war training
by insuring the retention of only the
very best personnel"
Independent Strength in Doubt.
Col. Jones holds that the develop
ment of military aviation has
reached a. stage of stability only for
two of its missions-one assisting the
other arms in combat. the other as
sisting in the defense of critical areas.
What it can do as an independent
ly operating G. 4. @. force remains to
be developed" he said What super
bombers can do to spread destruction
on the high seas and deep into the
interior of enemy territory is an open
question"
The most intimate relationship be-
| tween military aviation and the ground
arms obtains in observation. it was
pointed out Observation aviation pro-
vides immediate returns to all ground
units Pursuit aviation is necessary
to protect observation aviation. The
role of attack aviation is determined
| by the direct contribution 1t can make
| 70 the success of the operations of the
ground forces. 1t is regarded as es-
sentially a dispensing, delaying, har-
assing and denying force to be en-
ployed primarily against targets that
cannot be reached by the weapons OF
| other arms.
It is regarded as essential that the
! presence of attack planes be adver-
| tised to the enemy. This knowledge
| is expected to cause the enemy to dis
pose his forces in rear areas and on
the march SO as to avoid air raids,
thereby slowing down his movements
Pursuit finds its second role in
breaking up attack airplane forma-
tions and curbing their usefulness
against friendly ground forces. P,lr-
suit will be required wherever the
presence of hostile attack aviation is
known, Jones pointed out.
Bombardment aviation may be used
against targets in the rear areas OF
hostile forces, forcing the enemy to
| disperse his large installations, en-
dangering his lines of communication
and supply and forcing the enemy to
set up air defenses in the areas be-
hind his lines.
Four Short-Range Types.
This gives four classes of aviation
in the immediate theater of opera
tions-observation, pursuit, attack and
bombardment-all forming part OF
the short-range type.
"A most valuable contribution that
military aviation can make to the
conduct of war is successful attacks
against those industries of the enemy
vital to his war efforts" the colonel
said
Developments in range, size, per-
Torrance and power of bombardment
aviation are creating a specialized
bombardment type that is outgrowing
its possible economic employment in
the theaters of operation as a member
of the military team. The roles that
superbombers could perform can be
executed more suitably and economi-
cally by smaller types. The range
and power of these modern super
bombers call for consideration of their
employment against distance major
targets beyond the concern of the
theater commanders. Their employ
ment, therefore, involves considera-
tions dealing with the strategy of the
"oA do q "AAOIC. wal SlidGcky S tklE
concern of general headquarters, hence
only G. H. @. can determine the roles
that superbombers should play.
For the defense of the frontiers,
which, in part, contemplates opera
tions as land-based aviation against
hostile fleets, economy precludes the
development of special force other
than coast patrol units. Any threat
OF invasion across our frontiers will
require the movement to the threat
ened areas of all members of the
military team. Should these move
ments be too slow, aviation can in
itiate operations in advance of the
arrival OF ground troops. Basically,
the requirements for special coast
patrol observation units will depend
upon the naval situation. There is
requirement for coast patrol OBJ
servation aviation as reconnaissance
force to cover the gap between our
NAVY and the shore Tn odd;+;o,, T.,