"I've got lots to tell you--and its good news too. But right now there are some final details which must be worked out before I can announce it." That's Jacqueline Cochran's answer to the Army plans to use pilots of the 319th.

"You can say, though," Miss Cochran added, "that those who meet the standards will go directly in the Ferry Command.   And they'll be qualified to fly AT 6's and AT 17's, not just liaison and ordinary trainers."

"In the Ferry Command," Miss Cochran continued, "they'll go to one of the six ferry bases in the United States.  It takes 50 pilots to make up a squadron, which is led by a squadron commander.  Each pilot will be qualified to fly 25 different air planes, including the light grasshoppers."

When asked what would become of those who failed to meet the high requirements for ferry piloting, she said plans were being worked out but not yet completed.

"We are planning to have the course include many more hours.  For it is unreasonable to expect someone with 100 hours to be able to fly AT 6s or 17s without more training.  They'll also be more standarization and more planes."

"That's just a hint of what's to come.   The longer Miss Cochran's here the more ideas she'll undoubetly get.For her eyes, which impress you most with their warmth and friendliness are also sharply observing.   And when it comes to energy, she's wound up tighter than a 10-turn spin.   Wherever she goes, things rev up.  When she sees something to be done, it's done. Period."

"I held out for single rooms in the barracks,"  Mis Cochran remared.  "Even though there'll merely be partitionjs between them, they'll at least be private".

Uniforms are a probability.

"I think you'll agree that we should have some uniformity in clothing," Miss Cochran observed.  "but they should be work clothes.  No one would want to wear a uniform to a social affair anyway. The color will be the majority's choice."

"Finally for those who are wondering about the "X" in the NXI8562 of the trim green Beechcraft Miss Cochran flew in, she explaines the X is for the engine. It's a 600 horse power Pratt and Whitney instead of the usual 450.

"I believe that plane has won more prize money than any other in America" she offered with just pride."  At 16,000 feet it will cruise at 240 miles per hour."

Which isn't just putting along---even for Miss Cochran.

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