Evening star., 1942-08-13
Nays Flying Boats
Are SchooIrooms
While on Patrol
Pilots and Crew fought
Lessons Under Real
Wartime Conditions
By Wide World.

Wartime Conditions
By Wide World.
NAVAL AIR STATION, BANA-
MA RIVER, Fla, Aug. 13.-Navy
flyers from this station, heading out
over the ocean on convoy patrol,
get a grim reminder of the sub
marine warfare they are helping
to check
Scattered along the Florida east
coast-and easily seen by plane
crews-are the hulks of ships tor
pedoed last winter and spring when
far-ranging U-boats boldly hunted
their victims within a stones throw
of shore.
But weeks have passed now since
the Navy shepherded lone wolf mer-
chantmen into conveys protected by
surface and air craft, and in that
time not one vessel has been sunk
in the s.-ea assigned to Banana
River patrols.
Whether planes from here have
hunted down and destroyed any
submarines while playing their pro-
tective roles is taboo subject. 1t
may be said, however, that every
flying boat takes off with full
load Of depth charges, and some re-
turn with empty racks.
Flying Destroyers."
What is important to the country
is that the Navy flyers are helping
speed to their destinations mer-
chant ships which would have been
sunk in the days OF ree-and-easy
torpedoings.
Clear-eyed youngsters operate
souadrons of aircraft. from Banana
Rivers three-mile circle of protect
ed water-probably the best sea-
plane landing area on the Atlantic
seaboard.
Some are two-seated scouts, best
fitted for inshore duties.
Others are giant 20-ton patrol
bombers-called flying destroyers"
by 1t. Comdr. G. L. Kohr OF York,
Pa, the squadron commander.
They are patrol ships by night,
trainers by day-for it is here that
picked graduates of the Navy's air
training schools at Pensacola, Jack
sonville and Corpus Christi learn to
handle the mammoth Martin
bombers.
Even on patrol, while the flying
boat hovers all night over a con-
voy, the plane is a schoolroom. Not
only pilots, but crewmen as well,
are taught their lessons under real
wartime conditions.
Wide World Photographer Earl
Shugars and the writer went along
on training flights and learned just
how thoroughly the Navy trains its
flyers.
All Want to Command.
Ensign Martin Galbraith OF
Queens Village, N. Y, the instructor,
turned over the controls frequently
to other officers and enlisted pilots
just discovering the "feel" of the
powerful, highly-maneuverable craft.
Veteran crewmen-f1ight engi-
neer, radioman and others-took
maps in the hunks or relaxed IN
their seats while students stood
ships watches.
We picked up convoy and went
through the recognition routine be-
fore winging overhead for photo
graphs.
The goal of each officer is to be-
come a chief pilot Of a patrol bomb
er. since the pilot in charge is the
supreme commander of the craft.
"It is a result of the Nays cap
tain of the ship tradition, explains
Comdr. Kohr. "One man has the
authority, and. at the same time,
the responsibility.
I'VE don't put an officer in charge
Of a bomber until we have confi-
dence in his Judgment. Then he
is pretty much on his own once the
plane is In the air.
Real Teamwork.
Nevertheless, there is real team
work aboard the fighting machines
where one mans safety depends on
the ability OF his shipmates. A
pilot must trust the mechanics who
service his plane, but they in turn
must trust him because they have
to 60 aloft with the ship to earn
their extra flight pay.
No enemy fighter planes imperil
the bombers patroling the coastal
convoy lanes, but it's hazardous
flying anyway.
Conveys don't wait for clear
skies and Banana River flyers
strike out to sea in weather which
would send peacetime pilots sour
rying for shelter.
AS Ensign Galbraith explains:
Patrol work Is the most exact fly
ing there is. 1t calls for precise
pilot"
Convoy movements are among the
Governments most jealously guard
ed secrets. Banana River officers
have no inkling that they mus
provide o. flying escort until JUS
before ?, column OF mercnsnt Sn- o.
-nLe.s the stations nAl-ol s,-ea.
lust Amy sAs.moro.
I.ac14 q ponocr crew must Get I'LL
der way quickly, and be able to fins
the convoy-a relatively small OBJ
iect in the hundreds Of square mile
OF ocean.
A. plane approaching the mer
chant vessels is challenged by es
cortlng warships, and must repl.
with an identifying signal change'
every few hours. To give the wronl
password is to invite anti-aircra1
fire.
In daylight an airplane circle
the ships, while those aboard kee
their eyes open for any suspicion
objects in the water.
At night the bomber follows
prescribed route overhead, watch
ing for subs in a manner so secre
that even the name of the equip
ment cannot be mentioned.
NH. nn-o~o piuor Air Station