772 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



tern through the cooperation of the Air Service of the Army. The 

 aerial patrol of the forested regions was established and operated 

 throughout the season. This was continued during the season of 

 1920 with gratifying results. 



The airplane furnishes a means of direct vertical view of any fi*; > 

 situation without the distortion of angular view or without interfer- 

 ence from intervening ridges. The airplane is mobile and can go directly 

 to the fire, circle above it gathering the information that is desired, 

 determining the exact status of the fire, its location, and character of 

 material in which it is burning. During the period of smoke blanket 

 when the country is completely overcast with smoke, the view from 

 the airplane is not so seriously hampered as that of the lookout. 



The aerial patrol system has been extended to date throughout the 

 forested regions of Oregon and California, consisting of twelve dif- 

 ferent routes varying from 200 to 500 miles in length. These routes 

 are flown from bases selected and maintained by the Air Service. The 

 airplanes, or "ships," as they are commonly called, were furnished, 

 operated and maintained by the Air Service. To a limited extent in 

 California, and wholly in Oregon, the observers were furnished by 

 the United States Forest Service. The reporting of the fires to the 

 suppressive forces was handled throughout by the Forest Service. 



The famous DeHaviland airplanes rebuilt and equipped with 400- 

 horsepower Liberty motors, were used throughout the 1920 season. 

 Their performance under the hard usage of long and difficult patroling 

 was nothing less than marvelous, making a record, in Oregon, of 

 150,000 miles with but three forced landings which resulted in no 

 injuries of a serious nature. 



Each ship assigned to patrol was equipped with a radio sending set, 

 consisting of a small, wind driven generator on the landing gear, with 

 the sending keys and attachments in the fuselage. The antennae, a 

 specially constructed wire some 250 feet long, was dragged behind the 

 ship while in flight. 



At the bases and in some instances at other points ground receiving 

 stations were established, equipped with the small compact, but highly 

 efficient Signal Corps 59 radio set. The receiving stations were so 

 located that when a ship on patrol passed from the receiving radius 

 of one station, it went into the radius of another, thus being in con- 

 stant touch with one base or other. By this means all new fires dis- 

 covered and the status of old fires could be reported immediately. 



