Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-17
Natives Vie With Sailors a.
in CHEERING AviatorS

Trepassey. N. F., May l6.-Three
giant seaplanes of the American
navy--the NC-3, NC-4 and the NC-1
rose late today from the waters of
Irepassey Bay and headed for the
Azores in their attempt to cross the
Atlantic by air .
Commanded by Commander John
4. Towers, Lieutenant Commander
A. {. Read and Lieutenant Com
fr1ander P. N. L. Bellinger, the
planes left their moorings at the
head of Trepassey harbor and
TAXED" towards the narrows. Then,
rushing into a westerly wind, they
took the air.
The NC-3, the flagship" rose
at 1882, the NC-4, two minutes later
and the NC-l at IA, Newfoundland
time. which is one hour and 80
minutes ahead of New York time.
Within 4 few minutes they were lost
sight of beyond the eastern horizon.
AS they passed from view, natives
Of Newfoundland. who lined the
shores of the land-locked bay, Wed
with Yankee sailors stationed here
IN sending away with a, rousing
cheer the American aviators starting
on their epochal voyage.
Shape Course Toward Corvo.
The seaplanes shaped their course
toward Corvo, westernmost island
OF the Azores, from which they ex-
pected to fly to Horta, on the island
Of, Fayal, where they will descend
If weather conditions or mechanical
difficulties make it necessary, but
they will 20 on if possible to Ponta
Delgada, San Miguel island, 1852
nautical miles from this port. This
leg of the cruise from Rockaway
Reach. New York, the planes home
station, to Plymouth. England, is the
only one which will require night
flying.
The planes were expected toll
maintain an average speed of 90
nautical miles an hour, although |
they are capable of making 90 miles
if circumstances demand. Temper
ature was expected to determine the
flying altitude, but ii was believed |
5000 feet would be the limit.
The NC-4, which was left behind |
at the start from Rockaway Beach |
by its sister craft because Of engine
trouble and arrived here from Hall
fax only yesterday, was In the air
today almost as soon as the flag
ship, rising after a swift 25-minute
cruise about Nation harbor.
The NC-l made two unsuccessful
attempts to leave the water while
Commander Towers plane SCARED
above it and. the NC-4, but finally it
rose, nine minutes after the flagship,
and followed in the wake Of the 9TH
ers,s which headed for the east as
soon a. it took the air.
The aviators held a conference to
decide means of lessening the 49,
800 pounds burden which contribu-
ed Yesterday to the inability OF the
NC-1 and NC-3 to rise from the
water, and to select place for the
It was decided to attempt the
ocean fight with the planes weigh
ng 28,200 pounds, leaving behind
spare propellers and cutting down
he gasoline supply from 1880 to
$50 gallons. Notwithstanding the
Hanger of choppy seas breaking the
the airmen determined to
hop off" from Mutton Bay, the
larbor being too small to permit
he necessary surface cruise at high
Ipeed.
Commander Towers stated that if
me machine should ascend before
he others, when the flight is re-
unied, it probably would cruise
bout to learn whether the others
we're able to start. He would not
ay whether the leading plane, in the
vent the others were unable to fly,
would start for the Azores alone,
'ut other officers were willing to
wager that this would be the pro-
edure. The aviators, having babe
,oodby to their brother officers at !
he base here yesterday, were ready
arly this afternoon to board the !
lanes.
Commander John H. Towers, the y
light commander, announced that {
he planes would start with the fol- \
owing crews: -.-.. n '@r v
NC-1-Lieut. Com. P. N. l.. Bel r
niger, commander; Lieut.. Com. M. :
!. Mitscher and Lieut.. l.. T. BARN, t
ilots; Lieut.. Harry Saltwater. :.
ado operator; Chief Machinist's !,
late c. l. Kesler and Machinist's |
late Rasmus Christensen, engi- |
GERS.
NC-3-Commander Towers in
barge; Lieut.. Com. H. c. Richard
on and Lieut.. D. H. McCulloch.
ilots; Lieut.. Com. R. A. Lavender.
ado operator; Lieut.. Braxton
,hodes and Boatswain L. R. Moore,
ngineers.
NC-4-Lieut. Com. A. c. Read
commander; Lieut.. Walter Hinton
nd Lieut.. E. F. Stone, pilots; En-
ign Charles Rodd, radio operator;
lieut.. J. L. Breese, jr., and Chief
1achinist's Mate E. S. Rhodes, en-
inecrs.
II the planes fail to take the air
ecause of their weight the crews
1ili be reduced.
JA:>:.- N>>s~> III