The Key West citizen., 1952-05-26
ArFOrceI Is
Worried About
Civ. Program
Will Try Again To
Gel Volunteer System
OF Aircraft Spotters
Into Operation
BY ELTON c. FAY

WASHINGTON VR - The Air
Force, seriously worried over a
weak link in the nations aircraft
warning system. is going TO try
again to get the volunteer system
of civilian aircraft spoilers into
round -the-clock operation by July.
An attempt was made to start
the full. 24-hour a day pla e SPOT
ting system in 2T states on May
II, but was postponed when num-
Der Of state civil defense directors
requested reconsideration of the
plan.
The ground observer corps" is
intended to help the Air Forces
Air Defense Command locate and
track unidentified aircraft flying
too low for radar TO detect. USAF
officials contend that this constant,
low-altitude surveillance is vital.
An officer interested in the ene-
my aircraft warning system cited
today an incident in Alaska as an
example. About six weeks ago. he
said, ground observer in Alaska
(the exact location may not be
disclosed) saw what appeared to
be the contrail of plane. "a con-
trail) is the streamer of white vapor
left by an aircraft flying in c0ld
air or at high altitude. Radar sta
tions in the area could find moth
ing on their screens.
No known friendly craft we're in
the area. The presumption is that
the plane, never identified, was
flying at an altitude too low for
radar to locate or track. Alaska
is only few hours flight from
Soviet airfields in Siberia and the
Russian Maritime Peninsula.
The probability is that II was not
a bomber. 1t may have bea<
range reconnaissance aircTafrg
looking over the territory and
photographing radar and other mill
itary installations.
The report of the ground observ-
er was flashed not only 10 the
Alaskan air defense setup and ra-
dar stations Of that region but to
the United States, where a state
of readiness was ordered until ra-
dar and aerial reconnaissance
showed no further trace Of the re-
ported plane.
The Alaskan incident came at
almost the exact time the Eastern
Air Defense Force picked up on
radar the presence Of two uniden-
titled aircraft near Presque Isle,
Me, a USAF base. Interceptors
were sent up and the planes were
identified as commercial craft But
the coincidence of that radar In
tercept with the report from Alas
ka caused uneasy moments.
In general, the Air Force esti-
mates that planes flying below f.
600 feet are difficult or impossible
to track by radar. This altitude can
be lower in flat terrain or over
the ocean, much higher In billy
or mountainous country.
The only solution. the Air Force
contends, is to back up the radar
net which together with stations
operated by Canada extends from
the United States 10 the northern
perimeter Of the continent, with
ground observers.
II Is physically and financially
impossible To provide enough mill
tsry personnel for this. So until
civilian ground observer corps can
be put into operation, the Air De-
fense Command must rely on re-
ports by observers at Army in
staliaii0ns, naval land bases and
ships operating coastwlse and by
Coast Guard station.
The civilian volunteer system
need not be permanent. but it is
needed for the next FIVE 20 eight
years
By then, an Air Force spokesman
said in answer 20 questions. IL is
expected a fully automatic
tracking reporting system will Do
ready. That system. al improve
ment ard expansion u the radar
principle @iu give the Air De.
Tense Command a constant cheek
On lo# IS Hen as hlgh qying
planes In all danger areas.