The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-04-29
OF The
U. s, FLIGHT CREWS
NOW IS ANNOUNCED

NEW TOBlS, April 2s.-Thc navy
depart ment announced here tonight tpe
personnel of the aviation crcws-nVe
men to a pl;Lne--who will attempt early
next month 10 cross the Atlantic in
three huge hydroairpanes. Commander
J. II. Towers. Lieutenant Commander A.
&C. Read and Lieutenant Commander r.
". l.. Bcllinger will be the plano COM
mandcrs. with the first pamed in gen
eral charge of the expedition.
The airships. the SC-1. NC-S and
NC-4. after Il flight from their home
station at Rockaway Point on Long
Island to Il base established by the navy
of the Newfoundland coast, will set
out together in an attempt to reach
EUROPEAN destination not yet made pub
lie. 1t is generally believed that rne
planes will touch al tho Azores ana
again of the Portuguese coast. there
! rcsunlinE the air cruise To the British
isles e
Officially ii was stated nj Rockaway
Point that M land stops would be
made At The Newfoundland base and
wherever else the machines may de-
scend they will b. nluorrd while await
ing a resumption uf tho flight. as ercc-
ton Of alliances 10 haul the craft out
OF the water would require much time
and entail hravy expenses.
The planes. only one of which ia now
in operation. have Il span Of rs frel
and are driven by four high compress
sion Liberty motors. The NC3 made
successful trial flight today The
NC-1. which has boon in service, is un-
dcrGninS alterations. while the 'NC4. Il
new machine. is expected To be ready
to take the air tomorrow or Wednesday,.
Commander Towers. in charge of the
flight, stated that until hn returned
Wednesday from A conference al naval
headquarters in washington hc would
be unable to announce definitely the
date Of departure and the trans-Atlan-
tic route. lie said. however. the 1.la0
mile flight TO Newfoundland which was
not considered part of III" ocean vuy-
age would be taken in ensy Stages. Tho
three planes would probably start from
lsutkaway in n squadron. he added.
though this was not essential and
might descend al Il place already Sc
lectcd on tho trip north. lie expected
approximately Il weeks wait at tho
Newfoundland station. provided there
were no delays on ihc way there For
tho trnns-sra flight. he said. il was i'm
poTtant that III" hi"r$ keep within sight
OF each other. 30 MS TO simplify COM
municatinn with tho destroyer patrol tn
hc stationed all The way across thr Al
1antic
OF tho patrol vessels, tn" commander
stated. u number had already Sail'd.
Will" others would lrav" New York
and other ports within a few days.
So far. commander Towers said.
plans for IN" light have been followed
by schcdul" arranged in detail on
February ~.
The airshirs crows. IN" commander
stated. would inCllid" y commanding Of
iccr. navigator. Wv" pilots and radio
officer. In addition. n reserve pilot will
board each plan" for III" trip 10 New
fnuniland Ia assiH' i'll adjusting minor
defects IN The mechanism. If any occur.
and Ia n"Hr IN emergency surh MS i'll
ness among tho regular crows.
IN addition TO tho commanders. Com
mandsr Towers announced the person
ncl of tho expedition MS follows:
Crow No. 1---rilot, Commander H. r.
Richardson's: pilot. Lieutenant D. II. Nc
CullouEh; radio operator. Lieutenant
Commander. r. "A. Lavender: engineer.
Mnchlnist L. r. Moore: reserve pilot
Engineer Lieutenant r. Rhodes.
Crew No 2-Pilot. Lieutenant F. J..
Stone: pilot, Lieutenant w Hinton:
radio operator. Ensign Fl. c. Rodd; en-