Evening star., 1941-07-13
Airp|ane Squadron
OF Local Guard
Gets New Head
Capt. c. c. Hutchison
Takes Post Vacated
BY Maj. }. H. Hiegs

A change in the command of the
121st Observation Squadron of the
District National Guard was effected
last week. Capt. c. c. Hutchison,
second in command, was detailed to
assume command
Maj. j. H. Higgs, who was the
prime mover in the establishment
of the unit, has been placed on
active duty and assigned to the
General Headquarters Air Force at
the War Department here, it was
said
The time for the new air force
to 90 into the field, it was said, is
still problematical, although they
have received the preliminary or
ders to be ready to leave on short
notice. Officers said they are with
out information as to the prospective
time for going into the field and
as to the condition of the construc-
ton at Columbia, S. c., where, un-
der present plans, they will 60 as
soon as they are inducted into the
service for their tour Of field train
ing duty. 1t is believed, however,
that the delay is due to the fact
that the housing and hangar ia
cilities have not been completed.
Vacancies to Be Filled.
Although it was indicated that the
organization is ready to go at any
time. there are still some vacancies
to be filled with young men who
are desirous of getting into the air
branch, particularly local men of
draft age who would like to 60 into
the field with home outfit" in
stead of waiting until their num-
bers are called and then taking
their chances of being sent to some
other unit made up of members
from other parts of the country.
Among the vacancies it was said
that there are some for flyers and
prospective flyers. For the latter,
it was said, they would, after being
enlisted, be sent to one of the
Army's air schools for training, after
which they would, if found qualified,
be commissioned in the air service.
The officers also said they are
still searching for good cooks, as
their allotment has not been filled.
Those who have such training, 1t
was said, should apply at the head
quarters in the National Guard
Armory, Sixth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue NV, on the regular
Tuesday drill night. However, it was
pointed out, the organization will
not hold its regular drill next Tues
day night because the regular drill
period is to be taken up on Sunday,
with attendance of the unit at the
formal ceremonies in connection
with the laying of the cornerstone
of the new armory at the eastern
end Of East Capitol street, adjacent
to the new drill hall, which was COM
pleted some months ago.
The squadron has discontinued,
at least for the present, the two
drills a week which have been In
force for some time. However, men,
bers of the command have been
instructed that they can volunteer
to take plane rides during the week.
A schedule now is being worked
out between the flyers and ground
crew to arrange time so that the for
mer can take the latter up or one
of the two planes which are being
quartered at Boiling Field.
In view of the fact that the men,
bers are not on active duty, the
flyers are being asked to fix times
when they will be able to man the
planes, and the ground crews are
to ascertain when they may go to
the field. The schedule, it was said,
is being so arranged that only the
number of men will 60 to the field
who can be taken up in the after
noon. These flying trips will be
given throughout the week, as the
flyers and enlisted personnel find
time.
Officers to Attend.
Many of the local Guard in the
field on training duty, most of them
at Fort George G. Meade, Md, will
come here Sunday to participate in
the cornerstone laying ceremonies.
Maj. Gen. Milton A. Reckord. COM
manding the 29th National Guard
Division, at Fort George G. Meade,
Md, has issued orders for detach-
ments to be sent here to partici-
pate in the ceremonies. These will
include details from the 121st Regi-
ment of Engineers, the Special
Troops, 29th Division, and the 104th
Quartermaster Regiment. Col. Wal
ter w. Burns, commander of the
260th Coast Artillery, which is on
duty at Fort Bliss, Tex, will rep
resent that organization. 1t. Col.
Peyton G. hewitt, former assistant
adjutant general Of the local Guard
and now in the field as adjutant Of