Conquer We Must

AXIS LOUD-MOUTHS who have been in the habit of "pooh-poohing" the efficiency of Democracies should drop in for lunch some day at Luke Field, one of the U. S. army's most important single engine advanced flying schools, located in Arizona's Valley of the Sun, west of Phoenix. Or better yet, some of our own citizens who may be a little bit uneasy about the way this war is being fought, ought to see Luke Field and feel greatly encouraged. If you are an Axis loud-mouth, Luke Field will give you a chill to the furthermost seams in your socks; and if you are a citizen of the United States of America you'll be proud and you'll shout "Hallelujah!" because, ladies and gentlemen of the U. S. A., Luke Field is the business. Take it from your humble scribe, Luke Field is really something, a big something that is turning out the best trained fliers in the world. Luke Field graduates are today hanging up marks of merit and achievement and will hang up marks of merit and achieve-ment in all the skies of the world where Old Glory goes to battle. The story of Luke Field could be best told in facts and figures. But as you'll readily un-nderstand it would be giving aid and comfort to the enemy (them louses) if we were to tell you how many American and Chinese cadets are training there now, or how many have been graduated, or how many more are to be trained this year and the next. We'll take care of the facts and figures department by telling you of numbers in one reassuring word: plenty. Take our word for it, Luke Field is doing a gigantic job, and doing it well and efficiently. When a cadet arrives at Luke, be he either American or Chinese, he's had primary and basic training. At Luke he gets advanced training in single engine planes. The cadet leaves Luke as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and by that time he's a pretty cool customer, darned skillful in the ways of a plane, a competent part of some of the best ment in all the skies of the world where Old Glory goes to battle. The story of Luke Field could be best told in facts and figures. But as you'll readily understand it would be giving aid and comfort to the enemy (them louses) if we were to tell you how many American and Chinese cadets are training there now, or how many have been graduated, or how many more are to be trained this year and the next. We'll take care of the facts and figures department by telling you of numbers in one reassuring word: plenty. Take our word for it, Luke Field is doing a gigantic job, and doing it well and efficiently. When a cadet arrives at Luke, be he either American or Chinese, he's had primary and basic training. At Luke he gets advanced training in single engine planes. The cadet leaves Luke as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and by that time he's a pretty cool customer, darned skillful in the ways of a plane, a competent part of some of the best machinery man has ever put together to conquer the skies above the earth, or to subdue unsavory elements that may happen along to defile and sully those skies that were made for free peoples everywhere. After Luke, the graduate is assigned to tactical duty where training is continued until he becomes a part of Uncle Sam's Army's Fighting Air Machine, in pursuit, interceptor or observation capacities. Young men, with the required physical fitness, who less than a year ago were bookkeepers or students or carpenters or artists or musicians, or anything else plain citizens devote their attention to in making a living, in less than a year, mind you these young men have been trained and prepared to fight well for their country wherever the enemy (them louses) show themselves. But the story of Luke Field isn't just the story of cadets learning to fly better than anybody in the world. Luke Field is a big

business organization made up of many, many people, who, from the commanding officer down, are a well-knit, efficient machine getting a lot of work done, and getting it done well.

The story of Luke Field began early in 1941. What is now Luke was a vast desert expanse peopled by a few birds, a jackrabbit or so, some drowsy quail and lots of sunshine and clear weather. (Incidentally, without sounding too much like a plug from the Local Chamber of Commerce we would like to say that the Army's stressing of Arizona for air schools was because Army experts found more perfect flying weather here than could be found anywhere else in these United States.) Then, too, besides perfect flying weather were such factors as adaptable terrain and adequate municipal facilities.

Then came that day when our people's government decided that there were so many gangsters running loose in the world that the time had come, even though we were at peace, to prepare for eventualities by increasing our Air Arm. Then It's early to bed and early to rise at Luke. Cadets, who are volunteers for air training, realize the seriousness and the earnestness of their mission. They realize, too, that what they learn at Luke may decide the great air battles of the future that will seal the destiny of their country and their people.

Uncle Sam's cadets, secure in the knowledge that they are the best trained flyers in the world, go about their business with a cocky grin and a chip on their shoulder. You can't beat a Nation that will not be beaten. things began to happen out there on the desert where the birds and the rabbits and the quail had had things much their own way for so long.

An army moved in an army of engineers, draftsmen, painters, electricians, plumbers, fence builders, carpenters and their helpers. Concrete mixers groaned day and night and runways came into being. Col. Ennis C. Whitehead, the commanding officer, was here, there and everywhere. Things were moving so fast that reporters could hardly keep up with construction in the daily prints. If you happened to be one of the citizens, standing around watching things, you were damn proud of the way your Democracy got things done, once it got going.

Training began in early June when only the essential buildings were complete. No sooner would a craftsmen pick up his tools in an office than furniture was moved in and administrative officers, most of them from Kelly Field, took over. Not a day was lost, not a minute wasted. The first cadets, after completing basic training in California, arrived at Luke in June. The first two weeks of their training took Coming to Luke for advanced training, the cadet is well on the road towards being a good soldier and officer. There is a friendly spirit of comradeship among the cadets, who in turn comport themselves respectfully and attentively to their superior officer, whose duty it is to make good flyers of them. And their success is told in the fine record of Luke graduates who have already showed merit and ability in the theater of war.

For every man in the air, there are fifteen men on the ground whose functions are to keep 'em flying. At Luke both civilian and enlisted personnel are part of this well-knit organization of experts.

place at Sky Harbor because the field at Luke wasn't ready for aircraft. In the middle of the hustle and bustle, hurry and scurry, that good old Arizona June sun was warming things up a bit but no one had time enough to bother to complain. Coolers were installed in the buildings along the end of summer but by that time operations at Luke were in full swing. The field was named after Lt. Frank Luke, Jr., Arizona's Air hero in World War I. Frank Luke, who died in France, would have been proud, too, to lend his name to such a going concern, and his courage and memory is a constant inspiration to all at Luke Field.

Added to the pilot training program Luke serves as a Replacement Training Center for enlisted men. The enlisted men are the ones who maintain the airplanes, and give the words "Keep 'em flying" their true meaning. They do the countless things that must be done to make the field efficient and successful. Mechanics, radio repairmen, general airplane maintenance men, and such, are all specialists in their line, and, having received intense theoretical training at the several specialist schools in the country, at Luke the practical training they receive is of prime importance. This instruction is obtained at Luke under the supervision of hands more experienced in the methods of the army. Each has his work to do, he receives proper training and instruction, and he does his work well. He, too, is an American citizen working with other American citizens to make a Nation and a people invincible. It all comes under the heading called teamwork, like the intricate parts of a Swiss-movement watch, clicking off the accurate minutes.

Before the sun hardly has time to rub his eyes in the morning and to have a cup of coffee, the day's work at Luke has begun. The day begins at 5 a. m. when sleepy eyed ground crews wheel the planes from the hangars to the flight line. Motors, hardly cooled from night flying, are started and the day's activity gets underway. Planes are checked by the crew chief and his helpers before the takeoff. All day long the men are busy receiving their ships and preparing them for the next flight. They take pride in their ability to keep the airplanes in shape to fly. At the end of prescribed periods of flight each plane is checked thoroughly for worn and ill adjusted parts. Safety is a prime factor.

Working in close harmony with the enlisted men who care for the airplanes is that part of the post mechanism called the sub-depot. It is the department of many functions, all vital. The tired airplane is brought here for complete overhaul, and damaged ones are brought back to life. It is the machine shop of the field. Substituting new engines for old, repairing or replacing wings, aligning and balancing propellers, repairing out of kilter instruments are only a few of its varied capabilities. It is the place where the civilian worker plays his part in the program. Except for the few officers who direct operations, all personnel of the sub-depot is made up of well-trained and carefully selected civilian workers. A good measure of Luke Field's success can be attributed to the competence of this department.

The advanced course at Luke is 10 weeks in length. It is during the third and last stage of training the "spit and polish" is applied to the future army officer. Besides his flying the student continues ground school courses in everything from navigation to gunnery, and special emphasis is placed on military courtesy and the proper conduct of an officer.

Every cadet has the highest respect for the ground crews. Planes are valuable and crucial property in these days of the tempest and they must be tended each day, checked and rechecked. Luke's record of accidents is unusually low.

Flying is done in North American trainers (AT-6A's in army terminology) which are larger and faster than the ships used in the two earlier phases of the course. Time is devoted to formation flying, cross country (both night and day), instrument flying and aerial gunnery during these ten intensive weeks. It is a qualified army airman who leaves at the end of his stay.

A cadet or a soldier arriving at Luke Field, whatever his interest may have been before joining the colors, soon becomes imbued with the zeal and the spirit that must be maintained by a military organization in order to attain the very maximum of efficiency. The desire to excel, the quiet realization of power, that constant goal of ultimate and triumphant victory are part of the living routine of the field.

Civilian life at Luke stops at the gate. Within goes on day and night the business of training flyers. Every person entering the gate, whether the commanding officer or the man on the "tug" has an important service and mission to perform. Success depends on the efficiency of all.

This comes from the officers in charge, capable and proven, who know how to handle men and know how to get the most out of them. This comes from the instructors, specialists in their fields of activity, deserving and getting the utmost of respect from their subordinates, not because military discipline demands it, but because of the desire to impart knowledge on the other.

The life of Luke Field is carefully maintained and ordered to secure the most stimulating contacts for the cadets and the enlisted personnel. The recreational life of the post is unusually well-rounded. There is a broad program of athletics in effect assuring physical fitness and good health.

The post theater shows first-run movies, the cadets and soldiers themselves organize theatricals and famous radio shows have given programs there.

Health is an all-valuable commodity among a group of men destined to fight for Democracy wherever demanded and in this connection Luke is especially proud of its large, well-staffed and well equipped hospital. Its doctors and facilities are prepared to meet anything from a blistered heel to an emergency case requiring major surgery. A dental clinic, pharmacy, X-ray, operating equipment and ample bed space make the various tasks of the doctors easier. Aiding the medical doctors and Soldiers, not many months ago plain citizens in civilian life, soon become proficient in the military machine. At the weather station, all the moods and manners of wind and the weather are carefully recorded.

dental doctors are nurses, all of whom are commissioned as lieutenants in the Army Nurse Corps.

When you consider the short time that Luke Field has been in operation, when you realize how much has been accomplished in a few short months, you cannot help but admire the U. S. Army for the way it gets things done. When you see and talk to the officers, the cadets and the soldiers, you feel proud you're an American, proud of the things your country can and will do. We are on our way and don't think for a minute we are not.

If straws point the wind, Luke Field is one straw in the Nation's military program and progress that bespeaks a storm of trouble and discomfort for the enemy (them louses.) A Luke cadet flyer can play hide and seek with clouds and look down on mountains. The American flying cadet is secure and serene in his knowledge that when he hits the big show he'll fly the best and fastest planes on earth. Things are done that way in America.