Evening star., 1938-11-11
Work on New
Boiling Field
Is Pushed
Army Flyers Expect
make Transfer
By January !
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.


Development of the $500 900 new
Boiling Field, in progress nearly
nine years, now is nearing compile
ton with cleaning up Of final
details of $4,000 program of
technical building construction and
transfer Of flying operations from
the old to the new field is expected
before the end of next month.
Except for certain living quarters
and technical buildings, chief among
them the Photographic laboratory,
for which housing is not yet avail
able at the new field. the Army Air
Corps is expected to abandon old
Boiling Field, which will be taken
over by the Anacostia Naval Air
Station. =
Two giant hangers, which also
will house most Of the administra-
tive and technical offices for the
post, and which constitute a major
portion of the technical program,
today were reported 81 per cent
complete. with only minor paint
ing. fitting and cleaning up jobs re-
naming to be finished.
Heating Plant Completed.
A central heating plant. which
ranks as one of the most modern
built here, has been completed and
accepted by the Government. A
100 ,000-gallon gasoline storage and
dispensing system of the water
flotation" type is approximately 80
per cent complete, and a paint. oil
and airplane dope plant also is
about 80 per cent complete.
Yesterday afternoon bids were
opened at the War Department for
laying of 15,600 square yards of
concrete apron or ramp paving
around the new hangers. Six bids
were received. Low bidder was Cor
son & Gruman Co., which sub
mited a $1o,825 proposal.
This paving work, expected to re-
quire less than month, will mark
the final phase of the present tech
nical construction program and is
the last project necessary to make
the long-sought new Air Corps post
ready for flight operations.
More Construction Necessary.
Although completion of the pres
ent program will make the new air.
drome suitable for full occupancy,
considerable amount of addi-
tional construction is considered
necessary, and it is possible Con-
gress may be asked for funds to
accomplish this work next year.
Most important of the additional
projects now listed are additional
barracks for enlisted men. a photo
graphic laboratory, quarters for Off
GERS and non-commissioned officers,
a headquarters building. a theater
and non-commissioned officers
club.
The new post, which will come
as something of christmas pres
ent' to Air Corps personnel now
operating from the old field. is ex-
pected to rank as one of the finest
Air Corps stations of its kind.
Navy Will Take Over.
Under previous agreement be-
tween the War and Navy Depart
ments the old Boiling Field, except
for such buildings as the Army must
continue to occupy temporarily, will
be turned over in its entirety to the
Navy as an addition to the Ana
costa Naval Air Station.
The landing area of the new
Boiling Field, including aacomplete
system of paved runways. has been
completed except for a small clean
ing up operation in the southwest
corner along the Potomac River,
largely as a local public works
project.
The field lighting system, includ-
ing boundary lights, approach lights,
flush-type runway outline lights
of the most modern character and
runway floodlights, has been COM
pleted and is in operation.
The present $740,0OO technical
program is being carried out under
supervision of Maj. Lawrence l..
Simpson, Quartermaster Corps. con-
struction quartermaster for WASH
ington and vicinity.