Radio Broadcast (Nov 1924-Apr 1925)

New Fields for Radio 853 great progress in the control of pilotless planes controlled by wireless waves. In the same dispatch it was stated that the launching of aerial torpedoes or "winged bombs" was being attempted and that some measure of success in control of their flight over a limited distance was accomplished. These military developments are naturally shrouded in mystery, protected with every artifice of secrecy available. Without doubt, every modern nation is participating in experimental work of this class, for the overwhelming tactical advantage of success in this field would weigh heavy should another international war break out once more. ARMY OFFICERS ARE SANGUINE MAJOR-GENERAL MASON M. PATRICK, Chief of the U. S. Army Air Service, in an address before the Franklin Institute at the occasion of the recent celebration of the centenary of that organization stated to that distinguished assembly that the Army already had an "automatic pilot" device which flies airplanes without anyone aboard. He added that the step toward radio control was but a short one. He also said that he expected within a short time to see our military forces flying whole fleets of these planes, operated by a few men in a central control station. These fleets could be maneuvered to carry on attack against enemy cities and military units. At the same meeting, Major-General George O. Squier, late Chief Signal Officer of the Army expressed his belief that within a short time, "manless planes" carrying sleep-producing gases sufficient to put to sleep a whole nation for forty-eight hours, could be sent into action as a means for stalemating war. Such startling predictions by conservative military men are most worthy of consideration, but thus far none have touched upon the further developments which must follow the practical achievement of radio control of mechanical flight. The success of the radiocontrolled aerial torpedo guarantees the parallel success of the radio-controlled bombing plane, the gas spreader, the reconnaisance camera plane, and the combat plane. The operating technique of the one lends itself readily to the control of the other. With the development of lighter-than-air gases of poisonous nature, for repelling aerial reconnaisance and attack, and with the proper development of anti-aircraft barrage fire, the predicted mortality of flyers and pilots will be higher than in any previous war. In addition to the estimated government investment loss of $25,000 for every pilot killed while flying, the lost benefits of his services amount to even larger figures. A live, trained pilot is worth considerably more than the cost of his training. The perfection of radiocontrolled mechanical flight means a saving of seasoned flyers for more important uses, which cannot be furnished by automatic pilots. Entirely aside from the Army developments, the Navy is working with radio-control. The Navy needs the automatic pilot and the controlled-flight airpkne for a hundred different purposes. WHAT THE NAVY NEEDS IT WILL have to protect its battleship and battle cruiser fleet without which there are no bases from which to conduct flights. It will have to produce aerial smokescreens, to conduct raids against attacking lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air bombing fleets, and to serve as the extended "eyes" of the fleet, to guarantee against inefficient position maneuvering. The latter can prove very disastrous, as the battle of Jutland so clearly demonstrated. — Photograph Courtesy U. S. Air Service WILL PLANE SUCH AS THIS, RADIO-CONTROLLED, MAKE FRONT LINE TRENCHES UNTENABLE?