The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-16
Gasolene Load Keeps NC-1
and NC-3 to Water After
Start Is Made.
ARE JOINED BY NC-4
All Three Are Expected to
Begin 1900 Mile Flight
This Afternoon.
READ MAKES QUICK TRIP
Craft in Trouble, He Drops to
Water, Makes Repairs and
Then Speeds On.
READ MAKES QUICK TRIP

TREPAssEY, N. F., May 15.-The
naval seaplanes NC-1 and NC-3, carry
ing an overload Of gasolene, at
tempted to start for the Azores late
this afternoon. They shot down the
bay with their huge lower wings hid.
den in cloud of spray, but the
weight Of fuel aboard-much more
than is actually needed to make the
1,2OO mile fllght-prevented them
from rising from the water.
AS the two great seaplanes en-
deavored to hop Off the water the un-
lucky but persevering NC4 came roar
Ing through the sky from Halifax and
flew over her sister ships. Ever
since bad oil pump brought her to
the water on the first leg Of the
voyage from Rockaway she has been
striving to catch up with her sister
ships SO that she might start with
them on the crucial lap of the hazard
Gus trip.
Apparently Influenced by the ap-
pearance Of the NC-4, Commander
Towers gave the word to return and
the two seaplanes tsxied back to their
moorings The flight in all probability
will be made an hour or two before
sunset tomorrow unless weather con-
ditions forbid It. The destroyers lined
up fifty miles apart from here to the
Azores, cannot remain on station more
than day or two longer without re-
fueling. so the necessity for starting
the flight is urgent.
Arrival of the NC-4.
The NC-4, with Lieutenant Com
mander A. c. Read in the forward
cockpit-the station Of the navigator-
left Halifax at s:52 (s:52 New York
time). but was compelled to land on
the water thirty minutes later at
Storey Head. For more than an hour
Lieut.. ]. L. Breese and Chief Ma
chinists Mate Z. S. Rhodes worked on
her Oil and gasolene lines, or pipes,
which did not feed properly. At 11:47
she rose without difficulty from the
ocean and sped along on her trip. She
darted into view over the water at
Trepassey shortly after 6:3O and
dropped gently onto the water here at
6:41 (5:41 Halifax time).
The NC-4's actual flying time for the
400 nautical miles was hours and 20
minutes, which is 1875 nautical miles
an hour, the equivalent of 500 land
miles at the rate Of S3.5 miles an hour.
Although disappointed at not getting
OFT this afternoon, the crews Of the
NC-l and NC-3 held a toyfll reunion
with Commander Read and his fve
men. Mechanics Immediately jumped
on board the NC4 to look her over
and put her into shape for the start
which Is almost certain tomorrow. II
seems likely, in view OF the conditions
or the destroyers, that nothing but a
severe storm and vicious head wind
Will prevent the NC planes from TAX
ing OF tomorrow.
1t was recalled to-day that Com
mander Towers had warned newspaper
men some days ago that one and pos
sibly several false starts might be
made before the planes actually started
on their long journey to the Azores.
IL Is his intention to carry every pint
OF gasoene possible so that whatever
happens on the flight stop to replen-
ish gasolene supplies will not be neces-
sary. The planes probably will have
several hours reserve supply over the
supply for the nineteen hours which
1t is estimated the planes will need.
One Man May he Dropped.
At the present time there are six
men in the crew of each NC-boat. but
one OF these is an extra engineer who
can be dropped II necessary. That
would leave Ave men, a commander,
who is also the navigator, two pilots,
radio man and an engineer. Com
mander Towers is anxious to carry two
engineers, as the experience of tho
NC-4 has demonstrated their need,
but will leave with one II the planes
cannot rise rom the water with six
men and what he considers a supply
OF gasolene large enough to provide
against all likely head winds and
wanderings from the route.
While the NC4 has had much mis-
fortune during the trip, having spent
night on the ocean before limping
into Chatham with only one engine
running. and having been compelled
to land on the water between Trs-
passey and Halifax. her experience mas
shown that the NC ships are sea