The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-11-24
I He I'M I AL
SCOUT
TRIP SUCCESS
First Tryout In This Line
Was Highly Pleasing to
Naval Men.
AIRSHIPS CARRIED
THEIR OWN COMPASS
Second Scouting in Flying
Will Take Place This
Morning 8 O'Clock

History-making flights were yester-
day successfully accomplished at the
Pensacola naval station, when two
Curtiss hydroplanes were sent out
sixty miles to locate 4sthe enemy
from height varying from 1000 to
1000 feet. The feat Of plotting the
airships by their own compasses.
which each of the flyers carried, is
another thing which stands out as
having been accomplished successfully
for the navy at the Pensacola station.
The greatest interest was manifss-
ted In this naval airship scouting, and
as the greatest of success attended the
first attempt, it means that the epoch-a
making by flyers is having it's origin
in more ways than one at the local
station,
The first scouting in flying occurred
at 2:45 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Destroyer and motor boat went out
first, taking an irregular course, first
going to the sea buoy and then going
at full speed to point sixty miles in
the gulf, quite out of sight of all
coast line. The destroyer Sterrett, in
command Of Lieut.. G. w. Simpson.
and fast boat from the cruiser North
Carolina, were sent out, and were the
"enemy" trying to make port unob-
served.
Naval Aviators Lieut.. p. N. L. Bell
niger, U. S, N, piloted the first
Curtis hydro, and was accompanied
by Naval Aviator w. E. Capehart.
U. s. ~, who acted as observer. The
other machine was in charge of Naval
Aviator R. c. Saufiy, pilot, who was
accompanied by Naval Aviator T.. o.
Mcdonald, U. S. N, as observer.
One of the machines assembled grad
ually to height of 1000 feet, while
the other one, flying almost UNDER
meath the other hydro, assembled to an
altitude of about 1000 feet. At that
height both machines went to sea and
made a search for the supposed en-
envy craft, or for the vessels which
were supposed to be trying to reach
port unobserved. It was some con-
siderable time before the vessels were
observed, but they were picked up,
even from the lofty flying machines.
and in due time regularly reported.
The flights lasted one hour and five
minutes, and when it was considered
that each machine went out of sight
of land, and steered their course by
their own compasses which they car
ried, the feat was regarded as one Of
the remarkably progressive perfor-
mances eof the United States navy.
and last night officers at the aero
nautical station were jubilant over the
big success which attended their first
venture In this regard.
The second flight of this nature.
which is expected to be even an i'm
provement upon the remarkable scout
ing trip of yesterday, will take place
saA16 AiiOAAkilk, hdtC BOdkB W lchVE UOrL
about 8 o'clock. At that time differ
ent tactics viii be adopted, and the
proof of yesterdays excellent perfor-
nance will be attempted. 1t is posi-
BILE that several boats win be used
for this trip, and it will be the pur-
pose of the scouts, far aloft, to dis
cover the craft at widely separated
points.
To a landsman, it would seem q
practically easy thing to discover q
torpedo boat destroyer in the guk, as
large as such craft is, but when it
comes to picking out such an object
on the surface of the water, when the
water and boat is all of the same hue.
it is difficult matter. This perhaps
Is all the more difficult when airships
flying high above the surface. UNDER
takes to locate the enemy craft