Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-05-23

the planes home station. to Ply
mouth, England. is the only one
which will require night flying.
The planes were expected to main
tain an average speed Of 60 nautical
miles an hour although they are cap
able OF making 90 miles if circum-
stances demand. Temperature was
expected to determine the flying alti-
tude but ii was believed that 5000
feet would be the limit. The n. c.
which was left behind at the start
by her sister craft because Of engine
trouble and arrived at TrepaSsey Bay
from Halifax Thursday, was in the
air Friday almost as soon as the flag
ship, rising after a swift 25 minute
cruise about Nation Harbor.
The n. G.. l made two unsuccess-
full attempts to leave the water while
Comm ander Towers plume scared
above it and the taxing n. G. 4.
but it rose nine minutes after the
flagship and followed in the wake
Of the others which headed for the
east as soon as it took the air.
In air lines the distance from Ire
passey Bay to the Azores is 1900
miles. from the Azores to Lisbon.
Spain, 500 and from Lisbon to Ply
mouth, England, IT'S miles.
The n. G.. 4, under command of
Lieutenant Commander Read. land
ed safely at Horta, Fayal, in the
Azores and was soon groomed and
ready for the next leg of the great
flight to Lisbon.
The n. c. 1, Lieutenant Billenger,
was forced to- come down to the sur
face of the sea when many miles
from land but was rescued by the
cruiser Columbia and towed into
Horta bay somewhat damaged by the
heavy seas with which she had to
contend.
Toward the end of the long flight
from Trepassey Bay, New Foundland.
the n. G. 3, Commander Towers, was
apparently lost and for many hours
there was great anxiety and warships
end destroyers were securing the sea
for her far and wide. After weather
ing sixty mile gale and heavy seas,
the missing seaplane, flagship of the
sight squadron, entered PGnta Del
gada harbor Monday, under her own
power nearly sixty hours from the
time she was forced down by fog
when almost in sight Of the Azores
on the record-breaking flight
Searching battleships and destroy
ers were securing the sea and naval
officials had all but abandoned hope
for the safety of the flying ship and
ner crew of five when warships at
Ponta Delgada saw the plane taxing
across the water headed for the fight
obje ctfve in the Azores Rear Ad-
.'liral Jackson Immediately dispu,,l-
ed the things to the navy department;
by cable. relieving the anxiety Of Off
Gals and ending the long vigil Mrs
Towers had kept since first news
came last Sunday morning that her
husbands plane mad been lost in the
fog 800 miles from the Azores.
The story Of the plucky fight the
flight commander and his men were
forced to make for two days and
nights was not xIected at the navy
depa rtment before Wednesday for
officials realized that the aIviators
must have been almost exhausted
when they reached their haven.
Acting Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt late Saturday sent to Lieu
tenant Commander A. G.. Read, of the
NC-4, the only one of the trio, of
seaplanes to make a nonstop flight
from New Foundland to the Azores,
the following message:
Navy cangratulates you upon this
splendid achievement"