Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-22
M'MILLEN FLIES
IN RECORD time
FROM LIN COLIN
Captain of the Aeroplane Corps OF
Nebraska National Guard Comes
in His Craft, the U-2.
FLYING TIME 4s MINUTES
Automobile Accompanying Machine
Also Breaks Record in Run
from Capital Here.
LIGHTS AT THE FIELD CLUB


Captain r. E. McMillen OF the
aeroplane corps of the Nebraska Ma
tional Guard, yesterday made an
historical aerial trip from Lincoln to
Omaha in his aeroplane, the U-2.
The flight, which was the first of its
kind ever made in Nebraska, was a
military experiment under direction
OF Adjutant General Hall.
The distance, which is approximately
fifty miles ''as the crow flies" was
covered by the aviator in forty-three
minutes actual flying time. Following
Is the "tlme-card" reported by Captain
Mcmillan: Left Lincoln at 2:34 o'clock;
lIavelock. 2:36; waverly, IA; Greenwood.
2:4s; arrived Ashland, 1855; left Ashland,
$50; arrived in Omaha at 4:12.
Gould Dietz, president of the Aero Club
of Nebraska, other members of the club,
and several scores of spectators greeted
Captain McMillen when he alighted at
the Field club grounds. An accident was
narrowly averted when. in landing at the
Field club, the aeroplane went into the
roadway at the low place near the club
house, dropping down several feet. The
impetus Of the machine carried 1t up the
bank on the opposite side, where 1t
stopped.
spectators in Way.
. There was such a large number Of poo
= plescatered over the club grounds that
Captain McAfillen had to pick a landing
place quickly to avoid any possible dam
ger to tna people and did not notice the
deep cut through the grounds. AS It was
one wing of the aeroplane struck an
automobile, but no serious damage was
done.
Captain McMillen was preceded in his
flight by several automobiles. the first
two leaving Lincoln at 1880 o'clock con-
tanning newspapermen and others. X. E.
Matteson commercial superintendent OF
the Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph
company, and M. T. Caster and @. X.
Gam, plant and traffic manager of the
same company; Fred l. Archibald OF the
Lincoln STAR Frank Green of the Lincoln
Journal L. b. Gaddis Lincoln repre-
sentatie of the omahva World-Herald;
p. A. Burrows, Lincoln representative
OF The Omaha Bee, and J. w. Jones,
Lincoln insurance man.
Bentr the Autos.
Later General Hall and his father. DR..
p. L. Hall, j. II. Hansen, head sales
man of the Copeland-Orr motor car Of
Lincoln, and william Baxter OF the Lin
coin Gas company Immediately pre-
ceded the aeroplane from Lincoln and
from Ashland raced the aeroplane to
Omaha. This machine left Ashland
about twenty minutes ahead OF Captain
McMillen. but the latter beat them to the
field club about three minutes, making
the last mile on a flat tire when they
saw the aeroplane go into the ditch, fear
>ing serious injury to Captain McMillen.
Incidentally 1t is of considerable to note
that Mr.. Hansen drove his machine. a
Cadillac, from Lincoln to Omaha in one
hour and thirty-two minutes, showing up
through the towns, beating the former
record thre minutes. DR.. Hall held the
watch on the trial.
On account of the severe cold neces-
stating heavy wraps. Captain McMillen
was forced to leave out the bomb drop
ping. scheduled as a part of the expert
ment.
Among the messages carried by the
Pviator was a letter from Governor
Morehead to Mayor Dahlman. one from
the secretary of the Lincoln EIks to the
secretary OF the Omaha E1ks, one from
Secretary Whitten OF the Lincoln Com
mercial club to Secretary ManIey of the
Omaha Commercial club. one from Gen.
eral Hall to President Gould Dietz of
the Aero club, also a golden knife from
Tucker & Shean, jewelers. OF Lincoln to
President Deitz.
The value of the aeroplane for quick
service was shown when the Best laun-
dry at Lincoln received a message from
Mr.. Kelley OF the Noyes- Kelley Auto
company In Omaha asking him to for
ward his laundry as soon as possible.
Mr.. Plemendon OF the laundry hurried
10 the fair grounds and arrived just in
time to hand the package to Captain
McMillen and It was delivered in prob
ably the quickest actual time any parcel
ever passed between the auto towns
forty-three minutes.
The efficacy of the telephone in time
CONTINUED on Page Two. Column One. j