The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-06-10
COULDN'T SAVE THE D|R|G|BLE
C-5, DECLARE ITS COMMANDER
position of tho CO to be in the extreme
northern end ~ PlaCcntia Bay.
Compass Course Is Impossible.

position Of tho C-5 10 be in the extreme
northern end II Placcntia Bay.
Compass Course Is Impossible.
course for 81. Johns was set. rms
carried the 60 over a railroad whlch
was identified and followed. AIT con-
ditions were SO rough that 1t WAS next
to impossible 10 follow compass
course. ~ ono point where the railroad
forkcd the C-5 was brought low enough
to inquire tho proper direction 10 fol-
low to 50. Johns.
Cont inucd along tho line Of tho rail-
road To TopSal. Newfoundland: when
departed from II and made for the sea
outside tho harbor Of ST. Johns. Then
came in over the harbor and landed at
PlcaSahtvillc at $50 a. m. having been
in tho air for - hours and 80 mnut cs.
The overland trip over N"wfound-
land was under extremely rough air
conditions and with wind or about
forty miles per hour and stronger in
the gusts. The general wind direction
was west. though gusts seemed 10
come from All points Of the compass.
Tho landing al plcasantvillc was per-
feet.
"Grcat credit is due Lieu; cnant Law
renee and Ensign Campbell. who made
Of Lieutenant {. q. Little. L. S. N.
r. f.. had been thoroughly instructed in
their duties and carried out their part
Of the landing in most satisfactory
manner. Had such not been the case.
wreck would probably have resulted
at this time
After the landing the C-5 was turned
over 10 the ground crew. in charge Of
Lieutenant Little. he CO was secured
and tho work of rcfucling and GassIng
started. This was carried on only with
grcat difficulty on account OF The roll
ing and pitching OF the C5. The wind
made it impossible TO hold her STEADY.
C-5 Brooks from Moorings.
Every possible effort was made 10
hold tho c.. but this finally proved "a
b" impossible. and she broke adrift
from her m"orinEs. No possible pro-
caution had been overlooked. The loss
OF tho ca was wholly unavoidable
The total duration Of the flight was
Is hours and 81 minutes. he distance
covered was 1.n@2 nautical miles.
This distance takes no account Of Wide
variations from courses caused By very.
bad air conditions. Those variations un.
douhcdly greatly increased tho actual
distance covered. bu, no definite esti-
mate is possible
During IN" flight TO ST. Johns cold
was the greatest discomfort. and even
| that was not really serious Had tho
crew not been outfittcd with fur the cold
would hav" been severe As II was .hc
! greatest trial was that smoking is not
carried on IN dirrgihlr. and nearly
Immediately urnn landing every man
was putting runt"ntcdly.
cfcforc starting from Montauk a SUM-
ply Of milk chocolate. canned fruit,
canned beans and thermoS bottles filled
with coffc" and water had been put on
board Hardly a thing except tn" choc
olatc was touched during the flight
and only part of that. though upon
getting on board tho Chicago all hand
| mad" up for missing meals
NO hunger and thirst was particu.
larry in evidence AT any tim" while IN
tho air Ono member Of the crow suffer
cd short attack of 'scasicknnss.' hut
no Ill effects resulted. while IN tho Air
II was possible To crawl hout tho car.
hut as III" air grew roughcr little Of
this was done.
For the most Of the time tho crew
renamed in their seats except as rcli"fs
| Al tho wheels changed or became ncccs-
sary 10 carry messages back and forth
from tho radio cockpit. Space was
avaIlohl" in tho rndi cockpit for a man
10 curl Up on tho floor and sleep. but i
was too cold and drafty for comfor
Doing IN tho seats was far better.
"All told tho disco mfor,s were very
slight and Of no moment AS compared
with IN" general interest and experience
of 40