Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-03-12

diets do, and they have to furnish
part of their own uniforms. Many
gave up jobs to take the training or
are hesltatlng to take jobs because
they expect to be called. Some of
them have been Expecting" long
time and their morale has sunk to
the depths. have talked with many
OF them and they have my sympathy
ior they are so anxious to spread
tnelr wings, so anxious to serve their
country and SO weary with waiting.
Of course, some have been able to
get into the air force, but not many
nave, and the brass hats of the army
incline to look down their noses at
anyone not army-trained.
Army Fliers Experts
OF course, there is no denying that
flying training plane and flying a
combat plane are two quite different
things. AS one air force officer, who
really is sympathetic with the CAA
program, said to me:
Remember that a man who has
spent fifteen to twenty hours in the
air is not combat pilot. You might
be able to take off from field in
6O-horse-power crate and land all
right but that doesn't mean you can
handle 25-ton, four-engine job with
Its 2OO instruments and spend per-
haps IL to IA hours in the air with
out seeing anything but those 200
instruments.
OF course, you'll get along faster
the first days in school if your moth
er has taught you your ABC's."
That is the attitude of the profess
sional. 1t is hard to take and lot
OF people in the army and out think
1t IS somewhat cavalier. They think
that if it hadn't been for leaning
very heavily on tradition, lot of
these boys who have their "ABC's"
would be showing their stuff right
now instead of breaking their hearts
waiting. They feel it is pretty hope
less. They are wrong there. 1t
won't be long now. But it is easy
to understand how that fine enthusi-
asm can fade when the effort, the
time and the sacrifice of civilian
plans seem to be passed over with
little more than shrug.
1t is to be hoped that shortly after
this appears in print, the boys will
be on Uncle Sans payroll. They
have friends in Washington who are
working for them. Then, even if
they have to mark time a little long
er, they will feel that their Uncle
believes they are worth their salt.
Burma Air Road
1t is easy to see the reason why
these and lot of other boys will
be needed in the air now. We are
going to open a Burma road of the
air. Supplies are going to China by
that route now but it is only a
trickle. We have the transport
planes and many more of them will
soon be in service. And what the
air traffic will bear is not to be
sneezed at.
An airplane that can carry five
tons, or ten tons, can make a run
in couple of hours which would
take two weeks on the ground. OF
course, moving freight by air isn't
the most economical way but money
doesn't matter in war. And it must
be remembered that in peace time,
it is cheaper to ship by water than
by rail. But where would America
be if it weren't for the railways?
After the war, it will be the same
with the airways, which are being
blazed by bombers and will be fol-
lowed by freight and passenger
planes in happier day.
Every time our bombers take off.
something is learned that can be
turned to peace-time profit. And so
far, we have not begun our bombing
in Europe. One observer who knows
aviation said to me just after Casa
blanca:
"All we have done over Germany
and France SO far is really expert
mental. 1t is really testing. A
few sporadic daylight raids. The
bombings by the American air force
are insignificant compared to what
will be done when we get under way.
And remember: we've got good
weather coming up"
And so the tx thousand" bovs
who have learned to fy-most of
them-will soon have their chance.
One of the enthusiastic supporters
of the civilian pilot training pro-
gram said to me:
Don't worry. Unless the war stops
suddenly, the army will soon ,e say
ing: Can you fly? All right, here's
your plane, get in And when peace
comes, civilian demand is going to
keep EN- flying"