Show I J c nC 7 t Airplane e Me t Re Re- for OJ I f g 0 nt I Aces I y K I u t III III Yx p f 4 7 l l H h V VJ J 7 T has hos oft n been stated that mechanics arc are more more d II sor sary to the efficient working l of the air nil service battle squadrons at the front than are arc the pilots and nud observers themselves This statement while perhaps a little broad brond Is not at all fill untrue Without efficient mechanics the pilots pilots' wings Ings would soon be clipped and there would Ive he fe fete feT I If any ships available with ith which they the could take tul the air all v When this countr country entered the great rent conflict It Is no exaggeration to say ny that there were no more than one nc thousandth of th the mechanics needed mechanics fo to tomake make the repairs necessary to keep a n great nit air Heet In the air nil To Io take from the airplane Industries the few few- mechanics mechanics me me- who did dill know airplane work worl would have hn been heen simply a n case of robbins rob roh bing bins Peter to pay hay Paul l inasmuch as ns ashe the he mechanics In the factories are vitally vi- vi tally ally necessary for production A new has therefore sprung up inthis In Inthis this his country countr and nd that Industry try I Is or 01 or- or organized under the name Tiame of Air Sen Service ice Mechanics Mechanics' Schools School Schools There are two such schools In operation operation oper oper- one at ut St. St Paul Mum Minn and theother the theother theother other at Kell Kelly Field South San Antonio Antonio An An- tonio Te Tex These Thee schools are In effect effect effect ef ef- factories the product being high grade airplane mechanics and nud the raw mn material from rom which they thc ar nr art garage men carpenters metal workers tailors etc The rite two schools are conducted on il Identically the same basis and produce all nIl the tradesmen that are needed for fOI the aero nero service ser squadrons The trades tuu taught ht are the following Airplane blacksmiths cabinet makers carpenters chauffeurs chauffeur's coppersmiths coppersmiths' electricians ers Instrument repair men magneto repair men metal workers motor motorcyclists motorcyclists motor propeller tankers makers welders First t Tests A students life from the moment of entering the time air lr service ser to the time when he finds himself a u competent airplane airplane air air- plane mechanic in a n service squadron at t the thc front Is something f Hk like this IllIs He lie HeIs lieis Is first inducted or ur drafted assigned ned to the air nil service and arid ordered to one of or the mechanics mechanics' schools Upon his arrival he is trade tested l b by a technical technical cal enl board formed for that purpose e and und classified as ns n a p motor clan cian an nn airplane airplane air air- airplane plane do the rigging of all airplanes a n fabric worker an nn electrician elec clue or any one of the trades which which are ate required The trade te tet t hO board ld uses a n mans man's pa past t record as a n busts basis for determining his probable ability If It he has bus been a garage man mun and amid has hns specialized on the upkeep of trucks ho lie will probably be trained as a u chu t. t I If It he has specialized more orless or orless I less on magneto work he will probably be trained on Ignition with particular reference to that very delicate mechanism mechanism me me- the tile Libert Liberty Ignition s system stem The he trade tot test finished the man mun I Is assigned to his hits squadron at the school and to hl his cot and d Is made thoroughly thorough thorough- ly Iy comfortable The next Jay day cla In fu all nil probability hl his real work will begin when he Is assigned to his hits class In whatever trade he Is to he be trained The HIe largest number of or mechanics required required re re- In squadrons are riggers so 80 the tho t typical case In mind will probably bea be he hen bea a n rigger This man has probably never seen an au airplane except at th the country circus and then only at nt a n distance distance dis dis- tance tante so o he lie Is In a n new and unel strung strange world The Time first day or t two t wo he with tIC the rest JeRt of ot his class will go o over oYer an nn minutely and learn leam the gen sen general eral crul makeup of ot an airplane Soon he lie vial know the difference between awing a u awing I wing find and a n fuselage and und how the various vari ml bus ous wires are arc stretched when hen the machine machine ma ma- chine Is In flight Then he be will wUl learn how to take the airplane apart and low tow to ra and realign it and n r Y Yr r y 1 wAg J 1 r r chi M M M TU y IG fJ gowA 5 he will lc learn arn that the time alignment of a 3 plane I Is one of the most Important things s about his work By ny this time he will have gave learned lint t tools to 10 use useIn useIn useIn In working about allota an nn airplane and what tools not not to use how to make wire loops nn and how not to make them lie will know what makes an nn airplane tl nn and above nho pal all Ill he lie will have learned I that the the In i. I i in ti il o Ci the c. c upon the III proper oper and antI careful rigging rIgging of cr an nn depends de tie leads its air aim worthiness lie will also learn about ulima propellers wh why v when they rotate In the air uh the they travel forward I and ami he will learn how to take e care tre of them and to repair them Next lie he will learn something about the motive power pow pow- power er the heart henrt of the airplane what makes It U go and wh why Get Field Training after aftel about two and one lath months of this thus work comes the day dayto to which all nIl mechanics ics look forward forward- the day when the actual field work of keeping the ships slips in lit the nh air begins ns There are JI flying Ing at nt each of ot the mechanics mechanics' schools They Thoy Ih mire are tl there re for fur the purpose of n flying the planes llanes which the time mechanics work ou on in order older that the fighting lighting service squadrons ons atthe at ut atthe I Ithe the front may be lie simulated and that the mechanics mn may be he given their final training The Thc airplane mechanic is Is assigned to a n theoretical service squad squad- run ron and amid that S1 squadron in connection n with the school and remains there for fo r two weeks doing nothing but the work in n which he lie hits lias been heen trained At 7 o'clock In the morning all ull the ships which are to be lie flown Clown that day ni and nud his will be one of them thew are ure taken from front the hangars and assembled lcd ready for their pilots Time The slip ship of our ur me uie- mechanic is ready his pilot comes und mind gives It brief Inspection knowing that the mechanic will have dove done his duty well straps himself In and after testIng testIng test- test Ing fug out his motor for a u minute or two two signals that lint he lie e Is ready and takes the air After a u short light flight he alight with the report perhaps that the ship Is 11 Ing with one wing down or 01 so souie sous other defect lI The trouble Is then diagnosed ed and remedied amid soon the pilot lIot is a again in ht the air tills this time with kith the ship lI flying Ing ng perfectly j Two 1 weeks of this work and the I mechanic will probably have demonstrated demon I tint his stinted sU to to his instructors that training Is He lie Is graduated graduated grades I us a n highly trained mechanic In perhaps p the mo mot most t t dt delicate of tr traces and umI i 10 Ls sent out to lo take his part part purt In Inthe Inthe r. r the struggle dc He Ire w will ll soon find blur him himself self at ut one of ot the flying fi fields carlIn carryIng carry carl In Ing on time the th duties In which he has lius been lIeen trained mind and then In two or three months the long anticipated du day will arrive e when he will be passed as ns fit for l ular service He lle will th then n be assigned to a it service el nn and nud soon will l be he assigned to a u corps and ap 1 timers viii Ill the VP rent wk JI f or r 1 which he has been specially trained 1 the training at nt mechanics mechanics' Tools Is lr very Intensive great greal atten atten- then n is paid to the health and welfare o Uthe t the Then men There are arc bm baseball ant and 1 football teams n a Y M M. C. C A A. A and hosi hos hos- r i is- is house hous a band buri un and v orchestra a I which kiich hives gives Ives frequent concerts and 1 In n the le services of or theatrical pe per per- r Joiners lire arc voluntarily obtained 55 who h 0 Sue ge entertainments two t or three thre e ni a n w week ek m Recreation Recreation-Is Provided u tr Mechanics are arc re needed in the air nir service service n needed e cd badly and at once mild and aH all men who h have hn 1 mad d experience as motor motor meC mechanics blacksmiths caM cabi I et let makers carpenters chauffeurs electricians elc fabric workers workers work work- ers ers mn magneto neto men metal met- met m al 1 workers motorcyclists propeller makers 18 or welders will be doing their bit bit ht In the time best possible Rey h by presenting themselves foi for Induction In In- diction to the air nir service er trade test in hoard ril at nt Atlanta Ga Gu St. St Louis Loul Mo 0 Detroit Mich Denver Denyer Colo Colu Boston oston bass Ia s. s Chicago III Ill New Xe York N. N Y or Seen San Francisco Cal Cat In order that they may be inducted h by the these e The The- following data concerning the dr draft ft status Is necessary Address of oC I local ocal draft board order r nod and serial number classification and division |