Show Citizens to Be fie Eyes and Ears' Ears Of Rimy Army Air Corps Defense Program Men l Women Volunteer as Plane Spotters for Air Defense By LA Released by Western Newspaper Union WASHINGTON D. D En C.-En- C. C En Enrollment of U. U S. S S civil civil- civilians civilians ians jans as volunteer observers for the army air corps is pro pro- proceeding proceeding proceeding under the direction of Gen Delos C. C Em- Em Emmons Emmons Emmons mons commander of the gen gen- general general eral headquarters air force whose headquarters is at Bol- Bol Boiling Bolling Bolling ling Field D. D C. C Thus a million eyes and andears andears andears ears join in another forehand forehand- forehanded ed step in the accelerated na na- national national na- na national defense program The war department nt asserts ass it has no desire to alarm the gen gen- general general general eral public but points out that the active operation co-operation of the citizenry at large is needed for the success of national de de- defense defense de- de defense measures Organization of this volunteer corps will constitute a nationwide civilian force who will act as spot spot- spotters spotters for the four air forces of the army air corps They will be amli- amli affiliated with the Interceptor commands of each air force Modern Paul Reveres These modern Paul Reveres who are being welded into a compact unit of defense minutemen and may not adopt the slogan One if by land two If by sea But their words in the mouth mouth- mouthpiece mouthpiece mouthpiece piece of a crank driven model tele tele- telephone telephone phone from an Iowa farmhouse or ora ora ora a terse message from a shiny new dial Instrument in New Jersey will send fighter commands anti air antiaircraft antiaircraft craft artillery and balloon squad squad- squadrons squadrons rons into action From the rooftops of their homes in the towers of churches and sky sky- skyscrapers skyscrapers scrapers on prairies farms fields and beaches Mr and Mrs Average American Citizen will watch for that speck and listen for that telltale hum that may reveal the presence of an anair anair anair air enemy Patriotic organizations like the American Legion and their women's auxiliaries forest fire wardens weather observers and the coast guard would of course co cooperate co- co cooperate operate in flashing an alarm to head head- quarters Public utilities telegraph tele tele- telephone telephone telephone phone railway and light and power systems will take an enormous part partin in n the warning system for the alarm flashed would be sent over their communications The importance of warnings air cannot be overestimated over says the war department To know where the he attacking force is poised where it t strikes and where It may be ex ex- expected to strike is essential for de defense de- de defense of the country Here is where the volunteer watchers play playa a vital role Organized in their home com com- communities In grid fashion they will willman willman willman man listening and watching posts in established time shifts At the first sign of danger they will call Army Flash into their telephones In time of attack they would maintain their positions and continue their reports of ot the enemy's movements concen concen- concentration concentration numbers etc Plan Is Workable This method of aircraft warning has las already been tested and proved feasible An experiment was held in n the New York New England re region re- re region gion under the supervision of Maj Gen James E. E E Chaney Chancy commander 1 p 3 I l i 4 jw j t In event of war the above scene In war torn London would undoubted undoubted- undoubtedly ly be enacted re-enacted In all large American cities The picture shows force air officer officer and auxiliary air force women plotters watching enemy move move- movements ments meals over Britain Housed Doused many feet below the surface they receive a continuous record of information supplied by scattered detecting posts similar to the ones being created here Thus they are enabled to chart defense and attack plans from a subterranean nerve center protected from Crom air raids by thick steel and concrete overhead of the First air force A corps of I civilian observers was organized by bythe bythe bythe the American Legion to work with the army The American Telephone Telegraph company and its affiliated affiliated companies handled h the communications communications over their network Results were excellent and the ex ex- experience experience and knowledge gained from the tests laid the groundwork for forthe forthe forthe the present program Also taken into consideration were methods used abroad as reported by Ameri Ameri- American American Ar can army officers stationed there Around All Air Defense Modern air defense is divided ba bri basically ba- ba basically into active and passive phases Included in the active phase is the defensive attack carried out by fighter planes It embraces also the the- the network network of civilians giving the warnings of enemy aircraft Anti aircraft artillery pouring bar bar- barrages barrages rages of exploding steel into the skies and balloon barrages that com com- compel compel pel enemy aircraft to fly too high for effectiveness partly complete the picture of active defense To obtain information of the move move- movements movements ments of hostile air nir threats to at attack tack these threats in the air to pro pro- provide provide provide vide simultaneous protection of all sensitive home areas will be the objectives of these agencies of ac active ac- ac active tive defence defene e. e operating Co-operating in a com com- combined rt they will make possible ble a positive aggressive and co coordinated co- co coordinated counter blow to sweep en en- enemy enemy emy fighters and bombers from the skies Close liaison will be maintained with the agencies engaged in pas pas- passive passive sive defense To them also warn warn- warnings warnings ings of approaching enemy aircraft are vitaL vit L They will warn the civil civilian civilian ian population and industry warn home guards boards police fire depart depart- departments departments ments gas anti and medical work work- workers workers ers to stay on the alert at their stations They will enforce black black- blackouts blackouts outs of lighting and radio broadcast broadcast- broadcastIng Ing which might guide enemy air air- aircraft aircraft craft to their targets This is a phase of civilian air raid defense however er for which separate detailed plans plan will be made The Four Air Forces The First air force Is commanded by Maj Gen James E. E Chancy Chaney It covers the northeast and includes the following states Maine New Hampshire Vermont Massachusetts Massachusetts Connecticut Rhode Island New York Pennsylvania New Jer Jer- sey Delaware Maryland District of Columbia Virginia that portion of North Carolina north and east cast of the line extending from South Bos Bos- Boston Ion ton in Virginia and Cape Lookout in North Carolina West Vest Virginia Ohio Michigan Indiana Kentucky Illinois Missouri Iowa Wisconsin and Minnesota The Second air force is command command- commanded ed by Maj Gen John F. F Curry Embracing the Northwest it com com- comprises the following states Wash Washington ington Oregon Montana Idaho Utah Wyoming Colorado North Da Dakota kota South Dakota Nebraska and Kansas The Third air force under com com- command command mand of Maj Gen Barton K K Yount embraces the southeast region The states in this area are North Caro Caro- Carolina Carolina lina except that portion attached to the First air force South Caro Caro- Carolina Carolina lina Georgia Florida Tennessee Alabama Mississippi Louisiana and Arkansas The Fourth air force Corce takes in the Southwest It is commanded by Maj Gen Jacob E E. Fickel Included ed in the area of this force are the following states California Nevada Neva la Arizona New Mexico Texas and Oklahoma Bomber and Interceptor Commands Each air force Corce is divided into two components a bomber command which is controlled by the air force commander and an interceptor command which includes fighter planes or pursuit aviation anti air antiaircraft antiaircraft craft artillery and balloon barrages supervises and controls the entire observer and warning system and delivers the counterblow counter Each Ench interceptor command is un un- under under der the direct control of a brigadier general who is subordinate to the theair theair theair air force commander The heads of the interceptor commands are as follows Brig Gen John C. C McDon McDon- McDonnell McDonnell nell interceptor command First air force Mitchel field Long island N N. Y Brig Gen Carlyle H. H H Wash in- in interceptor interceptor command Second air force Fort George Wright Wash Wash- Washington Washington ington Brig Gen Walter H. H Frank Frnnk interceptor command Third air force Tampa Fla Brig Gen Mil Mil- Millard lard F. F Harmon interceptor com com- command command mand Fourth air force Riverside California Tests Will Continue The present air districts districts North North North- east cast air district Northwest air dis dis- district district Southeast air district and Southwest air district district are are to be designated hereafter as air forces as follows First air force formerly North North- Northeast east cast air district Second air force formerly Northwest air district Third air force formerly Southeast air district Fourth air force for for- formerly formerly merly Southwest air district The air defense command was originally formed to provide experience experience ence and the basis for future de de- developments developments de- de developments in defense against air attacks which are now being ap applied ap- ap applied plied in this new organization The Theair Theair air defense command co coordinated control of oC anti-aircraft anti units pur pur- pursuit pursuit suit planes and aircraft warning service of signal communications all elements for the protection of oC an anarea anarea anarea area against hostile air attacks Now that these functions are arc to be taken over by the Interceptor commands the air defense command will re remain re- re remain main as a laboratory group at Mitchel field New York consisting of oC Major General Chaney four staff officers and 34 enlisted men They will continue test sector experiments experiments ments and develop principles tac tac- tactics tactics tactics tics and doctrine to be used by the army air corps |