Evening star., 1941-05-04
D. {. Guard Air
10 Gel
lis First Plane
Organization Muy
Start Flying of
Hyblu Valley Field

s I"S
Hyblu Valley Field
With the prospect that the new
air squadron of the District Ma
tional Guard will receive its first
plane within short time, intensive
instruction is being given the per-
sonnel to be ready to handle 1t when
it arrives. Primary instruction is
being given the new unit which has
Just been recognized by the War
Department and is ready at almost
any time to be called into the serv-
ice. Every man entered the or
ganization with the full knowledge
that he might expect to see active
service soon.
While some planes are expected
TO be forthcoming, it may be some
time before the outfit is given its
full quota because of the demand
of other units, both regular and
| militia. In order to operate with
this one plane officers said that 1t
would be necessary to make tenn
porary arrangements for the use OF
some nearby field. here is a poSsl-
| bility that after the first plane ar
rives it will be sent to Hybla Valley,
Va, to which the men will be sent
during their drill periods. But it
was explained that this is only a
/ temporary measure.
An airport is being prepared for
/ the local outfit on the governmental
/ experimental farm at BeltSville, Nd.
/ but it was explained that because
/ of the fact that construction now
is going on there it will not be
possible to use it for six or eight
months.
However, it was suggested that
even when the new Guard airport
is completed the local outfit may
not be able to use it until after 1t
completes its year of training in the
field. 1t is understood that orders
have been issued for the mobillza-
ton of the outfit as soon after Fed
eral recognition as possible. The
delay in mobilization is said to be
due to the fact that the training
field to which the organization IS
tentatively assigned has not been
completed. Quarters and other IA
cilities, although said to be under
construction, are not yet completed
and may not be for several months.
Five of the officer pilots of the
new outfit have just returned from
courses of instruction at the Army
service schools, and others are to
be sent to schools in a short time.
A number of the enlisted men also
are to have Army school courses
made available to them.
In view Of the fact that practically
all Of the enlisted personnel are new
men who have never had any mill
tary service, instruction now is be-
ing given in the elementary work
of the soldier. But it was said that
such progress is being made that
the men will soon be ready for the
more technical training of the air
service. 1t was indicated that IN a
few weeks the personnel will be
divided into groups for specialist
instruction.
Young men interested in getting
into the service with an outfit from
their home town might find oppor-
tunity by calling at the local head
quarters of the air squadron and
get in early on the technical in
struction and be ready for the field
and their year of training.
Guard officers are beginning to
doubt whether the militia will be
returned to an inactive status after
the scheduled year of service. AS
matter of fact not a few of them
! were of this opinion months ago.
but as matters are beginning to
shape up, it was said, they are con-
vinced that they will be in the field
for a much longer time. Army
officials have indicated they do not
know at this time whether the mill
tary forces now in the field will be
there for or 80 years.
1t was pointed out that II 1t is
decided to keep them in the field
for a longer period it will be neces-
sary for Congress to pass additional
legislation. They also point out
that in the event that the militia
is required to stay in the field that
the legislation also will include the
selective service men, many of whom
are being assigned to Guard units
from their home districts.
Because they are training TO-
gether, they point out that it is not
likely that the Guard might be
kept in the field and the selective
service men relieved to go to their
homes, because it would in many
instances break up smoothly
working organization. On the other
hand, it was explained, the Guard
might be kept in the field in order
to provide the training nucleus for
additional selective service men.
Knights of Columbus