Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-01
PATRIOTIC CROWD

; 3UOuL ONSI tHC 1~dy9t bSip" thS
greens, and on the grounds about the
clubhouse--a throng that had bought
! Liberty bonds and war stamps and
sent its sons to war, and it was there
to see further tangible evidence Of
the skill which is fast making Amer
lea supreme in the air;
II was not disappointed.
Speek in Sky.
Shortly after 3 o'clock speck was
seen in the sky far to the northwest.
There was q shout OF welcome. The
speck grew larger. approached at
lightning speed, and almost before
tie spectators realized II was circling
high overhead. the red, white and
blue circle OF the Royal Flying corps
showing plainly against the drab sur
face of the planes. ,....
"A great roar Of applause was sud.
denly hushed as the pilot dipped
steeply into a close spiral and spun
slowly toward earth; II broke loose
again from thousands OF throats as
the airplane righted and swung its
head once more into the wind.
Many who were there were getting
their first look at yan airplane in ac-
tion. Hundreds of others were see
ing for the first time the stunts
about which they had read, and
which all pilots who would be fight
Ing pilots must learn before they can
command battle plane.
Loops Three Times.
The flyer climbed again and looped,
once--twice--three timesl They were
graceful loops. 80 well executed that
the crowd forgot to be frightened.
Then came q spinning nose dive,
with the machine twirling on its
nose. No doubt now about the dis
position OF that hinge audience. II
was tickled to death and showed it !
as the cheers swelled into veritablc
roar Of approval.
And then the thing happened that
everyone had wished tor and none
had been led to expect.
The aviator came down.
iii was General Lee the intrepid
Brifisher. ranking officer with the
touring squadron, who was flying
fhat plane.
Big-Hearted Generosity. |
General Lee knew that the heart |
of his big audience was longing to
see him make landing and he did
not want to see them disappointed.
II was big-hcarted generosity which
prompted his decision to fulfill the
wish Of those below. Il
He swooped down in wide spiral.
swung into the wind, vaulted between
the trees and made perfect land
ing on the fourth fairaway, on the
west side Of ne course. 1t was
pretty work and nervy.
The crowd unfurled upon the lib
erai grassy stretch OF the fairaway
like banner Soldiers, quick to take
in the unusual situation, rushed for
ward and surrounded the plane,
keeping the spectators at distance.
General Lee laughed delightedly
and waved his hand as the crowd
showed its appreciation in cheer
after cheer. ,t
He did not leave his machine. nor
did he stop his engine. Under his
shouted instructions the soldiers
turned the big mechanical bird
around and guided it to the lower
end Of long declivity. The pilot
motioned them off, threw open his
throttle, sailed up the little hill,
above it, crept slowly back into the
skies and was gone.
Learn Lesson of Air. 4
They talked, then--the people in
that crowd did. They reaiized-had
had it driven home--that air work was
an actual and indubitable factor in
the war. And they were glad that
that pilot had shown them.
Soon three more planes appeared.
They seemed larger-perhaps they
were not--they seemed so. And it
was not case OF Straight" flying
with this trio, either. They spiraled.
looped. dipped. spun. and fell for short
distances like a leaf in an autumn
wind. And then they, too. hurried
off into the west leaving little ribbons
of smoke that trailed behind like a.
swirl of water behind boat.
The crowd ca.s- to itself for the
moment. Some rubbed their necks
and others their eyes--but none
frowned. They were satisfied. They
moved about From the wide veranda
of the Field clubhouse came the
strains of a band. 1t was a good
band. Why notf Was it not the
Great Lakes Naval Training school
band? This splendid organization
part of the largest band in the world
and trained by the March King him
self-had been taken to the clubhouse
Id big motor trucks with improvised
seats by soldiers from Fort Omaha
The sailor bandboys had volunteered
to do this. They wanted to do their
share in making it real occasion and
they succeeded. Few there were
who listened that had heard better
band.
Fly In Battle Line.
The real sensation arrived when six
planes, flying in battle formation.
came racing toward the grounds. The
machines were first in the formation
of two ahead, one on each side, and
two behind, but as they swung over
the course they changed so that one
was ahead, then one on each side
one in the center. one on each side
and one behind. This, it was under
stood, is the best battle formation
for six planes.
After circiing above the grounds
two of the pianes-the scouts--darted
away and took to the high skies.