Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-21
cOunTerad

Lieut.. Col. r. s. Hartz. who visitei
augusta July % and 26 in his round
the rim flight of the country, has
just issued his report on the tour.
Ii comprises eight closely tyoed
pages giving his observations of the
ianulng places that might be deveIou-
Ell and making general Recommended
tons for the air service.
Inc flight began at Boiling Field
Anacosrla- .. C, July "a, in Martin
pomoer No. 3s056 ana ended at Boil
ing neiu, November 8. Col Eartz
new TO Augusta with only one stan
AT Hazelhurst Field, n. Y. During
the trip q total of 100 flights ware
made, giving an approximate total of
9S-z3 miles. II required I04 hours and
q minutes TO circumnavigate the
United States and 5225 gallons of
gas were consumed. The highest al
r1tude reached was 13, 900 feet. On
the west coast range. Seven forced
landings We're made because of
weather conditions.
The first one was at Jay, n. Y, on
July 70. Col. Eartzs report of tis
disaster after leaving Augusta is in
part as follows:
While enroute from At,eusta Mn
10 Cleveland, o., July 2Gth. 1919 sew
erai small storms were encountered
while crossing the White and Green
mountains, but owing TO report from
Weather Bureau of fair weather.
nothing WAS thought of them.
After crossing Lake Champlain, at
Essex. slight rain was encountered.
accompanied by mist. and as il was
Thought 10 be of a similar nature To
those already passed, the flight was
continued. The rain, however. be-
came more severe and the mist
denser. About this time the tame
became wet and allowed the magnets
10 fail from the compass and become
lost
From then on an attempt was made
10 fly clear of the storm, this at 2.20
p. Ii. Il WAS impossible To go down
as the mountains were below us. SO
an attempt WAS made TO climb above
II, but after reaching an altitude of
1000 feet with no sun visible. we
knew this to be Aopeless. and there
fore continued flight at about 1880
feet.
At 3.45 P. II. there was a rift in
the storm and we could see a val
ley below us, SO attempted to de-
seend, but the storm closed in again
just as the mountains came N sight,
and we were forced to climb again.
At 4.05 ?. IL. we again found a clear
spot below US ana lived through into
10 lay- a
800 feet from the surface OF the val
ley and again descending. This val
ley we rircIed four times. but found
no possible field and passed into a
SECOND valley with the same results.
From there we went into the third
and found a fairly good field. This
field we circIed four times, coming
lower each time. and 1T the fifth
turn, were tDrced to land as the
mists were again upon U.s.
The landing was a perfect three-
point landing, but after a run OF
about 10 feet. the brazing at the
upper end OF the right strut broke.
followed by the collapse OF the Sec
ond and then by that of the third
wheels. The plane suddenly dipped
I'd LIE TjGut- Cs@lCu1uS llif IASii T" A4k,,
turned so degrees I'd the right and
went up on her nose, crushing II in.
Except for Lieutenant L. A. Smith
having a very slight bruise ON the
foot, ND one sustained any injury. We
crawled from the wreck
age and examined the field and ship
for a cause for the accident
The tracks proved absolutely that
a perfect landing had been made
all four wheels having touched on
the same line and the imprint OF
the tail skid being its correct dis
lance in rear. The ship WIS then
examined and we found the landing
gear To have been the cause.
The damage had evidently been
done at some former time, and the
break completed while taking OH III
Augusta. Me-, the strut holding by
q single piece OF metal only This
break must have been internal as att
er landing at Augusta and Receiving
a very bad shaking UP. each MEM
Der of the crew examined the land
ing gear, and found It apparently al