The RAYMOND CARL ZETTEL Page of the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register Website

KELLY FIELD BOMBERS' SHOWING IN VIRGINIA
All the country will note the excellent work of Kelly Field pilots in the low altitude bombing practice at Langley Field (Virginia). First honors went to Lieut. Harrison G. Crocker of the 3d Attack Group, who scored 115 points; [Register pilot] Lieut. Franklin O. Carroll, his gunner, took part in the machinegun tests and achieved a splendid record. Notwithstanding the fact that Kelly Field teams had to fly De Haviland [sic] planes, which are considered out-of-date, they gained first and fourth places. Some had expected that one of the fast Curtiss pursuit planes from Selfridge Field (Michigan) would carry the winners. [Register pilot and charter member of the Daedalians] Lieut. Warren R. Carter of France Field (Canal Zone) took second place with a De Havilland; [Register pilot] Lieut. Charles Douglas of the 1st Pursuit Group was third; Lieutenants Hoyt S. Vandenberg and Raymond C. Zettel the fourth team in the results.

The bombing tests in which the Kelly Field teams participated are particularly interesting. In Europe there is much speculation as to the use of bombers against such foes as the French and the Spanish encounter in Morocco, and every report on the subject is scanned carefully. The Moroccan war zone offers almost unique advantages for ground forces operating against planes, however; the country is unusually rugged and contains many caves and nooks which form natural dugouts. Weather conditions also are adverse most of the year; hot winds from the Sahara Desert often sweep over the region in the dry season, and fogs and heavy rains characterize the fall and winter months. French and Spanish aviators therefore have devoted more time to bombing such places as Sheshuan and Adjir— headquarters for enemy staffs—and they assert that results have been satisfactory considering the handicaps.

In Syria the French have employed planes against the Arab and Druse lines, as I well as to bomb positions; but political reasons have kept both the French and the Spanish from fully utilizing their aircraft, as they would rather restore peace through negotiation. Bombing operations in those regions will be studied carefully in all countries that maintain aviation establishments. Our Army Air Service pilots have developed accuracy with both demolition and fragmentation bombs; the former are used against targets representing fortifications and similar objectives, and the latter against those which outline troops and field material. Fragmentation bombs generally are dropped from comparatively low altitudes while machinegun fire is directed on the objective. The methods developed at Kelly Field evidently are equal to those of any foreign aviation school, but the Air Service should have later types than the De Havilland and the Martin Bomber. Of course, skill and experience count for much—as at Langley Field recently— but the pilots deserve better ships than those which most of them must fly. Both their records and more consideration for safety entitle them to receive the improved equipment.

LT. RAYMOND C. ZETTEL
GIVEN FINAL RITES AND HONORS THURSDAY AT WEST BRANCH
The body of Lieut. Raymond C. Zettel, who was asphyxiated Jan. 15, 1932, while piloting a bombing plane which crashed in a forced landing in a muddy bog, arrived Wednesday, April 6, at West Branch, where his family and relatives have been awaiting its arrival since January.

Services were held the next day, Thursday, April 7, at 9:30 a.m. at the church of St. Joseph, Rev. Father Miller of West Branch, Rev. Father Webler of Bay City and Rev. Father Patrick Dunniagan of Flint, of the American Legion, officiating, the latter giving the address.
Ceremonies were in charge of the West Branch American Legion post, which was represented by 40 legionnaires. William Schwab, aviator of Bay City, paid an aerial tribute piloting his plane over the city during services and burial. Business places at West Branch were closed from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Lieutenant Zettel had been in the United States air service since 1917, and about two years ago was transferred to the Philippines. He is survived by his wife and two children; his mother, Mrs. John Rau; and sister, Mrs. D. E. Tolfree, all of West Branch; and brother, Clyde L. Zettel, of Gladwin.

CLARK AB, P.I. (Ol)--Ceremonies officially naming the Wagner High School and Zettel Gymnasium here will be held Oct.1, with a flyover followed by an open house and tour of the new buildings. The flyover and the unveiling of portraits of the three men for whom the buildings are being named will he held at 10 a.m. in the school and refreshments will be served later during the open house. The school was named for Lt. Col. Boyd D. Buzz Wagner, the first ace of World War II, who was stationed at Clark during the early part of the war.

The gymnasium was named for 1st Lt. Raymond C. Zettel Sr., a World War I pilot who died in an airplane crash near Malabon, P.I. in 1932 and his son, 1st Lt. Raymond C. Zettel Jr., who was killed in an aircraft mishap near Saluda, Va., in 1943. Maj. Gen. Theodore R. Milton, Thirteenth Air Force commander; Col. R. C. Crawford Jr., 405th Fighter Wing commander and Col. Vernon W. Froehlich, Clark AB commander are scheduled to attend the ceremonies with some 500 school children and military personnel.