Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-21
OUR BOYS
OUR COUNTRY'S SERVICE

-'he following letter has been re-
ceived by Mrs. +. L. Weber. 20
Sewall street, Augusta, from her son,
George Weber, U. S. n:
Cape May \. j..
January /. 1919.
l am enclosing a few snap shots
that took over the feet while it was
on review in the Hudson at Christ
mas time.
l was in charge of four other me-
chanics and with five Curtiss flying
boats we left Cape May on the oath to
join other air squadrons from Hamp-
ton Roads and ltockaway to take part
IN the review.
Our part of the review consisted in
flying back and forth between the
Statue of Liberty and Grants Tomb
all the morning of the eth. We were
supposed to fly on the 2Gth but after
we had been in the air about 20
minutes we were Overtakcn by
heavy snow blizzard and quickly be-
came lost. We were over land and
could not tell where the water was,
the snow coming in our faces stunS
giles very quickly. You see our planes
which are about three times heavier
than the land planes of the same wing
spread cannot land except on water.
when we fly over land we must have
sufficient altitude to slide to water in
case of motor trouble, but at 1000 feet
VIC could not see if it was land or
water below us. and each time VIC
would descend low enough to see we
would find that We were still over
land and could make out the tops Of
buildings, so at about 10.30-we had
been in the air about two hours. gas
make altitude and at 5000 were
pretty we'll out of the storm but still
were not able to see anything but
white beneath us. About 1130 we
could see that the snow was letting up
and in a few more minutes we noSed
over and made a landing on Princess
Bay. While we were locating our
position the storm came on again so
we TAXED the plane up to n barge
which was at anchor and stayed there
till about $50 and then flew back to
ROckaWay. All the planes in our
squadron were back when we arrived
and or examination showed that
every propeller was so badly damaged
by the snow and slcet that they
would have to be changed if we were
10 fly again the next day. This
meant another all nights work,
changing propeller, pate hing wings.
etc, in addition to the regular work
of tuning up the motor. but at the
next morning we had all five planes
again in perfect condition and at S.45
the entire squadron of Is planes and
two dirigiblcs or blimps started out.
1t was very cold and windy but we
kept in V formation up and down the
Hudson and over the city fer thrc"
hours. 1t was mighty interesting and
paid for the extra work the day be-
tore. We descended close to the tops
Of the buildings and circlCd the Wool
worth Building twice. then We would
dive down at the warships as if We
were a gull after n fish and then level
off when wc would be so close YOU
could see the mems faces on the ships.
then up over the buildings again and
then about seven or eight times up
and down the Hudson. circling the
Statue of Liberty each time. If it
hadn't been so cold and the air SO
bumpy l should have wanted TO stay
longer but as it was l was glad when
we started back to Rockaway. We
landed in time for dinner and on the
next day We started back for Cape
May. We made the trip from Rock
away to Cape May in a little less than
two hours. The trip was without, in
most of the way.
While the Navy Air Service was
very busy during the war. and has es-
tablished new bases both at home
and abroad during the past year, it
has also built its own big air craft
factory in which most Of the planes
are built and in which was developed
the Mel which is said to be the
largest seaplane in the world and
which recently carried So passengers
ard which is now contemplating a
trans-oceanic flight
My duties consist of keeping the
motors in perfect order. all electrical
equipment, instruments, etc, in first
class shape and during actual flight |
sit beside the pilot where | operate
the different gas and oil valves and
switches, frequently relieving the
pilot ut tho controls when his arn.,
become Cramped or his glasses logged,
while doing this have become able to
handle tho planes myself but only
when the pilot is sitting alongside of
me in case | did not do the right
thing at the right time.
like the work. there is always lots
of work to he done on the planes.
have worked up from seaman to chief
machinist mate. have learned n
great deal and have seen a great deal
have earned a gold chevron by being
80 hours in the air in search Of enemy
submarines and have officially been
notified that | can wear same In
stead of going to France l was forced
to stay on this side where instructed
12O men per week for IS weeks. near
ly all of whom went across and did
the same work as I could have done.
Your son,