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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1958)
1 S MAIL TRIBUNE, MtdfarJ, Of., W dnidiy, D.cmbr 10, 138 American Air Power Born in 1921 When Mitchell Won Test Washington -!UPD- American air power was born on July 21, 1921. That was the day a brash, blunt-talking Air Corps general named William Mit chell pitted the bomber against the battleship and won. It was a World Series of exDerimental warfare. On one side, Billy Mitchell and 16 ancient Martin bomb ers made of wood and canvas On the other, the captured German battleshio Ostfries- land, seared by the rust of neglect but still a tough old steel bulldog. Four separate layers of bulky armor plate protected her hide. Not even a tele phone wire pierced her water tight compartments. Th e r was nothing on board ... no explosives, no ballast. She drew only 28 feet of water and an unloaded ship is hard er to sink than one with mu nitions and fuel aboard. Aareed To Test The Naw had agreed to let Mitchell test his controversial theory that planes could sink the strongest battleship built The attacks were to take two days, starting with small bombs and progressing to one- tonners which Mitchell had Armv Ordnance produce just for the occasion. After each attack, experts were to board the Ostriesland and report the damage - if any. The stage was set. Units of the Atlantic fleet converged off the Virginia capes. Feel ing was running so nign tnai Mitchell's pilots wanted the Navy to man the battleship with anti-aircraft gunners so the bombing could be made under actual battle condi tions. Navy Secretary Joseph us Daniels offered to stand on the Ostfriesland's bridge during the attacks he was that confident the bombers would flop. Navy Jubilant On July 20, a windy, over cast day, the planes dropped their smallest bombs. They might as well have dropped ping pong balls. No damage. The Navy was jubilant. The next day, eight bomb ers, each carrying two 1,000 pound bombs, swept over , the old battleship and unloaded three hits. Naval observers boarded the Ostriesland and again happily reported no sig nificant damage. Then came a second flight of airborne killers, this time with the new 2,000 - pound bombs. The first ton of ex : plosives landed 100 feet from the ship. The effect was like a giant hammer swung throush the water. Witnesses thousands of feet away could feel the concussion. The second bomb went wide. The third hit the battle ship and glanced off into the water to explode. The Ost friesland seemed to lift itself in the air. The fourth bomb landed on the other side of the ship. She rocked like a giant sea monster trying to shake off pain. A fifth bomb landed only 25 feet from the hull. The dreadnought rose almost completely out of the water. Then she settled back, ob viously hurt. Bomb number six. It landed just behind the stern. It lit erally broke the battleship's back. Aboard the observing war ships, Navy men looked at each other in disbelief. The Ostriesland's nose lifted in the air. A jagged hole was plainly visible. She rolled to port and the watchers saw the gaping, ugly wounds in her underbelly. Slowly, al most majestically, the 27,000 ton warship sank, stern first. Exactly 21 minutes and 30 seconds after the first one-ton bomb had been dropped, $40 million worth of supposedly indestructible seapower had been destroyed by a handful of planes costing l40th as much. Aboard the great gray ships of the Atlantic fleet, standing like pallbearers around a watery grave, Navy officers sobbed like babies. One Actual Hit What made it even more stunning was that only one big bomb scored an actual hit - and that a glancing one. The killing damage was done by bombs hitting the water close to the ship, crushing the steel hull like an eggshell. That was 37 years ago. In World War II, American warplanes were to drop more than two million tons of bombs. But they didn't make as much noise as the six Billy Mitchell dropped on July 21, 1921 - the day air power and strategic bombing were really born. RELIEVED OF DUTIES Vienna-IUPD-The provincial Communist government of Slovakia has relieved Ernest Sykora of his duties as edu cation minister, Radio Prague said today. Sykora has held the post since 1953. SMOKERS ANONYMOUS London - (UPD - "S m o k e r s Anonymous," a society pat terned after Alcoholics Anony mous to help people stop .smoking, will begin its work Jan. 1, it was announced to day. beanangeh.. -make her Christmas 'heavenly with beautiful stockings with seams without seams When you give NoMends you give a gift of beauty and fashion something she's sure to love! For NoMends are so beautiful, wear so long, and are so smart, " Fashion's favorite JBVa-TONES to match, her costumes. 13S 1" Besides, one is exactly hers, in NoM end's "FAMOUS 5" proportioned leg types.. Pair MIDFORfr I J ''if' Wed FOR ANYONE No matter to whom you're giving . . friend or family. Everyone will really enjoy receiving a box of fine stationery. . Come in and choose from our newly styled selection of your favorite brands of papers. There are correspondence sheets for discrimDiating men as well as exquisite tints and textures for women of fastidious taste. All have been handsomely boxed as "Gifts of Elegance." Remember ."A Gift of Stationery is Always in Good Taste" ift2ZfZOm ft 1111 1 III III ' " iff 'w i wm m m m 11 m- Rill HP CANDLE with gifts she's wishing for DANDY DUSTER COAT Flared skirt. Three-quarter sleeves. Small collar. Small rope belt can be worn fitted or loose. In nylon tricot. Will fit any type figure. The gift she will prize most! VELVET CAPRIS With jeweled trim down the front. Also in plain velvet. Hi-rise waisf. Slim fitting leg. All with back zipper. In rich colors of Black, Red or Blue. Sizes 10-16. ORLON BULKIE SWEATERS In white with collars or without. AH with three- quarter sleeves. Pearl or brass buttons. Many f'fjf? LV; styles to choose from. Medium and Large sizes only. READY TO WEAR - SECOND FLOOR OPEN MONDAY AND THURSDAY TIL 9:00 P.M. SANTA IN PERSON 7-9 P.M. IN TOYLAND - LOWER FLOOR V Y V 1.00 to 2.50 4 ' " 'r Lightweight glove leather sole mm with exciting light blue, pink or "lJ black corduroy top. " FROM MANN'S NOTIONS DEPT STREET FLOOR GIFT HANDKERCHIEFS Pretty floral cotton handkerchiefs. Dainty prints and big splash prints on white backgrounds . . . 59c ea. Linen hankies with gay personalities . . . 1.00 ea. Beautiful white emboridered hankies imported from Switzerland 1.00 to 3.00. Pure white linen centers with beautiful lace trim . . . 1.00 ea. Give her several! UTILITY BOXES Made of the finest quality satin. Nice assortment of colors. The most useful gift you can give. THE LITTLE SHRUG Fashion's favorite for your basic cover-up. Orion knit. Daintily trimmed for a Christmas gift she will treasure for years. White only. 59',. 3.00 1.29.,, 2.00,,. 4.49 MAIN FLOOR CENTER AISLE MEDFORD Slip out of bed into comfort with these favorite leather scuffs. Black, Red and Blue. 5.95 If her feet get cold warm her tootsies with a genuine all wool felt houseslipper. Leather sole. ONLY ... SHOE DEPT. -STREET FLOOR 7.00
