The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-26
AIR DEFENSE
DRILL SET AT
FORT BRAGG
Civilians To Be Trained in
War Emergency Duties
in October

ATLANTA, Ga, July %. tUP)
For the first time in maneuvcrS
of this nations armed forces, ci-
villains will play Il major role
when the u. S. army holds its
largest and most important air
defense exercises" at Fort Bragg,
n. c., next October.
Civilian facilities have been en-
listed to form vast "aircraft
warning net" encircling Fort
Bragg, in south-central North
Carolina, and extending to the
Atlantic coast for the period Oc-
tober BIT during mock attacks
by the best bomberS in the gen
eral headquarters air corps.
The maneuverS will show en-
ployes Of civil communication syS.
tens what they probably will be
required to do, should this ma
tons coasts be attacked by EN-
envy planes.
The warning net will consist of
more than 300 stations COM
munication units operated in or
binary daily procedure by federal
state and municipal agencies; the
telephone company, railroads,
power companies and similar
private agencies" For the two
weeks of the exercises, civilians
at these stations will keep on the
alert for the drone Of airplaneS
and will give immediate warning
to Fort Bragg.
Participating in defense and
attacks on d theoretical "impOrt-
ant base airdrOmc" on the Fort
Bragg reservation will be the
largest part Of both the general
headquarters air force and the
regular army anti-aircraft artil-
lcry.
The office of Maj. Gen. George
Van Horn Moselcy, commanding
the third army with headquarters
in Atlanta and who has charge Of
plans for the Fort Bragg maneu-
vers, said the exercises will "de-
termine the best tactical methods
and dispositions Of defense against
the most effective forms Of aerial
attack"
MUseley's office stated, IKE
suits of the test to be made dur
ing this exercise of the practical
bility of manning warning nets
;,long our coast line by civilians
will be of much importance to the
war department in connection
with the formulation Of plans for
the installation, in time of war,
Of such nets, which are an essen
tial part of the defense of the
country against enemy attacks
from the air.
Officers in charge Of the de.
TENSE Of Fort Bray will plac"
"principal reliance" upon the 81
william warning net to keep thrni
posted upon the approach Of hos
tile airplanes. The defense then
will "provide for interccution by
the defending pursuit aviation
and immediate defensive fires by
the &mti-aircraft artillery"
Defending Fort Bragg will be 4
"cumpletc, all-around coordlnat'
ed aircraft and pursuit de-
Tense" 1t will be under direction
Of Brig. Gen. Fulton e.. &. Gard
nrr, commander Of the Fourt'
Coast Artillery district, stationed
ut Fort McPhcrSun. Ga, and vii
consist Of It provisional antl-alr'
craft brigade and Il provision"
wine Of The air force.
The attacking force will be I'M
der commend of Brig. Gen. Arm
old \. kru~Stad, Air Corps, Lang
ley Field, Va.
The defense forces will com
prise: Glst Coast Artillery, Fort
Sheridan. H.: G2nd Coast Artil
Terry, Fort Totten, y. Y; G9tf
Coast Artillery, Fort Crockett
Trx.; Batteries A and c, 2n'
Coast Artillery, Fort Monroe
Va; 33rd and seth Squadrons
9Th Pursuit Group, Langley Field
Va; headquarters and HeadQuar
lcrs Squadron. 9Th Pursuit Group
Langley Field; 9th Squadron, If
Pursuit Group, Selfridge Field
Mich., and the 5lst Signal Bat
TALON, Fort Monmouth, N. j.
The attacking force will conSIS
of: md Wing Headquarters an'
md Bombardment Groups, Lang
ley Field; 18th Reconnaissance
and 9th Bombardment Groups
Mitchell Field, l.. l.; an attacl
squadron of the Bird Wing, Banks
dale Field. La, and a lombard
ment squadron Of the LIST Wing