Evening star., 1946-08-11
12O District Flyers
Join Andrews Field
Air Reserve Group
By Nelson M. Shepard

Activation of an AAF Air Reserve
training base is under way at An
drews Field as part OF Nation
wide training program for 10000
members of the Active Reserves, and
flying activities will start there the
end of this week for pilot reservists
in the Washington area, Maj. A. E.
Shook, commander of the new base,
disclosed yesterday.
The Andrews Field unit, known
as the 443d AAF Base Unit, is one
of 40 such bases being activated
throughout the country at this time.
Eventually 80 more bases will be
established during the coming year
MANY pilots who served in the
AAF have not flown for some time
Maj. Shook explained. For that
reason, individual flight training
has been given priority over all
other types of training. However,
this does not mean that the air
reserve program is just pilot pro-
gram There will be training for all
categories Of AAF personnel as the
program swings into gear"
100 From Washington Apply.
Approximately 100 AAF reservists
In Washington have applied for
training to date and this number is
expected to swell Immediately as
the Andrews Field unit gets started.
Maj. Shook said it was expected that
flying practice may begin Friday.
Aircraft assigned to the Andrews
Field base include Psi Mustangs,
ATS Texans and twin-engine AT
lis. These aircraft have been OBJ
tanned from storage depots and are
being inspected and modified at
Air Material Command bases prior
to delivery to air reserve stations.
A limited number of planes will
be made available now, but when
the air reserve structure is more
firmly established and pilots regain
their proficiency, it is expected that
B-29 Superfortresses will be among
the additional combat-type aircraft
assigned.
The Andrews Field unit is the
only one established so far in this
area, although it is understood
Baltimore eventually will be given
a training base. Nearest base to
Washington, it was said, is at Rich
mond, Va.
The Active Reserves will be COM
posed OF 1880 former combat pilots,
5000 staff administrative pilot off,
GERS. $1,000 non-pilot officers and
100000 enlisted reservists.
Pilots to Get 80 Hours Flying.
In general, the program will in
clude extension courses, classroom
instruction at the various bases and
flying. Eligible pilots will receive
approximately 80 hours of flying
each year. Reservists are required
to put in the annual period of Is
days of active duty with the regular
Army Air Forces.
The Air Reserve is one of the
two main components of the Air
Defense Command under Lit. Gen.
George E. Stratemeyer, the other
being the Air National Guard Al
though the promotion policy of the
reserve program has not yet been
defined, it will feature plans to
maintain and preserve a young and
active reserve force to help main
tain responsibility for national air
defense.
The Active Reserve will include
units effectively organized for rapid
mobilization, expansion and deploy-
ment. In addition, it will include
trained commissioned and enlisted
personnel for necessary replace
ments and expansion.
Weekly Drills Planned.
Most of the 12o men from Wash
ington who have applied for instruc-
ton at Andrews Field are pilots.
At present, according to the Air
Defense Command, the program
calls for one night of weekly drill
or training for minimum of two
hours, occasional weekend field
trips to AAF installations in addi-
ton to the Is days of active duty.
The Andrews Field unit will func-
ton under the 18th Air Force. Mai.
Shook has volunteered to assist for
mer AAF men in this area who have
not yet received their official papers
showing their eligibility to join the
reserves and participate in the ac-
tivity of the local unit. Before a
pilot may be scheduled to fly, he
must produce proof he has passed
a medical examination for flying
within the last year. If this form
is not current, applicants for train
ing may arrange for an appointment
with the flight surgeon at Andrews
EolL