Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. július-december (24. évfolyam, 27-52. szám)
1941-11-13 / 46. szám
Page 2 "Highways of the Sky" By Staff Sergeant Elmer J. Halas Barksdale Field, Louisiana Member of Branch 395, McKeesport, Pennsylvania VerhovayaH Latia November 13, 1941 Echos from Lorain — Branch 372 “Where Coal and Iron Meet” men, you can say, are selfmade, and as such are examples of the horrible lack of building materials.” With that Uncle Bob walked out and left us. His latest remark rankled in a few hearts, for three of our Windy Corners group were self-made men. They had money, they had power, but they didn’t have peace, brotherly love nor contentment. To make the point clearer, Paul spoke up and said in a tone that made you think of Judgment Day: What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? Hiram the farmer completely capped the climax by his simple but heartfelt: AMEN. What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?--------:o:--------WOMEN S DIVISION OF BRANCH 361 Cleveland, Ohio The Women’s Division of Branch 361 will hold a dance on Saturday, November 15, 1941, 7:30 P. M„ at the Verhovay Hall, 8637 Buckeye Road, with music by Toth’s Orchestra. Miss Margaret Cinke, some times heard over the Akron station on Sundays, will be the soloist, and a dance will also be given by the young star. A very entertaining evening is expected for this affair, and the new lighting system, which will be completed by the time of our dance, will enhance the beauty of the occasion. An attractive colorful reflector will be placed in the center ceiling of the dance hall. Improvements of this sort indicate the progressiveness of the Verhovay branches. This gorgeous lighting system was presented by the Women’s Division of Branch 361, and our deep appreciation goes to our president, Mrs. William Mate, Sr.,-for her very thoughtful idea. Our gratitude is also expressed to Mrs. Phau for her donation of a beautiful afghan, which will be given away at the dance; to Mrs. Sabo for the printing of the books; to District Organizer Vassy for his willing and helpful services; and to all who cooperate in this program. Fraternally, Afrs. Gabriel Sonkoly, Publicity Agent.--------------O-------------Of the 254,395 carats of diamonds produced in Brazil last year 194,843 carats were exported t o the United States. To most people, instrument flying, better known as “blind flying,” strikes a mysterious note of terror, fear or some unreality. In the days when the aviation industry was in its infancy, pilots were kown to “fly by the seat of their pants ” Very little navigation was known. Few instruments were used because we did not have knowledge of such luxury instruments as “artificial horizon,” “gyro pilots,” “directional gyros,” “radio compass,” etc. All flying was done with visual reference to the ground, better known as “contact flying.” There were some pilots such as the men on the then newly organized air mail routes who risked their lives flying without our modern instruments, through all kinds of inclement weather. To these pioneers of aviation we owe a great debt of gratitude. Today our air line pilots and military pilots can sit back comfortably in their seats and fly by the indication of their instruments. Some of our largest military snips and air lines, equipped with gyro and automatic pilots, can practically fly themselves. Control surfaces, which were ordinarily directly controlled by the pilot, are now controlled automatically by buttons he manipulates, and the finest communications are possible through the ship’s radio operator. The navigator takes care of all the navigation, plotting, etc. He can, at a request from the pilot, inform the pilot exactly where they are at any time, without seeing the ground or water. Yes, great strides, but even greater strides within our own country, have been made, what with our whole land dotted with radio ranges connecting every major airport with every major city, including all the Army Air Corps posts. Radio ranges constitute our imaginary highways, only imaginary because they are made up of radio waves transmitted by our range stations. Every range station usually has four legs to it. fmagine an airport with four fingers reaching out from it in different directions. The ends of these “fingers” intersect with the ends of ’’fingers” from other airports. Thus a maze of radio beams are formed and joined together, much the same as our automobile highways. Now then to get to a certain airport from another one, the pilot follows the beam which will carry him closest to the one of his destination. Upon getting close enough to hear the range station of the airport, he merely tunes in on' that station’s wave band, just as you would tune or change your radio dial to another broadcasting band. Tuning in the range station, he seeks out the “finger” or beam which will lead him to the airport. This “on course” signal is followed to the range station. Flying directly over the range station, which is just like our well-known broadcasting stations, the pilot turns to the heading he knows will lead him to the airport. When above the range station, he gets a complete blackout of silence in his headset, telling him he has passed over the station. Distance and heading toward the field, field elevation, etc. are published in the pilot’s “Facilities Chart,” which every military aircraft and airliner carry. Weather data is suplied by radio to the pilot while he is flying toward his destination. By our most modern methods today, planes can actually land by their instruments and radio without visual reference to the ground. That means taking off, flying and landing with the wheels on the ground, with the pilot’s compartment hooded (or like blindfolding a giant bird), etc. With this much accomplished and much more to do, let us Verhovayans adopt the Army’s—our Nation’s— slogan—“Keep ’em Flying!”--------------O-------------BRANCH 366 NOTICE Cleveland, Ohio Election of officers will be held on Friday, December 5, 1941. Any member with dues paid up to date and having a good record is entitled to run for office. The members are asked to be present at the election and to cooperate with the branch and with the officers. Fraternally, JOSEPH J. HORVATH Secretary-Treasurer. Our two bowling teams, one comprised of women and one of men, were off to a good start as the bowling season got under way. The members of the women’s team recently received their new uniforms, and they’re appealing to the eyes. Our president, John Palagyi, who incidently is a reputed kegler, is coaching the ladies’ team, and it is his belief that the fair sex will show the men plenty of competition this year. We wish to thank the members of Branch 17 for their kind cooperation in helping to promote the general welfare of the two boioling teams. Julius Chaszar, our secretary, is urgently asking all members who are unable to attend the regular monthly meetings to call at his new residence at 1953 E. 32nd Street, to pay up their dues on time. Thank you. Continuing the subject of the historical background of our well-known little manufacturing city, I wish to call to the attention of our readers the gigantic twister, the tornado, which nearly demolished our fair little city seventeen years ago. True, our city had its face lifted, but it took a tornado to do it. Just compare the Lorain of today with the town of 1924. Our smiling little city, just 28 miles west of Cleveland, looks prettier, younger and more opulent than she did seventeen years ago. Such an excellent job of “plastic surgery” has been done on this plucky little municipality that she shows few scars today of the sudden tornado that swept savagely in off the lake on June 28, 1924, killed 70 persons and caused millions of dollars in property damages. The 100 mile an hour whirlwind crumbled brick buildings as if they were made of cardboard, twisted huge trees as one twists the tops off a bunch of carrots, transformed hundreds of autos into junk yard scrap in an eye’s twinkle, and threw human beings about like confetti at a bridal shower, and besides that it rained and poured in a cloudburst fashion. Fourteen minutes past 5 o’clock on that Saturday afternoon in June, 1924, Lorain was a hard working, progressing city with a population of over 40,000. It was and still is a working man’s city. Seventy-five percent of the total deposits in her banks were in savings accounts. About 60 percent of the homes in Lorain were owned by her own native people. The smoke which hovered over this little industrial city came from, among others, The American Shipbuilding Co., builders of the largest ships on the Great Lakes; The National Tube Co., producers of pipe, tubing and rails; The Thew Shovel Co., makers of steam shovels; and The National Stove Co. These industries and some 45 smaller ones produced products annually valued at $50,000,000, with a yearly payroll of $20,000,000. This was how Lorain portrayed itself at 14 minutes past 5 o’clock on June 28, 1924. Five minutes later a gigantic screaming air raider swept down upon the unaware community—a heartless, screaming monster of wind and rain which transformed 50 years of constructive effort into unsightly rubbish. Twenty minutes past five o’clock Lorain was a heap of tangled debris, out off from all outside communication, a city in entire blackness filled with grief stricken, homeless and bleeding people. In a shorter time than one could imagine, a twisting, leaping monster had killed 70 people and injured some 1200 others. Like a giant skeleton with an enormous club, it had destroyed a greater part of the business section. Some 500 homes were entirely destroyed and a 1000 others partly wrecked. Eight churches and many schools were crushed. Even then did fQrtune give the little city a lending hand. Had the tornado struck an hour or two later, the business section would have been crowded with Saturday night shoppers and the injured and death toll would have been much greater. The State Theater, situated in the heart of the downtown section, was one of the buildings hardest hit. About 200 men, women and children, including the musical cast were in the theater at the time the tornado bulleted through the city. About 15 were killed and many injured. A steam shovel was used to clear all debris in order to find all victims. (To Be Continued) Fraternally, Alexander C. Petho, Publicity Agent.
