The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-10

Illustrative of the tough TOW they have had to hoe Is the fact that airman A. E. Montgomery, re- gently promoted to be an admiral; and Capt. Miles R. Browning, now chief of staff of Admiral Halsey's fleet around the Solomons, only few years ago were slated for re- tirement.
 The battleship boys In the Navy had passed them over, and they were headed for the naval dump heap. Now, however, they are do- ing some of the best work in the Pacific.
 On Feb. 25, 1889, THE WASH TNGT0N M F R R Y -GO-ROUND disclosed that about 50 ayiators, most of them World War fliers, but not Annapolis graduates, were on the purge list, because they had reached the dangerous age for fly ing and were unskilled at com manding battleship. Publicity on this proposed purge, plus bill introduced by Senator Walsh of Massachusetts, finally saved these fliers. Otherwise they might not be in the Navy today.
 Here is the list, published by THE ERRY. Y.GO-ROUND in 103o, apd showing what became of the flfers after publicity halted the purge:
 Captain John II. Towers. now vice admiral for air in tie Pacific.
 Commander A. F. Montgomery, formerly executive officer for air at San Diego, now commandant at Corpus Christi, Texas.
 It. Comdr. David RittenhOuse, winner of the Schneider Cup, who got fed up with the battleship boys and resigned to turn out tor pedo planes for Grumman.
 Lt. Comdr. Howard Brow, win ner world speed record 1922, now inspector of naval aircraft at Voight factory, Bridgeport, Conn.
 Lt. Comdr. Andrew Crinkley, now naval attache in Mexico.
 It. C0mdr. R. D., Ly0ne, world war acc, now executive officer at Corpus Christi.
 Lt. Comdr. Henry Stanley, rac- ing pilot, now executive officer Floyd Bennett field.
 Another important naval ace, Comdr. Eugene Wilson, resigned some time ago and is now head of United Aircraft and the guiding genius of Pratt-Whitney.
 BATTLEsHIP Vs. AIR
 These airmen were trained in aviation from the bottom Up. They were not trained to run battle ship. Meanwhile there has come along a new type of officer, origin ally trained at sea, but who saw the handwriting on the wall. real- ized the importance of air power, and late in life took air training. Admiral Ernest King, now conn monder- -in -chief, iS in that class; also Admiral Frederick c. Shcr- man who commanded the Lexing- ton: and Admiral John Mccain, now chief of the Bureau Of Aero nautics.
 These men are good officers. But according Co regular flying officers, they still have the bat tieship instinct, rather than the quick, offensive instincts of the flier. The speed of modern war fare, say these young fllerS. is
 400 miles an hour, not the l4 knot speed of the battleship.
 Navy fliers admit the import- ance of the fleet. But they contend that we will not reach maximum efficiency in the Pacific until the fleet is made an adjunct Of air power, rather than air power an adjunct of the fleet.
 ROOSEVELT SURPRISE
 Among the millions Of persons who were surprised to learn Of the Presidents recent trip across the country was none other than the Presidents daughter. Anna Roose- yelt Boettiger of Seattle.
 First inkling she had Of her fathers arrival was when q Secret Service officer came snooping around the house to see If it was A safe place. Knowing the ways of the Secret Service, Anna had her suspicious.
 Then she remembered 6 mys-