The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-09-06
Scribes Witness
Training Cycle
AT Pasco MAS.
Continued from Page u


water. The sailor slipped free of
his chute just above the water, in
flated his "Mae West" life jacket
and then took the rubber rescue
boat from the seat pack of the
chute and inflated it. Soon he
was padding about with hand
paddles, ready for a pickup by
rescue craft.
The rescue pack contains, be-
sides the self-inflating boat, fish
ing lines, water purifiers, first aid
material, a mirror for signalling,
a sail, sea anchor, food and
many small articles for the fiers
existence, even to a sponge for
bailing his boat.
Here also was a fire put out.
Gasoline on the surface Of the
pool was ignited and the enlisted
man swan under water to the
center of the fire. He surfaced,
hands first, and splashing vigor-
ously, cleared space Of the flame.
Then he splashed water on the
flames and put them out. Many
forced landings or crashes at sea
are accompanied by fires Of this
nature.
The swimming training at the
pool is most important, and it is
required of all navy personnel
that they learn to swim. Heartfelt
''thank you" letters from men who
have survived sinkings by the
training gained at. the base are
not uncommon, 1t. Groves said.
Pilots Trained
The school for the pilots under
1t. Comdr. j. F. Onthunk offered
many interesting items. Here
the pilot gets the theory Of what
happens in his practice, flights.
Here also he practices gunnery,
learns of survival methods, be-
comes adept at. different types of
SIGNALLING and communication and
gets his navigation training "pol-
ished up" Using the new reflect
ing type of sights, both fixed and
free, he learns to lead his quarry
as duck hunter leads bird.
Angles of approach and speed are
simulated for him in large sight
training rooms were the shadow
of a plane falls on a screen before
him. Controlled in part by an in
structor, the plane image appears
to be moving ON projected back
ground of sky. The object Of the
training is for the pilot to fly the
plane into his sights. When he
lines it up, with the proper lead,
he fires. Hits and misses are re-
corded and his score is thus COM
puted.
Other training in gunnery is
provided by pictures Of planes In
flight projected on a screen just
as they appear to the gunner in
the plane. From a turret before
the screen the gunner tests his
skill by firing" at the screen.
Hits are recorded much the same
as in the fixed gunnery trainer.
Survival is taught airmen by
acquainting them with the con-
tents of their chute pack. Know
ledge Of the use Of these articles
has saved many lives.
Signalling by blinker, commune
ication by radio and other means
is stressed.
Link Tt1ainin0
The Link Trainer, one Of the
finest Of pilot trainers, Is used
for the training Of Hiers In the use
of instruments for night or heavy
weather flying. The Automatic
pilot is also explained to the stu
dent at ground school. Many
weary hours Of tedious hand fly.
ing are saved by this robot.
Two and one half months are
spent in the school BY pilots and
gunners and to the observer It
seems they must be busy every
minute Of the time. Personnel q
divided into two groups, one Of
which goes to school in the morn
ing and flies in the afternoon to
put into practice what they have
learned while the other group goes
to school in the afternoon and does
its practical work next morning.
Accurate checks are made and
records kept Of the progress Of pill
OTIS, gunners and radio men, their
progress being charter and graded
at all times. Hurry calls for re-
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