Evening star., 1936-09-27
u. S. Air Defense on Emergency Basis;
Almost All Combat Units Are Affected

Last December the entire @. H. Q.
Air Force concentrated In Florida
from points as far distant Is Cali
fornia In less than a. hours.
"On more than one occasion during
these maneuvers, bombardfhent avia.
ton flew approximately 1000 miles
nonstop. day and night, good weather
and foul, and delivered . simulated
attack at the appointed time.
"Our navigators are 50 skillful that
flights hundreds Of miles to sea are
of frequent occurrence. Regardless
of the distance flown, we expect now
an accuracy Of about 10 miles in
over-water navigation, and hope to
improve on that.
THE accuracy of our bombing Is
indicated by demonstration held
last week at Fort Benning, Ca, in
which q mean deviation Of mills
(40 feet) was recorded from 10000
feet. Good results have been OBJ
tanned in high altitude bombing and
training along this line Is being
stressed"
sShNO ~ NVOsA ~ ASO8
Deliveries to the Air Corps soon
will commence on . contract for IS
giant four-engined Boeing lombard
ment airplanes, each of which can de-
liver 1000 pounds of bombs on q
target $500 miles away and return
to its starting point nonstop and,
in addition, can carry suficient de-
fensive armament to make any at
tacking force give considerable
thought before engaging in combat.
Airplanes of this type. the War
Department holds, can reinforce the
aerial defense of Panama, Alaska OF
Hawaii. flying nonstop. Excluding
other factors Of superiority, 1t is as
serted. these modern engines of wal
cost less initially cost less to main
tain, and require few combat and
maintenance officers and men than
the number Of present bombers re-
quired to carry an equivalent bomb
load.
"Bombardment aviation" Col
Bradley said by way OF summary
lis the backbone of every air force
in the world today. No one can stop
its development nor predict its ulti.
mate achievement. We of the All
Corps often speak Of independent ali
operations and are occasionally mis-
understood in our use of the term
We refer to the unquestioned tactical
independence of bombardment avia-
ton from ground troops. Strategically
there Is the greatest of interdepend-
ence under one communicative
chief of staff in peace and the com.
mander Of the field forces in war"
With the present reorganization
completed it is anticipated that more
and more Of the time Of wings, groups
squadrons and individual pilots Of the
G. H. @. Air Force will be devoted
to the actual flying Of combat prob
lens OF the type they must solve in
case of hostilities.
| Attack" at Sea.
Planes Of the 7th Bombardment
Group, Hamilton Field, Calf, recently
completed an interception attack II
miles at sea, using the Army transport
ship Meigs as the target. Although
1876 miles on the Golden Gate, the
Meigs was intercepted only 81 minutes
after the bombers left the coast. The
7th Group Is expected to fly at least
one interception mission At sea each
month.
Eighteen bombers of the I'd Bonn
bardment Group, from Langley Field
recently delivered nonstop simulated
attack on a mythical enemy at Ran
toul, III. Then, augmented by the
lst Pursuit. Group and 18th Alta ck
Squadron. from Barksdale Field, the
group delivered another attack or
Fort Knox. KY.
In all parts Of the country the
active, aggressive squadrons of the
G. H. @. Air Force may be observed
in fair weather or foul, preparing
themselves for emergency action.
I'VE are proud" Col. Bradley said
ITO be q member Of the Army team
and we expect, should war come to
this country, to acquit ourselves well
of the responsibility which will in.
evitably be reposed in U.S."