Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-01
EPOCH MAXIM C
TRANS ATL ANT|C
FLIGHT IS ENDED
NC-4 Circles Place From
Which Pilgrim Fathers
Sailed and Lands on
Bay at Plymouth.

Plymouth, May 3l.-(By the AS
sociated Press.)-Seaplane NC-4,
pride Of the American navy, crossed
Plymouth Sound this afternoon. cir
cled the place whence the Pilgrim
fathers sailed in their cookie hell
ship for the new world in 1920 and
alighted in the Cattewater, its epoch
making flight ended.
As it came into view through the
WESTERN haze, England gave it the
splendid welcome it deserved.
Leaving Ferrol, Spain at 6:27 this
morning, the NC-4 covered the dis
tance Of approximately 500 miles ia
Plymouth in less than seven hours.
Despite adverse wind and weather
conditions, the NC-4 covered the
last leg without a hitch to mar the
exploit. Safe and sound, but thor
oughly fatigued by the physical or
deal of the trip, as well as the men
tai strain, Commander Albert C..
Read and his crew are sleeping
peacefully tonight.
Welcomed at Plymouth.
The rousing welcome of Plymouth
residents to the American airmen
and the cordial reception given to
them aboard the Rochester by Rear
Admiral Plunkett, the mayor of
Plymouth, British and American Of
fcials and the crews of the other
NC planes, reached a climax with
the first actual landing of the vic
torious crew at the spot from which
the Pilgrim fathers set forth for
America.
There was wonderful interest in
today's flight, although it was
eclipsed by the previous flights Of
this seaplane, for, in the opinion Of
American naval officers and the
British public generally, the NC-4
reached the peak of her great adven-
ture when she spanned the Atlantic
at Lisbon.
The NC-4 flew in rain and fog
through the Bay of Biscay, and
Jog also was encountered off Brest
compelling the plane to keep at a
low altitude.
Word Received At Noon.
Although news of the progress of
the craft was passed along by war
ships stationed on the waq, it was
not until noon that word was re-
ceived from Commander Read him
self. His message merely reported
his position.
The NC-4 appeared suddenly out
of the haze at PIG summer ting.
After circling over the harbor, the
seaplane dropped gracefully toward
the Cattewater, alighting near the
buoy prepared for it at 2:22. The
great crowd on the harbor front
cheered heartily, and craft tied
down their whistles in noisy well
come.
The seaplane when sighted was
flying high and leading an escort of
three flying boats. Its enormous
size left no doubt of its identity.
While the thousands of spectators
yelled themselves hoarse, the flying
boats dropped Very lights, and a
feet of small boats rushed out to
greet the Americans.
Flys at Low Altitude.
Commander Read said that short
ly before reaching Brest his sea-
plane ran into a thick fog. The
NC-4 circled over the shipping in
Breast harbor and then passed
directly over the lightship. The
journey across the channel was
made at very low altitude. The
seaplane never flew at a greater
height than 200 feet. and only at 50
to 100 feet most of the way, because
Of the Jog.
Bad weather conditions prevailed
during the flight across the Bay of
Biscay. Nevertheless the NC-4 Ike
its course perfectly and the trip
:rom Ferrol was made at an average
speed of about 76 miles an hour.
Before alighting in the sound, the
NC-4 sicrled the Hoe and passed
over the spot from which the May
flower sailed.
After brief reception aboard the
Rochester, commander Read and
tis crew were taken to the Aroos-
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