The sun., 1919-05-06
NAVY FLIERS
START TODAY
DESPITE FIRE
Damaged Planes Are Re-
paired Quickly for Trip
to Halifax.
TWO AIRMEN ARE KILLED
Spin at Rockaway Ends in
Disaster as Transatlantic
Aspirants Look On.
TWO AIRMEN ARE KILLED

Death and disaster yesterday visited
tho Rockaway naval air station. where
the three great naval seaplanes are
being prepared for their attempt to
fly across the Atlantic. but despite This
two and perhaps three of the flying
boats will start soon after dawn this
morning on the initial stretch of the
long. venturesome journey.
The first of the series OF accidents
was a fire early yesterday which de-
stroyed the right wings OF the NC-1
and badly damaged the lower elevator
Of the NC-4. This was a heavy blow
to the officers and men who have been
working feverishly for weeks to make
arrangements for the smooth working
and success of the flight.
But a heavier blow to the spirits Of
all came yesterday afternoon when
and many Of the others who will leave
to-day saw two young fliers crash to
instant death after fitting lightly
about 800 feet over the station. The
other accidents were unimportant-
the inturing of three sailors when a
speeding motor truck bearing forty
men ran of the road, and the burning
Of q light motor truck.
All contributed to cast a shadow
over the station and to heighten the
tension which has been growing daily,
but the crews OF the three ships re-
mained grimly determined or smiling
| ly confident, according to their nature.
Die in Spectacular Accident.
The accident in which two young men
Ensign Hugh ]. Adams, 80 years old,
Of 216 Goodrich street. Pittsburg. the
pilot. and Harold b. Corey, chief ma
chinist's mate, 22 years old, of As Fay
ette street Binghamton-were dashed
TO death was spectacular. occurring when
most of the officers and men at the sta
tion were watching.
Hughey Adams, as he was known
| among his brother fliers at the station
since he came there last June. was re-
| garded as one of the most sklllful avia-
tors in the naval service. Like a hall
dozen other officers he went up for a
test flight at O'Clock, taking Corey
with him.
So warm was the weather that neither
man wore flying toys for the trip, which
was a mere hop OF ten or twenty min
utes. To Corey, however. II had a spe
cial significance. for his discharge from
the navy had been approved and he wat
to leave the station to-day or tomorrow
He himself was a pilot, although no,
officially qualified to drive a plane.
We'll. boys. this is my last flight" ht
remarked cheerfully as he jumped upor
the back OF a sailor in rubber wadins
garb 70 be pick-a-packed dry-shod acros,
the gap of ten, feet to little HS-1 scou
seaplane which was moored In a foot o.
water Off shore. The machine was ont
OF the oldest and best known flying boat!
he knew her every impulse and crank
ism.
Plane Rises From Water Quickly
Adams speeded the twelve cylinder
Liberty motor az he headed offshor,
and within fifteen seconds the toul
bladed propeller lifted the little scou
into the air. Up and down the bay tn,
plane speeded, gradually making alti
tude Then Ensign Adams tried fev
turns and banks-which abruptly at
tracted the attention Of newspaper mel
and photographers and caused even th,
blase officers and enlisted men to til
their chins to watch Hushey Adams pu
the plane through her PAGES.
On one turn the plane. when about 30
feet In the air. tilted so far over that
wing tip pointed directly to the ground
The seaplane was circling in a position
| roMfluAad nm Eourfh poo,