Evening star., 1936-08-09
(Continued From First Page.)

and from these tests he evolved the
lines of the United States Navy sea-
plane floats and hulls, which have
since that date become a standard
for others to follow.
Naval Constructor Jerome c. Hun
eaker was sent to Europe during the
Summer of 1918 to make study OF
European aviation. He then was or
dered to the Massachusetts, Institute
of Technology, where he installed a
wind tunnel and where course In
aeronautical engineering was estab-
lished under his supervision.
During the Summer of 1918 Lieut..
Bellinger conducted experiments at
Hammondsport in connection with
the development of the Sperry auto
matte stabilizer.
In October, 1918, a board OF aero
nautics was appointed by the Secre-
tary of the Navy to report on the needs
of a suitable aeronautic organization
and establishment for the Navy. Capt.
Chambers was made chairman Of the
board and a policy of development
was outlined One of the most I'M
portant recommendations of this board
was for the establishment of an avia-
ton station. This recommendation
was approved and in January. 1914,
the first United States Navy air sta
ton was established on the site OF the
abandoned Navy yard at Pensacola,
Fla. Pensacola today is the center
of all the Nays flight training-the
Naval Academy of the Air.
THE Annapolis aviation camp was
= broken up and all aviation per-
sonnel and equipment transferred to
the U. S. S. Mississippi, which was
ordered to Pensacola and turned over
to naval aviation in order that Joint
sirplane- ship operations might be
worked out. Comdr. Muslin became
the first commanding officer OF the
Pensacola station.
In December, 1918, Capt. Chambers
vas relieved of his duties in charge OF
naval aviation activities by Capt. A l..
Bristol. Capt. Bristol with the rank
of rear admiral, today is commanding
officer at the Naval Air Station, San
Diego.
The first employment of naval avi-
alton in actual combat service came
in 1914. When the Atlantic Fleet was
ordered to Mexican waters IN April,
1914, in connection with the occupa-
ton of Vera Cruz, a naval aviation
section of two airplanes. completely
manned and equipped. was attached
TO the U. S. S. Mississippi. which was
sent to Vera Cruz. Another similar
section was attached to the Blrmlng-
ham and sent to Tampico
The two airplanes at Vera Cruz
we're used continually and, although
they were not fitted for land work,
for 43 days they did considerable
scouting over the trenches around
Vera Cruz. Bellinger was the flrst
American aviator to fly in the face
of an enemy and he came back from
his first patrol with bullet holes
through the wings of his ship.
"To every call made upon them,
the Navy Department has testified,
s'the naval aviators attached to the
U. S. S. Mississippi made ready and
cheerful response and their scout WORK
in the air was of much value In the
combined Army and Navy operations
at Vera Cruz"
In the Summer of 1914 the Missis-
sippi was withdrawn from aviation
service and was sold to Greece. The
U. S. S. North Carolina, armored
cruiser, became the naval aviation
ship. She was fitted with a long
catapult, the track running from
above the rear turret to the stern.
Naval aviation now began to look
for a chance to spread its wings over
a world stage. In June, 1914, the
Navy Department ordered Lieut..
Towers to Hammondsport for duty in
connection with the construction and
proposed flight to Europe of a twin
engined seaplane to be known as the
America, with the understanding that
he would be permitted to participate
in that flight if success seemed likely
The outbreak of the World War inter-
rupted the project. The America,
however, marked the beginning of big
boat development and five years later
Towers assumed command of the big
NC boats, one of which completed the
Atlantic crossing under its own power
the first aircraft to cross the ocean
under its own power.
AT THIS time, with war clouds
hanging heavy over the world,
when naval aviation should have been
given encouragement for the dark
days ahead, it suffered serious set
back. The war broke out and the
North Carolina. with its complement
of aviation officers and men, aug
mented by other naval personnel, was
ordered to Europe. The ship re-
manned in Europe until the Summer
of 1915, performing various duties in
connection with the relief of Ameri-
cans there. To make matters worse,
from the aviation standpoint, Lieut..
Towers was ordered to London as
assistant naval attache, Lieut.. Herb
ster to Berlin and Lieut.. Smith to
Paris for similar duties. Work at
Pensacola was brought practically to
q standstill for many months.
During 1914, however, additional
officers were assigned to aviation duty
from time to time in the following
sequence: Ensigns c. K. Bronson and
w. A. Edwards, Lieut.. Kenneth Whit
ing, Lieut.. L. H. MaXfleld, Ensigns E.
o. Mcdonnell. Wadleigh Capehart, E.
w. Spencer. H. T. Bartlett and G. D.
Murray Glasses were then ordered
more or less regularly until the entry
IS ;x,fo =
War
The first Navy-designed seaplane
was built at the Washington Navy
Yard during 1915. This plane was
designed by Richardson.
On April 20, 1915, the Navy bought
its first airship, the d., from the
Connecticut Aircraft Co. of New
Haven, Conn.
In this year Lieut.. Saufley ascended
to an altitude of 14,500 feet in a