The Washington times., 1938-08-16
ARMY AVIATORS
SOLVE PROBLEM
OF ALASKA FOES
Secret Robot BomberS
Aid Defense Plans
BY ROBERT G. NIXON
Copyright. 1887

GN.S.) The Army high com.
mand has perfected plans for the
defense of Alaska with an aerial
armada of radiocontrolled bomb
ing and fighting planes, 1t was
learned today!
A highly secret radio robot
which takes control of an airplane
when within 20 miles of landing
field and automatically lands the
ship without any aid or interfer-
ence by the pilot has made pos
sible the establishment Of an Army
air base in fog-bound Alaska.
The radio control makes pos
sible perfect, safe landings Of any
type or size Of airplane in the
densest fog or under any condi-
tions in which zero visibility pre-
walls.
NAVY'S ADVANTAGE
Hitherto, because of Alaska's
prevailing dense fogs most Of the
year, it has been impractical to
establish an Army land air base
in Alaska. The Navy has recently
established the nucleus for air
bases in the Aleutian Islands, but
seaplanes have been used ex-
clusively so that If the seaplane
/ bases became fogbound they could
fly out of the bad weather to safe
landing on clear water.
The new automatic radio land
ing device, which Army experts be-
lieve will revolutionize the safety
of flying under adverse weather
conditions, has made it possible
for the Army to go ahead with
plans for a huge aerial defense
base.
The Army is studying plans
for construction of a $5.000,000
air base in the Fairbanks area.
CAUSE OF JOHNSON VISIT
This is one of the primary rea-
sons for the airplane inspection
trip of Alaska by Assistant Secre-
tary of War Louis johnson, who
took off from Washington yester.
day in an Army transport plane
for Seattle, from whence he will
fly to Alaska, Wednesday,, in an
Army amphibian.
A second important reason Tor
the trip is to inspect Canada'S Pa
cific coaStline from the United
States to Alaska, where high
4 Washington authorities are plan
ming, with Canadian permission,
to construct a $12,OO0,00O high
way, linking the important north.
ern territory with this country by
motor transport.
The highway, which would open
up 1900 miles of virgin wilderness
to tourist travel and aid largely in
development of Alaska, is planned
as scenic highway, but observers
here point out it would, at the
same time, serve as a vitally i'm
portant military highway in war
time.
INVENTED BY FLIERS
The radio landing robot was in
vented and perfected by two bril-
liant young Army fliers, Capt. Carl
j. Crane, director of the instru-
ment and navigation laboratory at
Wright Field, Ohio. and Capt.
George V. Houoman, in conjunc-
ton with a civilian engineer, Ray
mond K. Stout.
1t has undergone series of in
tensiVe secret tests during the last
two years in which an Army trans
port plane has been landed re-
peatedlv without miShap under all
conditions of visibility, without the
pilots manipulating any Of the
controls.
The device is so perfect that the
landings can be made without the
plane being seen from the ground
as well as the pilot not being able
to see the landing field.
HOW ROBOT WORKS
The landing is controlled
through series Of new u" type
radio beaconS.
When the plane, equipped with
the robot devices, comes within
20 miles of the landing field, the
pilot, though flying blind. radios
his altitude to the ground station.
He then throws a switch connect
ing the landing robot. From then
on until the plane rolls to a stop
on the landing field, with the
brakes and engines automatically
controlled by radio. the pilot hay
ing no part in the maneuvering or
landing of his plane.