Evening star., 1937-07-20
ACTION ON AIRPORT.
PROTEST DELAYED
House Naval Affairs Group
Fails to Act on Navy's
Camp Springs Plea.

The House Naval Affairs Commit
tee today failed to take action on a
protest from the Navy Depar rtment
against construction Of the proposed
District airport at Camp Springs, Md.
The committee at the same time re-
ceived communication in defense OF
the Camp Spring site from Benjamin
King, local sportsman-p pilot and holder
OF eight world aviation records.
Both the Navy protest and Kings
defense were referred to an aeronau-
tics subcommittee headed by Repre-
sentative Delaney of New York.
Secs Radio Interference,
The Navy, In a letter signed by
Admiral William D. Leahy, chief OF
naval operations and Acting Secretary,
protested that use Of the Camp
Springs site would interfere with the
new radio station now being built by
the Navy at Cheltenham, Md.
Operation of airplanes at low alti-
tudes In the vicinity OF the radio
station would create ignition inter-
ference and the airplanes would be
endangered by high radio towers at
the station, Admiral Leahy said.
In his defense Of Camp Springs,
King declared the Nays argument
that airplane operation would create
ignition interference is absurd" He
estimated that the distance between
the proposed airport and Cheltenham
is about six miles.
Altitude Is MinimiIed.
King also pointed out in his letter
that the altitude of the towers at the
naval station is minimized by The fact
they are on lower ground than the
Camp Springs site. He said there are
radio towers within a mile OF Wash
ington Airport and they have not
been knocked over yet"
King said he drove over existing
roads from Fourteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue to the Camp
Springs site in Is minutes without
violating any speed law" He made
the trip by way Of the Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge and Suitland, Nd, in
the midst of Sunday afternoon trafdc,
he said. He explained he made the
driving test because of arguments
that Camp Springs would be at least
80 minutes driving time further from
the city than Washington Airport.
Higher Towers May De Built.
In the letter addressed to Chairman
Vinson yesterday, Admiral Leahy said
future development Of the Navy radio
station may require construction OF
steel towers 800 feet high, which would
be a menace to planes landing nearby.
The letter follows:
MY Dear Mr.. Vinson:
1T is noted In the press that the
District Airport Commission has rec
commended the establishment OF an
airport at Camp Springs, Md, which
is about 3 miles from the new naval
radio receiving station at Cheltenham,
Nd, which is in process OF compile
ton. am informed by the radio
engineers OF this department that the
selection is unfortunate from the
naval point Of view, as ignition inter-
AeAeACSc, from planes uy1ng NJ COM
paratively low attitudes over the re-
ceiving station might seriously affect
reception Of radio signals.
31,ooe,oeo Investment.
In addition, the future develop
ment Of the station may be hampered,
Is 1t may be necessary to install steel
towers 800 feet high at the radio sta
ton. such towers would be q menace
to planes making an instrument land
ing approaching from the southeast.
1T is considered desirable to bring
to your attention the possibility Of
serious interference with the naval
radio station at Cheltenham, which
represents an investment Of $1,000
900. if an airport should be located
at Camp Springs.
Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM D. LEAHY,
Admiral, U. 8. N.
Acting Secretary Of the Navy"