finds that the best interests of the Navy will be served by establishing certain classifications of flight duties for which individual naval aviators are best qualified, physically and temperamentally.

157. The board believes that present physical standards for naval aviators should be revised to bring them more in line with practical considerations of age and flying experience. Such standards are now in effect in the Army Air Corps and in the Civil Aeronautics Authority for rating air-line pilots.

158. The board recommends that a scale of physical qualifications be established administratively on the following general basis of age and flying experience:

Scale 1. Naval aviators, junior to rank of lieutenant commander:

Scale 2. Naval aviators, with rank of lieutenant commander and commander;

Scale 3. Naval aviators, with rank of captain and above;

and that the Army physical scale of rating pilots, senior pilots, and command pilots be given consideration as a general basis for the revision of present physical standards for naval aviators.

159. The board further recommends that naval aviators who cannot meet the standard requirements but are capable of continuing their flight duties in a restricted status, should be physically certified for duty in one of the following categories:

Category 1.-Unrestricted flight, subject to waiver by Navy Department.

Category 2.-Normal flight, as distinguished from flights requiring violent maneuvers.

Category 3.-Restricted flight, requiring at least one unrestricted pilot in the plane.

PART X. PERSONNEL FOR LIGHTER-THAN-AIR ACTIVITIES

160. The board recommends the following policies be adopted for procurement, training, and employment of personnel of the Navy and the Naval Reserve, in connection with lighter-than-air activities.

161. The number of officers and enlisted men of the Navy, employed in connection with lighter-than-air activities, should be sufficient to operate and maintain lighter-than-air facilities and equipment that now exist and that may be authorized.

162. The number of officers and enlisted men of the Naval Reserve should be sufficient to operate and maintain lighter-than-air facilities existing in the United States, outside the Navy, which may be required for incorporation into the Navy in a national emergency.

163. These numbers should be determined by the Secretary of the Navy, should be revised periodically, and should be increased as necessary, to meet the needs of lighter-than-air developments in the future.

164. Commissioned officers of the line of the Navy should be the primary source of supply of naval aviators for lighter-than-air craft. 165. The present designation naval aviator (LTA) should be changed to naval aviator (Airship).

166. The law specifying that qualification for designation as naval aviator (LTA) must include 150 hours in rigid airships should be re

pealed, and standard qualifications for designation as naval aviator (Airship) should be established by the Secretary of the Navy.

167. To be eligible for training as a student naval aviator (Airship), a commissioned officer should be a line officer, should have completed at least 2 years sea service as such on a combatant ship, should be below the age of 32 years, and should volunteer for such training.

168. Naval aviators (Airship) should be designated only from those student naval aviators (Airship) who have completed successfully a a course of training prescribed by competent authority.

169. Commissioned officers, upon designation as naval aviator (Airship), should be required to serve at least 2 years on duty in connection with airships, before being considered eligible for other duty.

170. Candidates for training as student naval aviators (Airship), for the Naval Reserve, should be selected from civilians and from enlisted men of the Navy, between the ages of 20 and 27 years, who are unmarried, and who fulfill at least one of the qualifications prescribed for candidates for heavier-than-air training as Reserve naval aviators.

171. Selected candidates should be appointed aviation cadets, United States Naval Reserve, and designated student naval aviator (Airship); should be given a prescribed course of training in lighterthan-air activities; and, upon successful completion of that course, should be designated naval aviator (Airship).

172. Aviation cadets, United States Naval Reserve, who pass the required test and are recommended by proper authority, should be commissioned ensigns, United States Naval Reserve.

173. Ensigns, United States Naval Reserve, who are designated naval aviator (Airship) should be required to serve not more than 2 years in an active duty status with naval lighter-than-air activities, unless their services are required for a longer period, due to a state of emergency, or to an acute shortage of officer personnel, determined by the Secretary of the Navy.

174. The same policies which pertain to Reserve officers, naval aviators, on active duty in heavier-than-air activities should govern ensigns, United States Naval Reserve, naval aviators (Airship), who are retained on active duty more than 2 years.

175. The same policies which pertain to Reserve officers, naval aviators, in an inactive duty status, should govern Reserve officers, naval aviators (Airship), in a similar status.

176. Civilians who are thoroughly qualified in airship handling, or have had broad experience with lighter-than-air craft development, should be eligible for commission in the Naval Reserve.

177. Civilians who may be commissioned in the Naval Reserve in connection with lighter-than-air activities, should be required to qualify under prescribed requirements before being designated naval aviators (Airship).

178. Enlisted men of the Navy who volunteer; are between the ages of 22 and 27 years; have served not less than 2 years in the Navy; and qualify under approved standards should be considered available for training as student naval aviation pilots (Airship).

179. Naval aviation pilots (Airship) should be designated only from those student naval aviation pilots (Airship) who have completed successfully the prescribed course.

180. Civilians who have completed 4 years of high school, and have had some operating or manufacturing experience with commercial

companies operating airships, or former enlisted men of the Navy, fully qualified in lighter-than-air activities, should be considered eligible for enlistment in the Naval Reserve, in lighter-than-air activities.

PART XI. NAVAL AVIATION OBSERVERS

181. The board is of the opinion that there is little, if any, need for the designation of any additional officers of the Navy as naval aviation observers. Occasions may arise, however, when it may be desirable to employ certain officers as naval aviation observers. It is recommended, therefore, that the designation "naval aviation observer" be retained, and the following policies be adopted for procurement, training, and employment of officers as naval aviation observers. 182. The number of naval aviation observers to meet the requirements of the aeronautic organization of the Navy should be determined by the Secretary of the Navy.

183. Officers of the Navy, regardless of rank, whose special qualifications or knowledge of aviation technique are such that their services would be of particular value to the aeronautic organization of the Navy, should be eligible for designation as student naval aviation observers.

184. Student naval aviation observers should be required to complete a prescribed course of instruction in naval aviation to qualify them for special duty in the aeronautic organization of the Navy. Upon successful completion of the prescribed course they should be designated naval aviation observer.

185. Officers of the line of the Navy should not be designated as naval aviation observers for the purpose of increasing the number of officers available for duty in command of ships employed primarily in naval aviation, unless and until there are not available sufficient naval aviators qualified for such duty.

186. Naval aviation observers, whose duties require them to make regular and frequent flights in aircraft, should be placed on a flight status while assigned such duties.

187. At the present time, naval aviation observers are not required in Marine Corps aviation.

PART XII. OFFICERS FOR AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING DUTY ONLY

188. The board recommends the following policies be adopted for procurement and employment of commissioned officers of the Navy for aeronautical engineering duty only.

189. Commissioned officers, naval aviators, should be the primary source of supply of officers for aeronautical engineering duty only.

190. To be eligible for selection and designation for aeronautical engineering duty only, naval aviators should have completed a prescribed postgraduate course in an aviation specialty, and should have requested such designation.

191. In order to insure that officers designated for aeronautical engineering duty only have a well-rounded knowledge of the operational requirements of naval aviation they should be assigned, periodically and frequently, to duty in connection with active aviation units of the fleet.

192. The number of officers designated for aeronautical engineering duty only should be based upon the needs of the aeronautic organization of the Navy.

193. Officers designated for aeronautical engineering duty only should include specialists in aviation power plants and structures, and such other specialties as may be required in connection with the advancement of aviation research and design.

194. Officers designated for aeronautical engineering duty only should be eligible to command aviation experimental and industrial establishments only.

PART XIII. AVIATION MEDICINE PERSONNEL

195. The board recommends that the following policies be adopted for procurement, training, and employment of aviation medicine. personnel, commissioned and enlisted, of the Navy and Naval Reserve.

196. A sufficient number of medical officers of the Navy and Naval Reserve should be trained in aviation medicine to meet the requirements of the aeronautic organization of the Navy, and of Naval Reserve aviation, and to carry on research work in the physiological problems peculiar to aviation.

197. To be eligible for training in aviation medicine, medical officers should have completed at least 2 years' sea service, should not be above the rank of lieutenant commander, and should volunteer for such training.

198. Medical officers selected for training in aviation medicine. should be designated student flight surgeons, and in addition to the prescribed course in aviation medicine should be required to complete a course in aviation ground school and flight instruction sufficient to give them a practical approach to the physiological problems of aviation personnel.

199. Medical officers who complete successfully the prescribed course of training should be designated flight surgeons. The designation "flight surgeon" is distinctive enough to cover all requirements, and no medical officer should be designated naval aviator even should he complete successfully the entire course of flight training prescribed for student naval aviators.

200. Medical officers of the Naval Reserve should be permitted to volunteer for training in aviation medicine, and, if selected, therefore, should be required to complete a prescribed course in aviation medicine.

201. Upon completion of the prescribed course in aviation medicine, medical officers of the Naval Reserve should be required to perform a designated period of duty at a naval air station, or Naval Reserve aviation base, and upon acquiring the necessary proficiency should be designated aviation medical examiners.

202. Medical officers of the Naval Reserve who are designated aviation medical examiners should be permitted to volunteer for training as flight surgeon.

203. From those medical officers of the Naval Reserve who volunteer for training as flight surgeon, there should be selected a limited number to take the course prescribed for flight surgeons in the regular Navy, and upon completion thereof should be designated flight

surgeons.

204. While undergoing training for flight surgeon, medical officers of the Naval Reserve should be placed on an active-duty status.

205. At least one flight surgeon should be assigned to duty with each patrol wing, carrier group, ship-based wing, Marine Corps group, naval air station, and to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

206. Insofar as practicable, at least one flight surgeon should be assigned to duty at each Naval Reserve aviation base.

207. Flight surgeons on duty in a permanent flight status, with active aviation units of the Navy or Marine Corps, should be entitled to and should receive the same flight pay as provided by law for naval aviation observers.

208. Medical officers of the Naval Reserve, designated aviation medical examiners, should be assigned to duty with Naval Reserve aviation units, and should be required to perform at least 15 days' training duty each year, with such units or at naval air stations.

209. Medical officers of the Naval Reserve designated flight surgeons, should be assigned to duty with Naval Reserve aviation units, and should be required to perform at least 15 days' training duty each year, with such units, or with active naval aviation units.

210. The prescribed training in aviation medicine for medical officers of the Naval Reserve should be at the expense of the Govern

ment.

211. Enlisted ratings in the Naval Reserve, required in connection with aviation medicine, should be obtained from the Fleet Reserve and from civilian sources; in sufficient numbers to meet the requirements of Naval Reserve aviation.

212. A definite program should be adopted for qualification and training of enlisted aviation medicine personnel of the Naval Reserve in the necessary requirements of aviation medicine.

213. A definite program should be adopted for training an adequate number of enlisted men of the Regular Navy and Naval Reserve as aviation medicine technicians.

PART XIV. AVIATION WARRANT OFFICERS

214. The creation of aviation warrant ranks in the Navy has been a controversial issue for many years, and until the present time there has been no satisfactory solution of the problem. The board believes there is, and will continue to be, a definite need in the aeronautic organization for aviation warrant officers. It believes the benefits accruing to naval aviation resulting from the appointment of aviation warrant officers will amply justify any changes in established policy. As there has been considerable discussion of this subject, and some opposition to aviation warrant rank, the board deems it fitting that the factors influencing the policies herein recommended be reviewed. 215. The policy of the Bureau of Navigation with respect to warrant officers was presented to the board by representatives of that Bureau. It was promulgated in 1931, and is quoted as follows:

As a result of this study the Bureau established the following policy:

(a) To maintain the several grades of warrant officers now allowed at strengths to meet the needs of the naval service and in sufficient number to permit, after the first 5-year cruise, a rotation of duty between shore and afloat, of 2 and 3 years, respectively.

(b) To keep the several grades open to applicants on examination without any discrimination as to previous service as enlisted men.

(c) To assign warrant officers newly appointed from aviation personnel to general service, regulating any future return to aviation by the needs of that service for pilots.