Evening star., 1936-03-01
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

ing the creation last year OF Tie ueW
General Headquarters Air Force, in
the opinion of Lieut.. Col. Byron @.
Jones, Army Air Corps.
Col. Jones, one of the Nations
pioneer aviators, who has been fly
ing since 1918, believes that there
must be three distinct types of mill
tary airplanes for combat purposes.
These are one short-range type for
intimate employment with the ground
armies in the vicinity of the front
lines; another long-range type for en-
ployment as pure general head
quarters reserve force against more
distant targets, and the third the
superclass type.
The present trends of military avia-
ton, indicated by the trends of avia-
ton development, are somewhat aside
from true military needs, in the
opinion of Col. Jones.
"Airplanes." he said. "are emphasiz-
ing speed, size and power at the ex-
pense of utility. So much attention
is being paid to speed, range and
combat load that the military re-
quirements of utility embodying low
costs, maneuverability and small size
are being lost sight Of From the
viewpoint of their primary mission
of assisting the other arms in COM
bat, the trend toward larger and
heavier planes is diverting them from
that mission.
IF combat aviation has the power
We claim for it for military opera
tions, it must be utilized in all profit
able fields. Those fields cannot be
restricted to operations from rear
areas against distant targets. To
contribute its share as valuable
member of the military team in COM
bat. it must be physically associated
with the other arms.
If we will associate an airplane's
combat load. speed, range. maneuvera-
strength with their counterparts in
other vehicles, we will have a sound
conception of its comparative per-
formance powers and limitations.
Must Know Possibilities.
"The airplane is valuable, though
expensive, weapon of war that must
be conserved to roles that contribute
positively to success. We must know
just how it can be used as means
of waging war, both independently
as a distinct arm and dependently
as a subordinate member of the mill
tary team"
Airplane speeds now have become
50 great that the physical effort is
too great to swing guns exposed to
the air flow and flexible guns must
be fired from trurrets Or from behind
protecting hoods, Col. Jones pointed
out. If pursuit aviation is to per-
form its useful defensive role against
large enemy bombardment formations,
a gun is needed to fire supersensitive
fuse shell with sufficient explosive
charge to damage any part of the
airplane which may be struck, he
believes. When shell guns are pro-
vided, then the entire airplane will
become a vulnerable target instead
Of. as at present, only the personnel,
engines and fuel tanks.
Flexible guns are still limited to
caliber 80 because of the difficulty
Of mounting anything heavier in
light airplane structures. The caliber
so, however, can be fired as fixed
gun forward, and pursuit planes now
are so equipped.
The problem of using machine guns
against enemy airplanes has increased
tremendously since the World War.
Plane speeds have been doubled, while
cal1ber 80 machine gun velocities have
remained the same. The average ac-
curate firing range against small air
targets is still the same-20O wards.
ihe effective ranges of calibers 80
and so guns are greatly in excess
OF the detection ranges at which they
can be fired with any accuracy into
an alrplane cockpit or engine, the
problem of DETECTION firing having in
creased tremendously with increased
Hight speeds. Flat trajectory, high
muzzle velocities are required to COM
pensate for the increased flight speeds.
ana to date there has been no such
compensation, the colonel declared.
Concentrated Fire Impossible.
Arplane speeds have also become
700 great for simultaneous concentra-
IONS OF flre upon single target by
the forward guns of even a three
pane formation. The chances of COL
nslon are too great. For formation
attacks, therefore, separate targets
must be selected for individual air.
planes.
Speed also initiates against the
laying" of gas and explosives from
loW-nylng attack planes without the
oanger OF ricocheting off the target
10 prevent this small parachutes now
are being used to slow the fall of nro-
!ectiies and make them "stay put" on
the targets.
The problem of bombing from bonn
oaroment formations also has become
more serious with increased speed.
Inc blast effect of 1,100 and 2.000
pound bombs is dangerous on the air.
plane dropping them if it is flying be-
low 2,O00 feet. Also, below that alti-
tude accurate bombing by the use of
bomb sights is not practical, it is held.
Records of ceilings" or altitude be-
tween ground and the lower surface of
clouds at Boiling Field during daylight
hourS over period of two and one
haif months last Summer and early
Fall showed that of 724 observations,
100, or 1873 per cent, revealed ceilings
of below 1000 feet.
while conditions of poor visibility,
bad weather and darkness are excellent
Tor security and surprise" Col. Jones
said in commenting on this local
weather condition. "they preclude ac-
curate bombing of targets of small
dimensions. such as bridge piers, naval
vessels, power plants, locks, etc. You
cannot bomb what you cannot see."
Flares OF 100000 candlepower will
illuminate approximately 4 square
miles Of terrain with an average In
tensity Of moonlight for night bomb
ing. Col. Jones said. On moonlight
nights individual distinctive targets