Arizona republican., 1919-06-28
AIR TOURNAMENT
 COUNTS HOMAGE
 TO DEAD IN VAR

len soldier sons tonight
 With thousands of spectators and a great program assured. the FranN Luke air memorial tournament will be given tonight to pay tribute to the county's men who died in the war anu launch a fund to erect to their mem ory a lasting memorial It will be, ae cording to the committees promise, the greatest event ever held in the valley, and it is held in a worthy cause.
 Military and civic bands army air planes, citizen speakers, an American ace and other attractions galore will be included in the program. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker and Marguerite Fischer will not be here to take part in the tournament, but to take their place there will be plenty of added at fractions Nothing has been lett out of the program planned that will aid in making the Luke memorial tourra- ment something long to be remem- bered.
 Promises Thrills
 I'll guarantee Phoenicians some spectacular airplane stunts even if l cnly have one machine left with which to put on the program; I'll drive that one machine through the grandstand
 
 Luke memorial tournament some thrills the like of which have never be- fore been witnessed in this commun- ity.''
 So spoke Captain L. E. Appleby. in charge of the air program at the pre- tournament fete last evening, held on North First avenue between Wash ington and Adams street. His talk followed a series of mishaps and un- avoidable circumstances, fate seem ingly having made a supreme effort to rob the memorial tournament of all it's luster.
 But Captain Applebys talk carried considerable significance: it bespoke the determination of the officer in charge of the air program to give Phoenicians an air fete that will live up to pre-tournament plans in every way.
 Program Starts at 6:30 Notwithstanding the last minute news that Captain Eddie Rickenbacker the greatest American ace, and Miss ] Marguerite Fischer, movie star would neither of them be here for the Frank | Luke air memorial tournament. the | tournament program will suffer little | in real attractions by their absence 1 This is the opinion of the tournament committee, which yesterday rear ranged the program so that it will not begin until 630 o'clock this evening.
 Memorial addresses, music. war talks by Lieut.. o. P. Johnson. Ameri- can ace and friend of Captain Ricken- packer, stunt and formation flying by the army airplanes, and auto racing | are the main attractions on the re vised program, which will be much the same as the official program an | nounced several days ago. If any thing, the change in time from 6: 30 to 9 o'clock, will prove an attraction, as it will give everybody time to dine before going out to see the tournament.
 Three Sure to Compete Only three airplanes will participate in the memorial tournament unless more which have been asked. unex- pectedly arrive from Rockwell Field this afternoon in forced flight. But three airplanes, one of them a cap tured German Fokker, can supply thrilly in plenty for the crowd. in the opinion of Captain L. F. Appleby, air service officer in charge of the aerial program. Four other airplanes were prevented from taking part in the tournament by accident
 The program tonight will not suffer however, from the unforeseen circum- stances that have taken away two in dividual stars and several planes from the tournament.
 The program tonight will begin with memorial speeches at 6 30 o'clock. An address from Senator Ashurst will be read; the principal memorial address to be given by Judge A C. Baker. and
 other speeches made by prominent Phoenix citizens.
 In place of Eddie Rickenbacker. the
 tournament crowds will hear Lieut. O P. Johnson, who won his title to ace in long service at the front with 2
 British ace squadron. Lieut.. Johnson , will have thrilling story to tell ot the aerial warfare. He too, will pay
 tribute to Frank Luke and the coun- try's other fallen sons.
 Racing at O'Clock
 During the speechmaking and before 5 the two Curtiss planes and the Fokkel that will take part in the tournamenf 7 will be on exhibition in front of th, l grandstand as will the wrecked De 3 Haviland Bluebird.
 At o'clock the racing features vii r begin. Three fast cars, a Hudson. ; Paige and an Overland-three of tn, fastest cars in the valley-will rae, each other on the fair grounds track The winning car will then be racet . against the German Fokker airplan. in unique aerial-land race, whil, l the second car to cross the line vii race. a Curtiss plane around tn
 course
 About 7:30 the aerial program vii Il xsri1 rades and races, stunt flying. forma tion flying. and many other thrillini n exhibitions.
 ! Throughout the performance musi U will be furnished by the tenth cav | airy band and the city band Severa vocal numbers will also be given :, Planes Are Damaged Il Mishap followed misfortune yester r day until it seemed that the entir e scheduled program was to lose all it o features. First came the announce
 ment that Captain Eddie Rickenbacke } would be unable to attend. This wa a followed by a telegram from Mar = guerite Fischer, donor of the Fische II medal to Frank Luke, stating that sh 1T would be prevented from making tn d trip because of a change in plans.
 Then came the announcement tha = one of the big planes flying fror e Rockwell field had taken the wron A course after leaving Yuma and i l. landing at Needles last evening wa 3 smashed. The pilot and his compan $ ion escaped injuries.
 t Eleventh hour efforts were made b t. Captain Appleby to get three addi
 tional planes from Rockwell Field Tn ' telegraph wires were kept hot las y evening and Captain Appleby statet
 in conclusion, that he felt sure ths