Evening star., 1941-08-10
D. {. Guard Flyers
Spend Much Time
In the Air
Local Squadron Is
Preparing for
Field Service

Preparing for field duty as they
are, the officers Of the l2lst Oo-
servation Squadron of the District
NatioHal Guard are putting IN eV-
ery available bit of time in the air
IN the two planes which have been
assigned them at the Boiling Flelo
Air Station.
They are making both day and
night flights in order to keep them
selves in training for immediate
maneuvers against the time When
they will be called into the Federal
service for their period OF training,
which is expected now to cover more
than the period of one year, as orig
inally intended. -,
In this connection 1t was pointed
out that the local troops who have
been in the field for more than SIX
months, are not likely to be returned
to their home stations within the
original schedule, when the Con-
gress finally passes the act propos-
ing to extend the service. Some OF
the Guardsmen do not expect they
even will return at the end of the
extended period. Of course. it was
explained that some of them may
even be returned before the end OF
the original period, because OF the
announced plan of the Army au-
thorities to have a cleaning out OF
the commissioned personnel after
the approaching fall maneuvers are
completed.
No Duties Here.
II and when any of them are re-
turned to their home stations as
result of the field cleanup work, 1t
was indicated that so far as the 10
cal men are concerned, there will
be no duties for them to perform
here, and they would have to return
TO their civilian status. While the
law permitting the organization OF
home guards within the States was
adopted, it was said that no proVl-
sion is made for the organization OF
a home guard force for the Dis
trict of Columbia.
There are said to be several rea-
sons for believing that no action
would be taken locally. One OF the
most important is that there is no
apparent need for such a force here,
because there is a local force OF
regular units, including the Army,
Navy and Marine Corps, which
could be called out to handle any
emergency in this area which re-
uuired the presence of the troops
to assist the peace authorities. The
other reason is that the expense OF
operating the home guard force
must be borne by local funds, with
out any help from the Federal Gov
ernment.
In the case of the organized mill
tia, the National Guard units now
tn the field, while some of the cost
was paid by District taxpayers, the
heavy expense of uniforms and
equipment was borne by the Fed
eral Government. Under the new
setup here, Brig. Gen. Albert l..
Cox, commander of the National
Guard of the District of Columbia,
has been placed in command OF the
provisional brigade here, which in
cludes all of the troops within this
area.
Much Equipment Coming.
Belief that the time is not far
distant when the last of the local
militia units will be called into the
field is based on the fact that great
quantities of equipment for the local
air force are almost daily being re-
ceived here. While no additional
planes have been received, other
material which will be needed as
soon as they are called upon to be
inducted into the field service are
being shipped to local headquarters.
In the repacking Of the equipment
for prompt shipment, there is need
ed for carpenters, and the officers In
charge of the local outfit say that
they have been trying to find car
penters for enlistment in the Or
ganization. That and cooks appears
to be one of the greatest needs Of
the organization at this time.
Enlisted men of the local air
squadron have organized service
mems club, known as the Flying
12lst Enlisted Mems Club. It's Or
ganization was celebrated at dance
last night at the Wardman Park
Hotel, to raise funds to be used for
the benefit of the enlisted personnel
after they enter the service. The
officers of the club are: President,
Sergt. George F. Brennan; vice
president, Sergt Robert A. Sadler;
secretary, Sergt. Charles r. Monk,
and treasurer, Sergt. Douglas w.
Davenport.