The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-15
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COMD''R DUDLEY
ADDRESSES. CLUB
ABOUT AVIATION
SAYS KEY WEST HAS BEST
FLYING WEATHER IN En-
fsss -
TIRE UNITED STATES: AL.
- q aa[tEe SST ztNEl
SO BOOSTS ANCHORAGE
BY CLUB REPORTER

very interesting talk on aviation
and the Navy at the regular
meeting Of the Stone Church
Service Club last evening.
Commander Dudley emphasiz-
ed the fact that flying conditions
here are excellent. In fact, the
speaker stated that Key West has
the best, weather; for flying in the
entire United States. and said
that the anchorage here was very
satisfactory. -4 -.
The air squadron commander
said that the warm weather,
sunny skies and clear visibility
was better for flying than that Of
Norfolk.
In his address, the speaker dis
cussed the five types of aircraft,
as follows: Q)- The scouting
planes, which travel in .squadrons
OF. eighteen planes, paired off to
60 in nine directions; ~ The
bombing: planes, which. are larger
and heavier to take OFF from
decks, and they also fly in squad
rons. These planes carry, two or
three men; 81 The observation
planes are two Seaters and are
mounted on battleships. They fly
six, eight and ten thousand feet
up in the air and are used to
sight the enemy, direct the firing
of the vessel by radio when the
ship is flying through smoke
screens, etc.; az The fighting
planes are small, fast, singleseat-
ed aircrafts with machine guns
syncronized with the propeller
that fire through the fuselage;
50 The patrol planes are the
largest and usually carry a COM
pliment of three pilots and two
mechanics. They operate from
water, fly 1900 to 1000 miles and
carry large radio sets. They may
operate under ship or shore COM
mand. They have mounted ma
chine guns and are always ac-
companied by tenders, which
supply small boats to carry out
moofings, supplies them with oil
and take care of the eating and
sleeping OF the. plane crews.
From the carrier four squad
rons of eighteen planes each take
off. When they return they land
ION after end Of the deck.
r 1t takes "a full year of training
for q pilot to- become efficient in
landing on the deck and much
skill is needed. Even then there
is an occasional crack-up.
Battlcships and cruisers have
catapults tor shooting planes into
the air. The commander describ-
ed the sensation of being shot
through the, air while in a plane
and compared it to an elevator
running sideways. The pilot and
passengers are automatically
pinned in their seats during the
catapulting of plane into the
air. When these planes have
finished their mission they return
and land in the water along the
side of the ship.
Commander Dudley spoke at
length ON the different types of
target practice, the different col
ors of paints on the bullets by
which each. mans score was diff
ferentiatea and Tailed, The high
man In scoring won cash prizes
and the citation from the Secre-
tary Of the Navy.
The speaker emphasized the
fact that the American Navy was
non-aggressiye and purely for the
defense of the United States, its
inhabitants and isular posses
sionS.
The address by Commander
Dudley, as a whole, was very in
structive and interesting.
The club was also favored by
two solos by Miss Calico. accom-
panied by Mrs. Livingston, who
are here in the interest of stag
ing the Key West Pageant.
The following visitors were
present: Paul Pierce, Illinois; F.
Little, Michigan; George McNair,
New York; c. M. Chase, New
Jersey. Mr.. DeLand. Jackson
vile; W. l. Mcconnell. Kentucky;
DR., Stemlec, Ohio. and, Command.
ers Dudley; Ernest Perez, Viii
lard Bell and Henry Johnson
Key West.
RAISES GIANT CARROTS