1922-Contin ued

17 July The Chief of Naval Operations forwarded a

list of Bureau and Division representatives to the

Bureau of Navigation with the request that they be

ordered to meet as a board for the purpose of drawing

up tactical doctrine governing the employment of

spotting aircraft in fleet fire control.

27 September The first mass torpedo practice

against a live target was conducted off the Virginia

Capes by 18 PT aircraft of Torpedo and Bombing

Plane Squadron One. The squadron attacked the des-

ignated target, Arkansas (BB 33), which was one of a

formation of three battleships that were maneuvering

while running at full speed. The attack lasted over a

25 minute period during which the aircraft

approached the ships from port and starboard and

released 17 Mk VII Model 1 "A" torpedoes at distances

of 500 to 1,000 yards and obtained eight hits on the

designated target. Subsequent analysis emphasized

artificialities which prevented the practice from

demonstrating combat capability of either the surface

or air units but the outstanding fact demonstrated was

that torpedoes could be successfully launched from

aircraft, and be made to run straight.

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

53

27 September Commanding officer, NAS Anacostia,

D.C., proposed that radio could be used to detect the

passage of a ship at night or during heavy fog. The

means proposed, the "Beat method of detection," resulted

from the unexpected nature of a radio signal observed by

Commander A. Hoyt Taylor and Mr. L. C. Young of the

Aircraft Radio Laboratory, NAS Anacostia, when a passing

river steamer interrupted experimental high frequency

radio transmissions between Anacostia and a receiver

across the river at Hains Point, D.C. The observation and

analysis of the phenomenon was a basic step in the chain

of events that led to the U.S. Navy's invention of radar.

8 October The Curtiss Marine Trophy Race for sea-

planes, held at Detroit, Mich., as an event of the

National Air Races, was won by Lieutenant Aldophus

W. Gorton, flying a TR-1 powered by a Lawrance, J-l

engine. He averaged 112.6 mph over the 160 mile

course. Second place went to Lieutenant Harold A.

Elliott in a Vought VE-7H.

14 October Lieutenants Harold 1. Brow and Alford J.

Williams, flying CR-2 and CR-1 Curtiss Racers with

Curtiss D-12 engines, finished third and fourth in the

Pulitzer Trophy Race at Detroit, Mich., making speeds

of 193 and 187 mph, respectively.



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