The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-06
misunderstanding as to
Whether Ground Was
PlOwed or Hard
Caused Accident
MACHINE WILL BE
FLYING TODAY OVER
CITY AND IN PARADE
Hundreds See Liberty Loan
War Plane Glide to Ground
Gracefully at the Fair
grounds Yesterday

Lieut.. II. w. thompson,
from the government aviation
field at Memphis, arrived IN
Birmingham at 3:05 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, and, due
to a misunderstanding, the avi-
ator landed in plowed ground
and broke the propeller OF his
machine, necessitating order
ing another from Memphis,
which is due to arrive IN Biz
mingham this morning by spe-
cial messenger.
Gee, but that was the toughest luck
that I have ever had" said Lieutenant
Thompson, "for after flying over what
I would term No Mans Land, from Jas
per here, and having alighted safely
at GUN in the middle of a plowed field,
and then another safe stop at Jasper,
l naturally feel sick over the mishap
-
on hand to witness our landing. IT l
had known that the ground was plowed
UP, 1 could have landed just as easily
as on smooth surface, but did
not know it, and I expected the ma
chine to roll, but instead it stuck in
the soft earth and over she went. 1t
was too late to avoid the accident aft
81 ed
though / cut off the switch"
DENTS PLANS CHANGED
The peculiar thing about the mishap
was that Secretary Dent of the fair
to have the cross that was to desig-
nate the landing place for the aviator
placed at the regular landing place
on the hard ground. This he succeeded
in doing, but Lieutenant Harrell,
Birmingham aviator now in service. be-
ing here on a furlough for few daws.
made the change, stating that it would
be better to land in the plowed ground,
and the change was made over the
protest of Secretary Dent of the fair
association. Lieutenant Harrell was
correct in his deductions, but for the
fact that Lieutenant Thompson did not
know the ground was plowed and not
being informed. did not handle his
ship accordingly.
STOOD ON NOSE
The big war plane stood on her nose
and it looked as if someone had been
injured for moment. so large was
the cloud of dust. But as the airplane
balanced on her nose, Sergt. II. ~.
Chapman. who accompanied Lieutenant
Thompson from Memphis reached out
his hand and with grin said, we'll
lieutenant. here we are"
The crowd rushed on the field and IL
was impossible for the police to keep
them back, so eager weres they to sec
one of Uncle Sans fighting birds. The
big plane is a Curtis, and protrudes 70
the rear like a torpedo, being built for
two passengers, with much additional
carving room. She is fitted with
Liberty motor.
eve had a most enjoyable trip,
no trouble at all" said Lieuten-
ant Chapman. We left memphis az
1895 o. m. on Thursday afternoon
and landed at Tupelo, Miss. at
o'clock, spending the night at that
place. This morning we left Tupelo
at 9:15 o'clock, and arrived at
GUN, Ala, at 10:45. where we were
compelled to Stop on account Of be-
ing out of gas. We left Guin at
1905 o'clock p I'm. and arrived at
Jasper at 1855 p. m. We left Jas
per at 2.15 p. m. and landed at the
Fairgrounds at S:05 p. M. The total
flying time was four hours and IS
minutes from Memphis to Birming-
ham, distance Of Isl miles" said
Lieutenant Thompson.