Evening star., 1941-07-06
Guard Air Squadron
Ground Crew Is
Given Plane Rides
kon-PiIot Personnel
Gets First Flights
Over Holiday Period

Many members of the 12lst OBJ
servation Squadron of the District
National Guard were given their
first air rides in a military plane
over the July holiday period, 1t
was said at the local headquarters.
Second 1t. L. B. Mackall, one of
the pilots. spent the holiday period
at Boiling Field. giving the enlist
ed personnel their first rides.
Only one of the two training
planes assigned to the local outfit
will be used in this air baptismal
service for the enlisted personnel.
Only one man, in addition to the
pilot, was taken aloft at time be-
cause of the limitations Of the
planes passenger carrying capac-
ity, it was said.
Most of the men who were given
their first taste Of flying are men,
bers of the ground maintenance
crews.
Flying Time Limited.
The rides so far covered about
half an hour. In view of the fact
that the pilots have to maintain a
certain flying schedule to keep up
their efficiency the time during
which the men can be given fights
will be limited, but 1t was indi'
Gated that the officers will continue
to give the ground personnel as
much flying experience as possible
Furthermore, it was said that under
actual service conditions 1t may be
necessary. for these men to ny at
times. when it might be required
that they 90 from their home STA
tions to another point to do some
repair work on a plane which mad
been troubled because OF mecnanlcal
or other trouble.
Local officers say they have not
vet received any detailed informa-
ton as to when they might expect
the mobilization call, although they
have received the preliminary order,
which has directed them to stand by
for field service, and to make plans
for their release from their civilian
emplovment on short notice. Work
Is said to be progressing on the
facilities at Columbia, S. c.. where
the local outfit is scheduled to go
when it is inducted into the Fed
eral service.
Ground instruction Continues.
Although officers said that num-
Der of men applied for enlistment
as cooks in the organization, not
all of them could be accepted, and
the outfit is still looking for more.
While there are sufficient cooks to
handle the food preparation during
the period that the organization re-
mains at a base, it was said that
additional ones must be kept in
reserve, for assignment to this duty
in the event that the outfit Is split
up for special service of some kind.
Each separate detachment which is
sent out for special work must have
one or two cooks, depending upon
the character of the service. it was
said. Those desiring to enter the
organization should present them
selves at the local headquarters in
the armory at Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue NV.
Of1cers remaining in the city
evinced much interest in the sug-
gestions that the Army is proposing
to streamline the Guard organiza-
tions now in the field. and perhaps
include them as part of the Regu-
lar Establishment, wholly under Fed
eral Jurisdiction. The plan would
take them entirely from control of
the States, and place only the home
guards now being formed in many
Jurisdictions under the States.
The approaching maneuvers in
various parts of the country, 1t was
indicated, may result in a number
of Guard officers being relieved of
their commissions and sent home
because of ineficiency, and perhaps
some of them because of age. But
it was pointed out that the age re-
strictions are not confined entirely
to the militia, but that there is q
tendency in the Regular Establish
ment to shunt younger officers to
the high commands because of their
ability to better stand the rigors
of the campaign of modern battle
conditions.