TRAINING OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN.
During the war the Marine Corps selected and trained its own flyers and mechanics, and had its own aviation field and equipment. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass., enlisted Marines selected as promising flying material and given the rank of gunnery sergeant, took a 10 weeks’ course in groundwork, and about 80 men a month were graduated. After ground graduation they did their actual flying at the Marine flying field, Miami, Fla. This course embraced preliminary, acrobatic, and formation flying, bombing, gunnery, and reconnaissance work, including photographing. Upon qualifying they were commissioned as second lieutenants in the Marine Corp Reserve Flying Corps. Marine flying candidates were all enlisted Marines, of superior physique, weighing from 135 to 165 pounds, and with at least two years’ college or university study to their credit. The age limits were 19 to 39 years. Marine Corps mechanics, riggers, and armorers were trained at the Marine Corps section of the naval school for mechanics, Great Lakes Training Station, Chicago, Ill., the course covering eight weeks, and at a similar school in aviation mechanics at San Diego, Calif.
In December, 1917, 2 Marine officers and 10 enlisted men were sent to the Army balloon school at St. Louis, Mo., and later to Omaha, Nebr., for training.
AVIATION STATISTICS.
RETURN OF MARINE AVIATORS FROM EUROPE.
Early in December, 1918, the Day Wing received orders to return to the United States, and embarked on December 6, 1918, on board the Mercury at St. Nazaire, France, arriving at Newport News, Va., December 21, 1918.
The First Marine Aeronautic Company returned from the Azores in March, 1919, arriving at the Marine flying field, Miami, Fla., on March 15, 1919.