Yale University - Sheffield Scientific School Yearbook (New Haven, CT)

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AERO CORPS-YALE ARTILLERY The public opinion of the whole country is focused, as the rays from a converging mirror, here at Yale. Consequently our national need for adequate preparedness was felt so strongly here that active service was decided upon and the Yale Artillery was formed. Owing to the curbing state laws upon the National Guard many men were excluded from enrolling. Some of these more energetic, patriotic men cast about for a method whereby their service would increase the efficiency of the Battalion. This sentiment brought the Hospital Corps into being, which is doing excellent work under Major C. Herbert. ' Several other men anticipated our woeful lack of aerial defence, which has been demonstrated in Mexico this spring, and signified a desire to form an Aerial Corps. The Connecticut Aircraft Company promised Major R. M. Danford an Observa- tion Kite Balloon for use of the Artillery late in the fall. This offer assured the equipment for an Aero Corps and Major Danford detailed Lieutenant Paul F. Slocum, of Battery A, to form such a Corps. The number of men from those already enrolled in the Battalion was limited to twenty and it was con- sidered expedient to limit the total size of the Corps to forty members. At the motion picture lecture given by Major Danford several slides and a model were shown, with a description and the pro- posed plans for an Aerial Corps. Between eighty and ninety men signified their desire to enroll and the Corps was picked, putting those less fortunate, that so desired, on the waiting list. The Connecticut Aircraft Company had just completed the construction of the first Navy Dirigible, the DN-1, and they offered to instruct the Corps in the design, construction, and manipulation of non-rigid dirigibles. This was a rare oppor- tunity and was readily seized. Through the courtesy of Adjutant-General George M. Cole permission was granted to set the machine up in the Hartford State Armory, Hartford, Conn. The members of the Corps took several trips at their own expense to work on the machine, It was sent to Pensacola, Fla., for a Navy Training Ship after the Aero Corps had received their instructions.

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418 HISTORY OF 1916 S. In Junior year there seemed to be an endless procession of Class smokers, Fireside Talks, and Engineering gatherings, for the last two of which, Professors Keller and Tracy are particu- larly to be thanked. The janitors tell us the fumes of the cam- paign cigarettes used at these functions have made the building unsafe by eating the mortar from between the foundations. But we enjoyed them, even to the ice water which flowed like wine. The fall dances put us in form for another splendid Christmas. We repeated That Damn Rushing, this time from the inside looking out. Hard upon this came the Junior Prom. A number of us attended and danced under the shell in which the crew rowed to victory in 1914. The Dramat gave its most successful production in recent years, four one-act plays, two of them original. The house Germans were bigger and more novel than ever, and Europe and Wittstein's were taxed to the limit of their resources to supply men. After the Prom came numerous other smokers, and banquets. Late in the year the Kopper Kettle Klub elections emancipated us from the necessity of being polite to Seniors. About the K. K. K. Bill Savage was appropriately elected president. Appropriately? Notice the significance of both the first and last names. Unfortunately the out-going Seniors had neglected to pay any part of their debts. The bill is what made Bill Savage. Nevertheless the boys blithesomely started oi the year by blowing their own horns in a parade. Bill is not in the custody of the debtor 's sheriff at the moment of writing. At this time elections were made to the Independents, includ- ing Lysle, Conrad, Wickersham, Hagadorn, Anderson, Whitney, and others. Chappell, Coghill, Nel Graves and Dulaney made the Elizabethan Club. Hod Wilcox joined both the Whiifen- poofs and the Mohicans. Another season of smokers and ban- quets followed. The spring dances ended the season, as Cholly Knickerbocker puts it, in a maddening whirl of hectic gaiety. Senior year began with the fall dances, all of which attempted rather novel features. The house smokers of this season were particularly good. The movies at Colony were one of the pleasantest entertainments given. The Prom of this year was decorated in black and white, as was the Dramat and the Lawn Club. Earle Craig, Hee Dulaney, deZaldo, and Scott represented us on the committee.

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420 HISTORY OF 1916 S. In an early meeting the Constitution and By-Laws were adopted and the civic officers elected. Presiding officer, Lieu- tenant Slocum, Secretary, H. G. Anderson, Treasurer, M. R. Smith. Weekly drills or lectures are being held until the com- pletion of the Observation Balloon, when practical instruction will be begun. An office has been established at 1109 Edwards Hall for the transaction of business and the Welcoming of visiting aviators. The equipment of the Kite Balloon includes a motor tractor, portable hydrogen plant, Winch, and trailer to carry the bag when deflated. At the summer encampment of the Battalion at Tobyhanna, Pa., the Aero Corps will be expected to furnish firing data for the Batteries. Several of the members of the Aero Corps have had actual flying experience, one having already received his license and two others expecting to get theirs this summer. Cord Meyer holds an aeroplane license from the Federation Aeronatique Inter- national. C. D. Munson has had service on the French front in Observation Balloons and Aeroplanes. Gordon Tevis is an official observer of the Aero Club of America in California for aviator license trials. He has flown many times and expects, as does C. D. Wiman, to receive his pilot's license this summer. Warren S. Booth has had aeroplane experience here and abroad. E. B. C. Markle has flown in Zeppelins near Berlin. D. Weston helped in the construction of Burgess Flying Boats at Marble- head, Mass. R. R. Theobold, D. K. Warner, and H. Baldwin have also had experience in flying. One of the principles of the Aero Corps is to seize every opportunity which presents itself to increase its knowledge and further aviation. It hopes to get aeroplanes, so that the Bat- talion will have the far seeing, and in modern Warfare necessary, eye of the aerial scout.--However, the Corps will show it has done something, is doing something, and can do things before it Will look for outside aid.