AVIATION ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES Each of the three armed services of the United States, the army, navy and Marine Corps, has its own aviation force which functions with and for it, and each of these aviation forces is trained for the particular type of flying required by the service of which it is an integral part. Although primarily trained for the specific kind of tactical flying required for the success of the mission assigned the parent service, each is prepared to augment one of the others when the occasion demands.
Under the direction of the secretary of the navy and the chief of naval operations, the Bureau of Aeronautics is charged with the procurement and maintenance of aircraft and all neces sary accessories, and the Bureau of Navigation has cognizance of personnel and training. The tactical force operating under the command of the commander of the battle force goes to sea aboard aircraft carriers and accompanies the fleet at all times.
The aviation organization of the U. S. army is quite similar to that of the navy. The Army Air Corps is charged with pro curement of aircraft and equipment, but the striking force, i.e., pursuit, bombardment and attack, is under the command of the general headquarters, and is designated as General Headquarters Air Force.
Both the army and navy have aviation observers attached to subordinate units. Long distance reconnaissance and patrol are performed by aircraft assigned for that purpose.
The Marine Corps has an aviation branch the duties of which are similar to both those of the army and navy, and which is administered in almost the same way as naval aviation.
The navy and Marine Corps have recently adopted the rank of "Aviation Cadet." Young men with the necessary qualifications are enrolled for four years, one year of training and three with regular organizations. This policy has enabled the navy and Marine Corps to bring the pilot strength up to that desired and also to create a reserve of trained aviators.
Considerable research has been conducted in connection with lighter-than-air craft. Both the army and navy have several small experimental airships and several large rigid airships have been in service. Construction of one rigid airship was authorized by
the naval expansion program of May 1938.
The mission of aviation in the three services differs widely, as army aircraft operate primarily over land and have in a majority of cases only land problems to consider. Naval aviation operates almost altogether with the fleet and along the coasts, and al though practically all of their missions are carried on at sea, naval aviators are trained in land plane flying in preparation for duty on carriers. Aviators in the Marine Corps are trained primarily for expeditionary duty, which consists of a combination of both land and sea flying. During the World War this aviation branch, under the command of the United States navy, operated land planes against inland objectives in conjunction with the British navy. In the future it must be prepared to carry out similar missions and also to operate from the decks of carriers or the surface of the sea in connection with the landing of forces in hostile territory, using land or sea planes.
The services have been criticized on numerous occasions for duplication of effort in the procurement of material and conse quent useless expenditure of large sums. This statement is with out foundation, as excellent co-operation is maintained. Each service is kept informed of the activities of the others, by means of an aeronautical board which co-ordinates the activities of the three services. No duplication exists, as experimental projects in the sister services cover a widely divergent field. In the opinion of the majority the aviation forces of the United States are allocated in a manner that will best increase the efficiency of the armed forces as a whole and strengthen the defence of the nation. See also AIR FORCES.
BIBLIoGRApHY.—Reports of the Bureau of Aeronautics are included in the Annual Reports of the secretary of the navy and those of the Air Service in the reports of the secretary of war. Hearings before the Senate and House committees on military affairs. Also hearing before sub-committees on military and naval appropriations. Jane's All the World's Aircraft (British annual) ; Aircraft Yearbook (annual).