Evening star., 1939-09-03
Recruits Are
TOBe Shown
Technique
Thousands to Gain
Skill Through
Observation

Observation
They will operate on the we'll
known theory OF showmanship that
In order to drive home lesson, you
must maintain observer interest"
Your show must be so planned and
arranged that there are no unneces.
sary delays during which the at.
tention of the observer becomes di-
verted or lags. Such showmanship,
obviously. has little to do with or
dinary combat flying, but it may be
very important to the conducting Of
classroom demonstrations"
The Air Corps Tactical School
frequently develops tactical theories
which must be tested in actual prac-
tice. Today combat squadrons,
often far removed from the school,
are called upon to work out such
theories. The work may conflict
seriously with their regular duties
and training. At the same time,
those in the Tactical School can
not be certain that the results are
satisfactory because they cannot be
observed. and the methods of con-
Quoting the tests cannot be modified
to meet practical considerations.
Under Supervision.
The 23d Composite Squadron, on
the other hand, will provide a spe-
cial testing agency for such theories,
with the best of equipment and, pre-
sumably, the best operating tech
nique in the Air Corps, under i'm
mediate school supervision to assure
that the tests are conducted as de-
sired, or to permit notifications to
be made while they are in process.
This will mean great saving in
time in the practical working out
OF new theories. It will save the
time and energy of the combat
squadrons, and will insure that
they will be called upon to put new
theories into practice only after they
have been thoroughly worked out in
a practical laboratory of the air.
The Demonstration Group" is ex-
pected to serve another valuable
purpose. 1t will function constant.
ly under the observation of the Air
Corps officers who are students at
the Tactical School. Upon compile.
ton of their courses. they will 20 to
their new posts with the Combat
Squadrons with the high standards
OF operation and discipline of the
group firmly in mind, and undoubt-
edly with a strong desire to raise
the standards of the tactical units
to which they are assigned toward
the level of perfection they have
seen is possible.
1t is expected that, in time, an
assignment to the 23rd Composite
Group will come to be looked upon
in the Air Corps as a reward for eff
cheney and attention to all the details
OF duty. 1t will be sought as a dem.
onstration of fitness for the most ex-
acting duty.
Creation Of the new group will re-
suit in discontinuing the present
Headquarters Squadron at Maxwell
Field, personnel of which Is being in
corporated into the new group. The
91st School Squadron and 18th Air
Base Squadron will continue to oper-
ate at Maxwell Field, in addition
to the 23rd Composite Group.
OF the 614 enlisted men to be as
signed to the new group, 264 are ex-
perienced Air Corps personnel drawn
from the present Maxwell Field per-
sonnel, and $50 will come from the
remainder of the Air Corps.
Equipment Supplies.
Airplanes and other Air Corps
items of equipment are being pro-
vided from supplies now on hand or
on order. Existing types will be used
until newer models become available
and can be substituted. Other or
ganizational equipment, including
motor transportation, will be made
available from funds for the current
fiscal year.
Command of the 23rd Composite
Group has been given to Maj. Frank
Cd. Hunter, one of the few World
War aces still remaining in active
service. who Is regarded as one of
the most accomplished acrobatic
pilots in the Army A soldierly, erect
figure. Maj. Hunter, with his dark
complexion, black hair and bristling
mustache, is regarded as one of the
most MISUNDERSTANDING officers in
the service, as well as one OF the
best pilots.
He is we'll known in Washington,
having had several tours of duty
here. He was called upon to put on
demonstrations of aerial acrobatics
and dog fighting" in connection
with number Of local aviation
shows in which the Army had an
official part.
Maj Hunter was born December
8, 1894, at Savannah, Ga, and was
educated in Connecticut and Swift
zerland. He enlisted in the Avia-
ton Section, Signal Corps, shortly
after the outbreak of the World War.
Serving for seven months at the
front as pursuit pilot, he was cred
tied officially with the destruction
of eight enemy aircraft and was
awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross, with four oak leaves and the
French Croix de Guerre.
Maj Hunter also is the only third
degree" member of the Caterpillar
Club, composed of aviators who owe
their lives to emergency jumps from
aircraft with parachutss.