AIR: Flight Skins

For years, Army & Navy airmen had feared an attack by economy-minded Congressmen on their most precious perquisite—flying pay. For flying more than four hours a month they get 50% added to their pay. The attack had not come during wartime, when combat conditions tend to equalize the hazards of the infantrymen and the aviator, but it came in Congress last week in the brave new light of peace.

Senators Overton and McKellar tried to force an amendment limiting “flight skins” to a maximum of $1,500 a year. Junior officers could still take comfort: nobody below the rank of major, and only a few majors, would be affected—but senior officers in both services clamored loudly.

Cried General of the Army “Hap” Arnold: “This proposed amendment will, in my considered opinion, have the effect of destroying the Army Air Forces in the most critical period of its history.” The Navy was equally concerned that morale in the fleet air arm would be shattered. Top-brass airmen frankly regarded flight pay as “one of the best pieces of bait we have on the hook for young flyers.”

Mud Pay. But it was not the young flyers that Congress was exercised about.. The legislators noted that parachute pay and glider pay were kept under a $1,200-a-year ceiling, and wanted flight pay similarly regulated. Under the present system there were incongruities, e.g.: “Hap” Arnold drew $4,000 a year more salary (by flight pay) than his boss, Chief of Staff Marshall. Three flying generals, with four stars, drew as much as or more than Five-Star Marshall, whose only bonus was an occasional morsel of overseas pay (at 10%). Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King, rated a naval aviator, until V-J day added 10% “sea pay” to his base pay by living aboard the yacht Dauntless in Anacostia’s mud, but he spurned the chance to collect 50% more for occasional flying. Most other elderly generals, admirals, colonels and four-stripe captains legally stepped up their take-home pay by sitting in a copilot’s seat for an hour a week.

Eventually, Congress killed the extreme proposal, contented itself with limiting flight pay to officers whose duties require regular flying and those who must fly to retain “primary technical skill.” By Jan. 3, the War and Navy Departments must submit recommendations for revising all forms of hazard pay, including that given to submariners (also 50% added). The brass would like to save their own flight skins, but may have to sacrifice some in a compromise to let the hard-flying lower ranks keep theirs intact.