potential world factor that she is. What the railroads of Hill and Harriman have done for the great West a complete system of communal, lateral, and national interstate highways, modernly built, constructed, and maintained will do for the entire Nation. Seventh. Men who are working for the building of highways are working for the advancement of God and humanity, are laboring to broaden the foundation of equal opportunity for all. Highway building, therefore, is a high mission, and the builder, advocator, and promoter of highways is a missionary of the doctrine of human betterment. "He prayeth best who serveth best." Saint and sinner alike, agree that the judgment pronounced by the Master against the barren fig tree was but a just sentence. The question for the people of the United States is not whether we have iron, gold, coal, silver, copper, oil, phosphate, sulphur, mineral resources of all kinds, unexcelled climatic conditions, besides unlimited undeveloped electrical horsepower; the question is not whether our soil will produce all kinds of grain, fruits, and tobacco, to say nothing of our fishing and mining industries and water transportation facilities-these questions were settled by the great God in the long ago when He made the world; on the other hand, the question for us is whether or not we have the vision, the spiritual and moral courage, and intellectual power and dynamic energy to realize 100 per cent on these Godgiven inheritances. Every patriotic American citizen must recognize himself or herself as trustee of all these tremendous natural resources, and use these unlimited resources to promote the welfare, peace, and prosperity of our present day and generation, and transmit to unborn posterity the blessings which we have received from our sires and mothers, thereby weaving threads of sunshine and happiness in the pathway of our fellow men, and add to the sum total of the glory of God and human happiness. The Nation, as well as the individual, must recognize that it holds this wealth as a trustee for the furtherance and advancement of its citizenship and humanity. I appeal to the membership of this convention, I appeal to the citizenship of Iowa, and through you to the citizenship and taxpayers of this great United States of America to demand a national system of modern highways, in order that we may exert the greatest influence in shaping the destiny for the good of unnumbered millions and in molding the spiritual, the educational, and material life of the Nation. And in the language of the old Scottish bard: Burst be the ear that fails to hear, And palsied be the feet that shun to speed, О FATALITIES IN THE AVIATION SERVICE OF THE ARMY LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR TRANSMITTING IN RESPONSE TO SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 296, A LIST OF FATALITIES IN THE AVIATION SERVICE OF THE ARMY DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS FEBRUARY 15 (calendar day, FEBRUARY 20), 1929.-Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed, with illustrations WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., February 19, 1929. The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, Washington, D. C. SIR: In response to Senate Resolution No. 296, requesting the Secretary of War to transmit to the Senate a list of the fatalities in the aviation service of the Army during the past five years, the causes of each accident, and what, if anything, is needed in the way of legislation or appropriations to make safe and more efficient this important arm of the military service, by direction of the President I transmit to you the following information: A list of individual accidents with cause of each. A classification of accidents by percentages with explanation as to underlying conditions which may cause or affect the accidents in question, together with probable cures for these conditions, and an outline of what is needed in the way of legislation or appropriations to effect these cures. Air Corps accidents as a whole, classified as to causes, are shown on chart No. 1 (attached hereto), together with statements of the underlying reason for each class of accident. It is evident from this chart that pilots' errors cause more than one-half of the casualties incident to aircraft accidents. The very nature of these accidents renders it very difficult to find remedies therefor. All efforts to devise 365€3-29 physical and psychological tests which will indicate pilots who will be subject to errors have failed. The Air Corps undoubtedly gives the most thorough flying training in the world, and the successful candidates comprise only those who have shown themselves to possess the highest degree of skill, together with the minimum liability to error. Not only has the Air Corps conducted a continuing study on the subject but during the past year a committee was appointed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (at the request of the Air Coordination Committee) for the purpose of discussing a uniform method of classifying and analyzing aircraft accidents. This committee consisted of two representatives each from the War, Navy, and Commerce Departments, and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The method devised has been adopted by the three departments and is expected to throw light on accident causes by making statistics comparable, and a standing committee has been appointed to study accident causes and to propose remedies therefrom. So far the investigations from the Air Corps and of the last-mentioned committee have not reached such a state as will allow definite conclusion to be darwn relative to specific remedies to reduce pilots' errors. Since it has been proven generally impracticable to ascertain the exact causes of such fatal accidents we can not expect to completely remove all liability of pilots' errors. Likewise, since pilots must take practice flights in admittedly poor weather, we must expect to have accidents from this cause unless we frankly refuse to train our pilots for war-time operations-the sole reason for their existence. The remaining known causes for accidents, power-plant failures, structural failures, and poor landing fields, can undoubtedly be largely eliminated in time. The present inspection system used by the Air Corps has, in the past two years, cut accidents due to power-plant failue in three, and it is hoped that continued efforts along this line will result in further reductions. But one source of trouble remains, the scarcity of good mechanics. The number of higher grades and ratings allowed the Army as a whole is too small to provide the Air Corps with a sufficient number of these ratings and grades to hold trained mechanics in the service. The number in each grade allowed the Army is based upon fixed percentages of its enlisted strength, and since the size and needs of the Air Corps are now such as to demand more than the corps proportionate share of the total allowed the Army, Air Corps needs can not be met without almost denuding the remainder of the Army of the grades and ratings essential to their being. The Air Corps is now preparing new legislation designed to provide the additional grades and ratings needed. The question of poor landing fields can partially be met by the constant increase in the numbers of airdromes and emergency landing fields throughout the country. However, it can not be wholly cured, because of the need for practice use of poor fields, such as will undoubtedly be used in war. Chart No. 2 illustrates the large number of activities and administrative duties required of Air Corps officers. The completion of the 5-year program will go far toward relieving this situation and therefore permit the individual officer to devote more time to his flying. The continued strain incident to a shortage in men and planes can undoubtedly be relieved by additional personnel and aircraft, but only if duties be not multiplied in proportion to the additions in personnel and only by the replacement of such obsolete or obsolescent equipment as now constitute a source of danger. CHART 1.-Classification by percentages of Air Corps accidents and their probable causes. CLASSIFICATION AND PROBABLE CAUSES Pilots' errors.-Improper physical or psychological conditions; staleness or exhaustion; lack of basic training, experience, or practice; poor judgment. Pilots' errors combined with power-plant failure.-Pilots' errors as above intensified by sudden emergency and danger. Power-plant failures.-Flaws in matériel; use of power plants of known inferior design (obsolete or obsolescent); improper maintenance or overhaul by unskilled mechanics; careless or unskilled inspection. Structural failures.-Flaws in matériel; improper maintenance or overhaul by unskilled mechanics; careless or unskilled inspection; improper piloting. Weather.-Necessity for peace-time training under possible war-time weather conditions; unpredictable changes encountered on long flights; lack of communications. Undetermined.-Unknown because of lack or destruction of evidence. In order to bring about increased safety and to insure progress, sicentific research and development work should be pursued with increased activity. This should look not only to the improvement of motors and planes, but to accessories, with particular reference to aids to aerial navigation, such as instruments for fog flying and the radio beacon. Modern industrial life has demonstrated conclusively the absolute dependence of progress on research. That is equally true in so far as aviation is concerned. The Army has led in this respect up to the present time, and it should continue to do so in so far as it may be necessary in order to insure satisfactory progress in military flying. To summarize: While comparatively little can be done to bring about a substantial reduction in the number of accidents due to pilots' errors, weather, or poor landing fields, increases in personnel and serviceable aircraft will undoubtedly have a favorable influence upon this source of accident. Accidents due to power plant or structural failure can undoubtedly be decreased by more and better scientific research, by steps taken CHART 2.-Showing the mutual interdependence of major activities of the Army Air Corps NOTE.-Arrows on connecting lines show direction of influence. To illustrate: An improvement in aero design has its effect upon nearly every phase of flying, resulting in improved design; changes in the art of flying; flying training; aerial tactics; Army aerial operations, etc. Similarly, improvements in antiaircraft work of ground units works back to aero design. All activities are dependent upon proper and adequate supply and proper maintenance and repair, and any shortcomings along these lines have their influence upon every activity of the Air Corps. to improve the service status of enlisted mechanics so as to hold them in the Air Corps after they have been trained, by providing for more aircraft of the latest accepted types, and by increases in Air Corps personnel. Any congressional action which will provide funds for commissioned personnel heretofore authorized; a sufficient number of high-grade mechanics; replacements for obsolete or obsolescent aircraft; a reserve of airplanes and engines; and adequate funds for research, development, and maintenance of matériel together with adequate funds for the maintenance and operation of Reserve Corps activities will aid in reducing the number of fatalities in the Air Corps. Respectfully, DWIGHT F. DAVIS, |