Evening star., 1938-04-15
C. H. Q. AIR FORCE
TEST|SSCHEDULED
More Than 200 Planes to Be
Concentrated in Defense
and OffenSe Maneuvers,

Thorough testing of the mobility Of
the entire General Headquarters Air
Force. the Nations spearpoint of air
defense, and its ability to supply and
maintain itself in the field will be
major purpose of the greatest concen-
tration of the force yet undertaken.
during the first half of next month
In northeastern United States.
More than 200 Of the Army's new
est combat and cargo airplanes and
more than 5000 ofhcers and men will
be assembled from all sections OF
the United States on 2l temporary air
bases scattered from Phillips Field,
Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Nd. to
Schenectady, N. Y. and from eastern
Connecticut to Harrisburg. Pa.
Air Corps leaders. under Maj Gen.
Frank M. Andrews, chief OF the
G. H. @. Air Force. are completing
a eruelling series Of strategical and
tactical problems intended to test the
defensive and offensive capabilities of
squadrons, groups and wings OF the
Air Force and of the entire Air Force
itself. Details of these problems prob
ably will not be made known until
just before the assembly OF the great
fighting force.
The plans approved yesterday by
Secretary of War Woodring call for
transfer by air Of SIT Air Corps Off
GERS and 2,633 enlisted men from home
stations to the maneuver area.
1901 From the West.
The LIST Wing G. H. @. Air Force.
based on the Pacific Coast. under
command OF Brig. Gen. Delos C.
Emmons, will transfer l l,09l men from
West Coast stations in their tactical
airplanes and in transport squadron,
consisting Of ls Douglas Bib twin
eneined bombardment airplanes con-
verted temporarily into troop air
planes
The 3rd Wing commanded by Brig.
Gen. F. L. Martin. will transport 625
men from the Gulf States in planes
OF the 2nd Attack Group, augmented
by two transport squadrons, one
equipped with IL regular Army cargo
alrplanes and the other with eight
converted B-l8 bombers.
The 2nd Wing. based at Langley
Field, Va. and commanded by Brig.
Gen. Arnold N. Krogstad. will trans
port 500 men by air in their tactical
aircraft supplemented by a transport
squadron equipped with eight BIB
bombers
The maneuvers are intended not
only to give variety OF large scale
tactical problems for solution, but
also to test recently revised tables
Of organization for the newly created
air base establishments. which are set
up and equipped to free tactical units
from the burden of feeding. housing,
maintenance and other routine ground
tasks. thus giving the fighting SQUAD
rons tactical mobility and making pos
slole their rapid transfer on short
notice to any section Of the country.
To Utilize Motor Vehicles.
Although the bulk OF all supply
work will be carried on by airplane
during the maneuvers, 4l3 motor
vehicles will be organized into combat
rains to supplement air transport in
the movement of supplies and pro-
visions IN the maneuver area itself.
The size of the supply problem is
indicated by the fact that the air.
planes engaged will consume more
than 100000 gallons OF gasoline. and
more than 100000 pounds OF freight
and supplies must be moved by air
The 200 airplanes are expected to fly
total of more than 1900, 900 airplane
miles.
The G. H. @. Air Force staff in
charge of the maneuvers, under direc.
ton Of Gen. Andrews. will consist Of
Col. w. H. Frank. chief of staff;
1t. Col. Ralph Cousins, personnel:
Maj, James P. Hodges, intelligence:
Col w. G. Kilner. plans and training.
and 1t. Col. Joseph T. McNarney,
supply.