The War Birds Club
THE October 1933 issue of 
WAR BIRDS hit the stands with Belarski’s Eagles of the Black Cross cover and a wealth of stories within lead off by William E. Barrett’s factual article that goes with the cover. There were also stories by Hogan, Myers, MacDowell and Brownestone. And in the back was a new feature for the readers—The Cockpit. This was the place where the WAR BIRDS gang and the editor could get together every month to spin the vocal prop.
The Cockpit brought with it The War Birds Club! Run by “The Adjutant” and overseen by the Editor and C.O. of War Birds, Carson Mowre, The Cockpit became a lively column where readers could voice their opinions, swap and trade stuff, find a like-minded reader to become pen pals with, as well as boast about their squadron’s achievements, see who’s received a promotion or citation and general club banter.
The first column from the October 1933 issue sets up the club, it’s particulars and how to join:
HERE is the most important announcement of the year. Sixteen years ago, the youth of America climbed out of civvies and into khaki. Overnight, we learned to substitute the bugle for the alarm clock. Our ears caught the distant thunder of the guns. We rode to them, we marched to them—and we flew to them.
We have captured much of the wild thrill in the stories that have appeared in WAR BIRDS’ stories written by veterans who lived the epic and who remember. But it isn’t enough.
The readers of WAR BIRDS are of the breed that, in another day, would have ridden flaming skies. Their selection of reading matter demonstrates it. The electric something that called their blood brothers to war calls them to the re-living of it.
And it is to their hands that the torch of ‘17 is flung. To them falls the responsibility of closing up the gaps. That flaming spirit that America took into the skies of ‘17 and ‘18 must not be allowed to die. We won’t let it.
This month a new organization comes into being—an organization with a name that was born of ‘17 and that has been preserved on the masthead of the oldest air-war magazine—WAR BIRDS.
A man must qualify for War Birds. His membership is not a gift. The war bird of yesterday won his wings. It is but fair that the war bird of 1933 do the same.
There were ships and guns that shared the glory of those by-gone years as well as men. A man who has the spirit that made the air service will know about those ships and those guns and those men. In knowing of them and remembering them, he makes them immortal; he preserves the spirit of the thing for which they stood.
No one will wear the War Birds wings or carry the War Birds card who does not know of, and respect, the things that make up the life of a sky warrior. There is an examination to be passed before you qualify—and it is not an easy examination. But, when you have passed it, you will know the glory of really “belonging.” Your wings will not be a mockery—they will stand for something tangible and you will have won the right to wear them.
APPLY FOR YOUR WAR BIRDS MEMBERSHIP NOW
Memberships in War Birds are neither sold nor given away; they must be earned!
(1) Clip the coupon from this issue and mail it to Wing Commander, War Birds, 100 Fifth Avenue, New York City, N.Y., properly and completely filled out.
(2) If you want the free booklets described below enclose five cents in coin or stamps to cover postage and handling. You do not have to order these booklets if you do not want them, but they will be helpful in passing the tests.
THE ENVELOPE the booklets and exam questions arrive in with only a 1½¢ stamp on it.
(3) The Adjutant will mail you your examination questions and problems. They will be based on information contained in the previously mentioned booklets and in current issues of WAR BIRDS. Your answers to the questions and the problems should be mailed back promptly to Headquarters.
THE EXAM. Please answer on a separate sheet of paper.
(4) If your grade in the examination is satisfactory, the Wing Commander’s adjutant will mail you a handsome card of membership certifying to the fact that you have qualified for “War Birds” and are entitled to the privileges of membership.
(5) You will be assigned to a squadron and your squadron designation will appear upon your card.
That is all there is to it but we want to emphasize the fact that War Birds is a patriotic organization solely. We have nothing to sell. For all purposes of the organization, the War Birds card is sufficient. It is the member’s identification and obtains for him all of the privileges allowed to members.
As a convenience, however, to those members who would like silver lapel wings we are making arrangements with a manufacturer to supply the War Birds emblem at a nominal price. Future issues of WAR BIRDS will contain further details on such insignia as well as on the various other plans now being formulated.
A membership in War Birds is going to mean something. Get in on the ground floor now and be one of the originals. Mail your application TODAY.
A FREE LIBRARY FOR YOU
You may have the following booklets free by mailing your request promptly to the Wing Commander, War Birds, 100 Fifth Ave., New York City, N.Y., with five cents to cover postage and packing. (The material in the booklets had previously appeared in the pages of War Birds or War Aces.)
WAR PLANES OF ALL NATIONS—a booklet containing the full dope on 135 war time planes; speed, horse-power, performance. (originally published in the May 1931 War Birds (v14n42))
MORE PLANE FACTS—a war pilot’s frank discussion of little known phases of flying in France. (originally published in the January 1932 War Aces (v8n22))
SYNTHETIC ACES—an expose of the fakers who pose as war flyers with tips on how to unmask them. (originally published in the January 1932 War Aces (v8n22))
ARCHIE—the complete story of anti-aircraft; its successes and its failures, with extracts from anarchy gunner’s dope book. (originally published in the March 1932 War Birds (v18n52))
These booklets will help you to pass your examination for admission to War Birds. Don’t delay in placing your order. Send your request today on the coupon form provided below.
They even laid out future plans for the club:
In the days ahead, qualified War Birds will share in many good things; free copies of genuine war photographs, discounts and special prices on aeronautical equipment, special rates on flying courses and a hundred and one other privileges that will cause the War Birds card to grow in value with the passing months.
There is in prospect at present a FREE distribution to members of:
(1) Genuine war pictures
(2) A special discount price list on planes and equipment
(3) A discount price on flying instruction
(4) Conventions for members
(5) Special services of a research bureau.
a WAR BIRDS CLUB timeline
- A new “The Cockpit” feature begins. It is the place where the WAR BIRDS gang and the editor get together every month to spin the vocal prop.
- Run by the “Wing Commander,” the Cockpit announces the Formation of the WAR BIRDS, a club for readers and lays out everything you need to know to apply to join (see above).
- Also lists future plans for the club: they want to offer members genuine war pictures, a discount price list on planes and equipment as well as a discount on flying instructions, services of a research bureau and conventions for members!
- The Adjutant says applications are flooding in. News of exciting offers next month.
- A commissioned member of the WAR BIRDS can win a citation by exceptional service. This includes but is not limited to making a suggestion that will make the magazine more interesting, or a constructive criticism, or an idea for club activity, or a scheme for enrolling more members, or a plan for squadron mates in the same city getting together.
- Only a few commissions have been earned so far, and some have failed to qualify. They will provide a way for re-examination in the future, but it will be tougher.
- Every state and the District of Columbia and Canada have been give their own squadron number. These are listed.
- The four booklets—War Planes of All Nations, Plane Facts, Synthetic Aces, and Archie—are now available for 5¢ in stamps or coins.
- The Adjutant’s office has been snowed under and he’s been slow in mailing out the commissions.
- You qualify for the wings you wear and you can neither buy nor finagle them. To get them you must pass rigid tests that will prove or disprove the genuineness of your interest in flying and in the traditions of wartime service.
- Every qualified member of the WAR BIRDS whose commission is in good standing by midnight of December 20, the C.O. is going to send out a personal Christmas present which may be a package of genuine war photographs: aces, ships, etc., that have never been distributed before.
- Members are getting together and starting to organize their own flights with names.
- Additional Squadron numbers for foreign readers are listed: Alasks (51), England (52), Hawaii (53), Irish Free State (54), Mexico (55), Panama Canal Zone (56), Cuba (57), Philippines (58), Belgium (59)
- In the process of making arrangements with a manufacturer to supply silver wings at a nominal price
- The Adjutant says that any notice of the change in rank will appear in the Honors List. And suggests you clip it and paste it on the back of your commission card.
- That’s the key to promotions and honors—service to the rest of the WAR BIRDS.
- The question of having a German squadron is raised. They have 2 applications. One from Berlin, the other from Hamburg.
- Australia becomes the 60th squadron. (Squadron numbers for the original 50 squadrons and Mexico (mislabled as 69) are listed.
- The lapel wings have just been designed—a beautiful set of silver wings. In the center of the wings in blue is “War Birds.” They won’t cost much—less than a quarter.
- Offices have moved from 100 Fifth Avenue to 149 Madison Avenue.
- Many inquiries about the wings—all the dope on the next issue.
- A few of you are asking about the free pictures. They’ll be along. Just watch the sheet.
- H.Q. will grant a Captain’s commission to the organizer of any club reaching a membership of twenty. The qualifications are: (a) The organizer must be himself a commissioned officer in the WAR BIRDS; (b) He must turn in a list of his members when the membership reaches twenty; (c) All members must be officers in the WAR BIRDS or must have their applications in for commissions; (d) In cases where the member’s town is small, the club will be recognized with less than twenty members. Just convince us that you have done the best possible with the town or the neighborhood that is yours.
- To every WAR BIRD post so organized, we will give a WAR BIRD Charter to be hung in the club house, plus certain concessions which will enable them to buy club equipment, etc., at cost.
- News on the various posts being formed: Shelbyville, Indiana. Brooklyn. Long Island Traverse City, Michigan.
- Germany is established as 70 Squadron. Comments from other stateside WAR BIRDS are noted.
- Should there be a women’s auxiliary squadron?
- The COCKPIT gets a new header.
- The WINGS are here! Any commissioned member can have theirs for 15¢.
- The Adjutant suggests every squadron deign their own insignia if they haven’t already.
- Members who wish to correspond with one another will be listed in the next issue.
- Any group commander will rate promotion who can report six commissioned members of WAR BIRDS as assembled in one post provided the post is regularly organized, has a regular meeting schedule, an insignia and a name. His rank for a six to ten member post will be “Captain” provided that he sends in a notice of his election as Post Commander signed by each of the post members. For an eleven to twenty member post, the commander’s rank will be “Major” and he will be entitled to one Captain under his command. Lest this seem to make the higher rank available only to men in the larger towns, we wish to add that a six member post can qualify by special service as an A-l post, giving it the same rank privileges as the larger post.
- suggestions from members
- promotions from 2nd Lieutenant 1st listed for 4 officers.
- your WAR BIRDS commission earns you a salute at one of the finest air colleges in this man’s country—THE CASEY JONES SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS at Newark, N.J. The staff will be glad to answer his questions and take him on a tour of inspection upon presentation of his WAR BIRDS card.
- Supply of the 4 booklets is nearly exhausted.
- WORDS A-WING column starts.
- THE PITTSBURGH-BUTLER AIRPORT INC., at Butler, Pa. will be glad to extend courtesy of the drome to commissioned officers of WAR BIRDS who present their identification cards. Pittsburgh-Butler operate an A-l flying school at their airport.
- Likewise for THE RYAN SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS, LTD., at Lindbergh Field, San Diego, Calif.,
- The C.O. goes over all the club aspects
- List of new posts and their organizers.
- Long list of people for WORDS A-WING
- Honor citations listed.
- Adjutant says: “Exactly 3,148 lads who have made application for membership, in WAR BIRDS, have not returned their examination papers.”
- The Adjutant plans to start a NON-COM’S MESS for those air-minded lads they are, who want to get the feel of things before going after commissions.
- Girls will be Lady Birds and their squadron numeral—no matter where they live—is “80.”
- Suggestions under consideration by the C.O.: including model plans in the magazine; covers without text all over them.
- Working on getting various airport to extend courtesies to members; discounts on equipment; and, free pictures which had become harder with the flood of members.
- a lengthy WORDS A-WING listing
- Citations and/or Promotions for 19 members.
- Coupon now included each month for signing up for the NON-COM’S MESS
- The C.O. takes over the meetings while the Adjutant handles the NON-COM’S MESS which starts this issue.
- C.O. asks members to send in a postcard listing their two favorite authors (including ones not in WAR BIRDS) and they will feature the ones who get the votes.
- NON-COMS can use the Swap and Words A-Wing columns and can offer suggestions. They are also afforded the right to join a Flight, but not organize one.
- Citations and/or Promotions for 17 members.
- SWAP COLUMN starts up
- 10 more people listed in WORDS A-WING
- C.O. measures readers that all letters are read. But it takes a while. And please print your name.
- C.O. plans on offering $5 for the best picture of a model plane sent in.
- FLIGHT PARADE. A listing of flights who have sent in their information. Listing of members and location.
- Full page on Galveston’s LUCKY SEVEN FLIGHT with member’s picture.
- Citations and/or Promotions for 10 members.
- SPARE PARTS HANGER takes the place of the SWAP column.
- more WORDS A-WING pen pals listed.
- BETTIS FIELD, located on the McKeesport-Pittsburgh Road, extends an invitation to the War Birds
- Start of PROP WASH section, a sort of grunt and growl and talk it over department.
- It’s suggested that every War Bird Flight should have a specific interest in addition to our common interest in aviation. Set a specific time to hold meetings, organize a treasury.
- General events and course of a meeting are discussed.
- Citations and/or Promotions for 11 members.
- The FLIGHT PARADE lists 9 more flights.
- more WORDS A-WING pen pals listed
- more items on offer in the SPARE PARTS HANGER.
- Flight insignias continue to pour in.
- That offer of Five Dollars for the best photograph of a model plane—either flying or scale model—built by a member is still open. Five dollars every month.
- Someone suggests there be a special WAR BIRDS code for members to communicate with.
- Citations and/or Promotions for 18 members and 4 non-commissioned officers
- The FLIGHT PARADE lists 13 more flights.
- more WORDS A-WING pen pals listed
- more items on offer in the SPARE PARTS HANGER.
- Many members have still not adopted the military form of address yet.
- The FLIGHT PARADE lists 15 more flights.
- Citations and/or Promotions for 18 members.
- Insignias will be printed in next month’s issue.
- two flights of non-coms have been formed and several non-coms have received citations.
- A report of the SONS OF SATAN FLIGHT’s special meeting.
- no WORDS A-WING pen pals listed
- more items on offer in the SPARE PARTS HANGER.
- There is talk of a uniforms, stationary and honorary members.
- a page of Flight Insignias.
- Citations and/or Promotions for 18 members and 11 non-commissioned officers
- Charters have been mailed to all Flights
- The FLIGHT PARADE lists 6 more flights.
- A letter from the LUCKY SEVEN FLIGHT reports their Meeting Routine.
- more WORDS A-WING pen pals listed
- more items on offer in the SPARE PARTS HANGER.
- The FLIGHT PARADE lists 6 more flights and updates the BATTLE ACES FLIGHT OF San Francisco.
- FLIGHT NEWS updates the latest with 8 flights and provides a letter from the MYSTERY FLIGHT.
- Citations and/or Promotions for 11 members
- more WORDS A-WING pen pals listed
- more items on offer in the SPARE PARTS HANGER.
- Six new flights are listed and updates on 4 previously announced flights.
- Citations and/or Promotions for 28 members and 7 non-coms.
- A report by Dorothy Kohn on a visit to Davenport Airport, Cram Field, Iowa.
- Bouse Resolution No. 7413
- more WORDS A-WING pen pals listed
- more items on offer in the SPARE PARTS HANGER.
WITH the March Issue, WAR BIRDS changes it’s name to TERENCE X. O’LEARY’S WAR BIRDS and it’s focus. The lead story will now feature the exploits of Arthur Guy Empey’s Terence X. O’Leary, but the stories are more science-fictiony that O’Leary’s previous exploits in the magazine which were set in WWI. THE COCKPIT column continues with all it’s previous sections. And the coupon to join is still included. The Booklets can still be obtained for 5¢ and the wings are a bargain at 15¢.
- Title change due to popular demand of the readers.
- Actual Vickers machine guns on offer (rendered inoperable)
- Citations for 9 2nd Lt’s and 11 Corporals
- more items on offer in the SPARE PARTS HANGER.
- It is possible to become a Major. Two have so far. Majors can recommend three men a year for promotion.
- Still publishing coupons to join club. The wings and booklets still on offer.
- someone wrote to another magazine for the answers to the exam questions.
- strange but true aviation facts
- The FLIGHT PARADE lists 6 more flights and 10 non-com flight.
- Updates on three flights—LUCKY SEVEN FLIGHT, W.E. BARRETT AND GRIN FLIGHT, and COBRA PATROL Flight.
- many Citations and Promotions
- more WORDS A-WING pen pals listed
- more items on offer in the SPARE PARTS HANGER.
- For the first time, non-coms outnumber commissioned officers.
- One member wants to start Zeppelin Division of the War Birds. And another is into rocket propulsion.
- There is no coupon to join the club as an officer or non-com in this issue.
- Numerous Citations and Promotions listed.
- more WORDS A-WING pen pals listed
The WAR BIRDS CLUB does not continue when the magazine returns to being called WAR BIRDS again in October.