New-York tribune., 1919-05-21
Towers Tells OF Flight;
Lost Hope, but Carried On
Crew of NC-3 Fought Rains, Winds
and Clouds After Lighting Plant
Failed, Then Battled the Heavy
Seas ON Chocolate and Water

PONTA DELGAQA. May 20 (By The
Associated Press) y" Exceptionally bad
weather, which was totally unexpected,
was the sole reason for the failure Of
all three Of the American navy's sea-
planes to fly from Trepassey, N. F., to
Ponta Delgada on schedule time" said
Commander John H. Towers to the cor
respondent of The Associated Press to-
night.
Individuality" said Commander Tow
ers, "the members of the crew of the
NC-3 virtually gave up hope of being
rescued Saturday night, but collectively
they showed no signs of fear and car
ried on until they arrived in port here.
Having run short of fuel and en-
countered heavy fog, the NC-3 came
down at l o'clock Saturday afternoon
in order that we might obtain our
bearings. The plane was damaged as
il reached the water and was unable to
rise. While we were drifting the 205
miles in the heavy storm, the high
seas washed over or pounded the plane,
and the boat began to leak So fast
did the water enter the boat that the
members of the crew took turns in
bailing the hull with a small hand
pump, while others stood on the wings
in order to keep the plane in balance
Meanwhile we were steering landward.
'That our radio was out of COM
mission was not known to the crew
until our arrival here. Communication
had been cut off since 8 o'clock Mon
day morning, owing to our having lost
our ground wire.
1--WE ate chocolate and drank water
from our radiator. This was our only
means of subsistence The crew smoked
heavily in order to keep awake while
we were drifting. No one. Of US OBJ
tanned more than four hours of sleep
after leaving Trepassey until Ponta
Delgada was reached.
"The NC3 encountered heavy clouds
at o'clock Saturday morning. The
light instruments on board failed, and
we sailed the plane above the clouds
in order to get the benefit of moon
light reading of the instruments.
eve kept in sight Of the NC-4 until
nearly daylight Saturday, and with the
NC-1 until shortly after daylight. All
the planes were flying in formation,
but the NC-1 and NC-4 were under
'N~oi S'C \AVoNc Pt@i VI tuC tiulc, Uc-
cause their light instruments were
good.
"The NC3 had no difficulty in being
guided by star shells, searchlights and
smoke from the station ships until we
reached Station ID, which was not seen.
Fights Fog, Rain and Winds
Il assumed that we were off our
course, but did not know on which side
and began flying a parallel course in
what thought was the direction of
Corvo. Shortly after daylight we en-
countcred heavy fog, rain squalls and
high winds. all Of which continued un-
til the NC-1 went down upon the water.
"Our radio kept us sending messages,
assuming that the torpcdoboat destroy
ers were picking them up. We did not
know tho radio was useless, and that
the dcstroyeYs had not been receiving
the messages.
All the crews thought the sea would
moderate, but the plane WIS 80 badly
damaged in the high pillows that we
were unable to rise again. We were
sixty miles southwest Of Pico when we
alighted.
Storm for Forty eight Hours
The Clearing Of the weather proved
only temporary. for later storm came
up and continued for forty-eight hours.
With both lower wings wrecked, the
pontoons logt and tho hull leaking and
the tail Of the machine damaged, the
plane was tosscd about like n cork.
In order to conserve the remaining
l70 gallons Of fuel we decided to 'saii'
landward, hoping TO sight DESTROYER
on the way. But We did not pass n
angle snip until we reached Ponta
Delgada. or the port we declined prof
| fAred aid hY thu deatxousr u.xlia.