Evening star., 1942-04-17
By FRANK /. WELLER,
Wide World News.

Brig. Gen. Ralph Royce did a big
ger job for this country than Just
wrecking four Jap bases in that
surprise bomber raid on the Philip
pines from Australia.
He gave thousands Of American
air cadets a wartime tonic described
bv brother officers here as hell fire
and birthstone. The morale OF
every youngster in the service, they
said. has been popped to peak OF
pride, spunk, confidence and com
bat spirit.
The dose didn't hurt the oldsters
any. either. Gold-braid strategists
of the Army air forces have been
stomping around War Department
corridors with the same new zest
as the boys who had Just won their
wings.
Gen. Royce has had a gift for in
spring men since the moment ne
entered the air service during MS
second year out Of West Point, IN
1915. Men admire him, like him and
trust him. Associates trace this 10
his great courage. friendliness and
unfailing trust in his fellows.
Smash Called Foolhardy.
Here is the latest example, para
graph buried in Australian news
dispatches about that 4,0o0-mile
round-trip fight over open seas IN
tested with enemy forces:
Gen. Royce organized it and
persisted in leading 1t against the
advice of experienced combat pilots
who said It was foolhardy." That
could have been said Of him dozen
times in the past,
Back In 1920, when he commanded
the country's only primary flying
school at Carlstrom Field, Fla, he
rocked Air Corps hot shots back on
their heels by giving their personal
planes to the cadets. In those days
the very few distinguished flying
officers had their own aircraft and
crews. The cadets got any old crate
left.
Gen. Royce walked out one early
dawn to find a youngster trying TO
get his doubtful ship In shape for
the air. The general climbed aboard.
f1ickered around while and came
back disguised.
Here he told the wide-eyed
cadet, you take my plane and III
use this trap of yours" He forthwith
called in the pride of the corps and
announced that Uncle Sam, and not
they, owned the best equipment on
the field. Now" he added. roll all
that stuff on the cadet line and
leave 1t there"
Valued Lives Above Planes.
He upset tradition again when
commanding Selfridge Field, Mich,
in 1923. Combat planes were scarce,
costly and hard to get. Pilots were
supposed to bring them in safe at
all odds.
To night flyers, he issued this
order: IF your motor conks, roll
over and bail out. Your life is worth
more than the plane" He court
martialed the first man to disobey,
although the man managed to save
himself and his ship.
The officer who told these stories
was one of Gen. Royces first victims
at Carlstrom Field. He says the
general is utterly ruthless on an air
naission.o and an iron-pants disci-
plinarian-but eminently fair to his
men and a crackerjack tactical COM
mander.
No one is permitted to tell now
how or where he managed to refuel
and reload his bombers during those
two days he blasted Jap bases at
Manila, Cebu, Batangas and Davao.
officers of the high command, con-
ceding he had secret base, say his
was not surprise since the
general is a master at head work.
Outmatched Arctic Cold.
Take the time. in 1890, when he
led the famous Arctic Patrol" out
of Michigan into snowstorms to
pioneer pursuit lessons in subzero
weather. One night, camped on
snowfield, every motor in the flight
froze solid. The whole project seemed
lost. Gen. Royce commandeered
nearby railway locomotive, attached