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[[underlined]] GENERAL OBSERVATIONS [[/underlined]]

The star shells used by destroyers were of great assistance; could be seen sometimes fifty or more miles away.  Searchlights were also valuable at night and in the day time in thick weather or in partial darkness.  Heavy smoke was always a great help during daylight.
   
Some destroyers were very evidently considerably out of position.  This was to be expected at night and in some of the weather that was encountered.

The intercommunication set was not satisfactory.  It is not really necessary for the pilots to be connected with such a system as long as they are close by the Commanding Officer, but communication is decidedly necessary between the radio officer and Commanding Officer.  As a rule it was only be repeating messaging many times that these two could understand each other, and often it was found necessary to send the message by note.  The voice sounded loud enough, in fact very loud, but the syllables could not be distinguished.  Until a good system of communication is provided, the radio and Commanding officers should be stationed near each other in the hall.

The compasses were very satisfactory, i.e., the flat boat compass used by the navigator and the Standard Navy Air compass with vertical card.  They had the usual fault of airplane compasses, i.e., swinging when a wing drops.

The Crocco Drift Indicator as modified for the Transatlantic flight was a most valuable instrument, with any white caps forming, the drift can be obtained below 1000 feet altitude almost to a degree, unless the air is rough.  The mounting is more complicated than necessary.  It should be constructed more simply and with greater rigidity, with a screw adjustment, for alignment within narrow limits.  The feature of determining the speed was not used.  It is thought that an estimate of ground speed will be more accurate than a single observation at altitudes of less than 1000 feet, and to take the average of several observations requires considerable time and a large number of flares.

The development and use of the radio compass is the real solution of the navigation problem.  With powerful sets properly placed and improved apparatus on the plane it could obtain at any time the bearing of those points, and plot its [[associasive?]] positions.  In addition, it could broadcast a request for any steamer within a certain radius to send its position and its bearing could then be obtained.  The suggestion has been made that the stations should get the bearing of the plane and inform the plane.  Dependence would have to be placed on unknown operators.  As few ships carry radio compasses, little assistance could be expected from them.