Evening star., 1939-09-03
Composite
Group Has
Chosen Men
Crack Outfit Made
Laboratory for
Tactical Tests
By Joseph S. Edeerton.

perfection of the military art.
They have taken various forms.
In some armies they have been the
Household Guards" or the 'Tmpe-
rial Guards" Most kings have Sc
lected from their armies outstand-
Ing officers and men to serve as
palace guards.
These corps d'elite have been Sc
lected for ability, discipline and ap-
pearance. They have been given
special uniforms and special honors.
In peace times they are ceremonial
troops, intended to represent the
best the army can offer.
The democracies, as we'll as the
monarchies. have felt the universal
urge toward a demonstration of mil
itary perfection in both peace and
war There always have been cere-
monial troops. regarded as just bit
better than the average run of the
army, even though they may not
have been primarily selected for the
purpose.
The Regular Army troops sta
toned in the vicinity of Washington
may be regarded as an example. The
18th Infantry, the Sd Cavalry and
the 18th Field Artillery, forming
"the garrison of Washington" are
looked upon as representing the
finest traditions of the Army in ap-
pearance, discipline and perfection
of drill They are called upon more
than any other troops in the Army
for ceremonial appearances. They
have perfected themselves in their
field. They represent the best in
our Army from the viewpoint of for
eign visitors and in connection with
events of national Importance in the
Capital. The Marine Corps detail
aboard the battleship Pennsylvania,
flagship of the United States Fleet,
Is composed of officers and men feet
or more in height, selected for SOL
dierly appearance and trained per-
fection.
Organizing Corps.
Today the youngest arm of service
of the United States Army, the Air
Corps, is in process of organizing its
own corps d'elite-a composite avia-
ton group which will represent the
utmost in perfection in military
aviation. 1t will be composed of
officers and men selected from the
whole Air Corps for outstanding
proficiency, air and ground disci-
pline. zeal and appearance. They will
be given the latest types of aircraft
and equipment, which will be re-
placed as more modern types are de-
veloped. They will be trained to the
highest standards possible of attain
ment in all phases of their profess
sion. 1t is even possible that they
may be given special uniforms and
their airplanes will have special in
sigma. setting them apart from all
others.
The Army Air Corps. in setting
up its corps d'elite, however. is de-
parting radically from tradition in
many respects. For its crack" out
fit is not intended for show purposes
at public gatherings or for demon
strations in honor of visiting nota-
bles. 1t is to be. in effect, an aerial
laboratory to work out new tao
tical theories and to test thoroughly
new airplanes and equipment 1t
also will serve as a demonstration
unit in connection with the training
of Air Corps officers at the Army
Air Corps Tactical School, and Of
f1cers of other arms and services
at the various arm and service
schools.
This unique organization now is
In process of creation at Maxwell
Field, Montgomery, Ala, home of
the Air Corps Tactical School Of
f1cially, 1t is known as the 23d Com
posite Group; unof11cially, it already
Is becoming known through the serv-
ice as "the Demonstration Group"
1t will be composed of Group
Headquarters and Headquarters
Squadron, five officers and go en-
listed men; the Oath Attack-Bom-
bardment Squadron, 18 officers, 181
enlisted men; the 54th Bombard-
ment (Medium Squadron, 81 Of
f1cers, 220 men, and the 1st Pur-
suit Squadron. q officers, 153 men.
or total Of 81 officers and GA en-
listed men.
The Group Headquarters and
Headquarters Squadron and the 1st
Pursuit Squadron now are being or
ganized at Maxwell Field. The 54th
Bombardment Squadron is sched-
uled for organization October /,
and the oath Attack -Bombardment
SQUADRON December I
Thoroughly Trained.
las now planned" it was ex-
planned at the War Department.
"the flying personnel of the new
group and high percentage of the
enlisted personnel will be selected
from those already thoroughly
trained in the use of that type OF
aircraft (attack, bombardment and
pursuit. with which the various
squadrons of the Demonstration
Group are to be equipped.
The new group will be furnished
with the latest types of equipment,
will be kept at full authorized
strength at all times, and will
therefore, be fitted to test new ideas
and aerial tactics. AS a Labora-
tory Group the 23d Composite
Group, with its three squadrons,
each representing one of the three
combat types, will be available for
testing proposed tactical evolutions
developed at the Air Corps Tactical
School.
by using these squadrons, it will
be possible to determine the sound
ness of new theories of aerial tactics
better than in any other way short
of actual war. The presence of this
Demonstration Group at the Tacti-
cal School. which is also the station
Of the Air Corps Board, would per-
nit all its evolutions to be closely
observed and controlled by the Tao
tical School and the Air Corps
Board. This group will also be
particularly qualified for the test