Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-04-29
PEACE HEADS ACCEPT COVENANT
WITHOUT DIVISION OR AMENDMENT
NAME CREWS
To Pilot Navy Planes
Across Atlantic
Commanders Will Be Towers. Read
and BeIlinger-Airshlps Will Be
NC. NC-3 and C-l+All Three
to Start Together

New York. April 2S-The Navy de-
partment announced here tonight the
personnel of the aviation crews-five
men TO a piane-which will attempt
early next month 70 cross the AT
iantlc in three huge hydro aero
planes Commander J. H. Towers.
Lieut.. Commander y. {. Read and
Lieut.. Commander p. y. L. Bellinger,
Will he the planes commanders. with
The frs, named IN general charge Of
the expedition.
The alrships. the Nr-1. NC-5 and
Nr-i. after flight from the home
station At Rockaway Point on Long
Island - q base established by the
Navy off The Ne" Fnundland coast.
viii set out toEe' her in an attempt 10
reach a European destination not ye,
made public. II IS generally be
leved that the planes VIII touch at
the Azores and again off the Portu-
;.lIcse coast. there resuming the air
cruise 10 the British Isles.
Otficiallv, il was stated at Rock
away Point that no land stops would
be made At the New Foundland
base ana wherever else the machines
may descend, they will he moored
While awaiting resumption Of the
. flight. as erection Of appliances to
haul the craft out of the water would
require much time an entail heavy
/ expenses.
The planes. or one of which is
now N operation. have a span of 126
feet and are driven by four high com
preston Liberty Motors. The NC-3
made A successful trial fight today
The NC-l. which has been IN service.
IS undergoing alterations. while the
/ NC-4. "A new machine. is expected to
be ready 10 take the air tomorrow or
Wednesday.
, Commander Towers. IN charge OF
the flight. stated that until he re-
turned Wednesday, from conference
at Naval Headquarters IN Washing
ton. ne would be unable to announce
definitely the date Of departure and
the trans Atlantic route. He said.
however, the i.150-mile flight 10 New
Eoundland. which was not considered
part of the ocean voyage. would be
taken II easy stages.
For The trans Atlantic tight. he
sad. II was important that the tters
keep within sight of each other, so
as 20 simplify communication with
The destroyer patrol 70 be stationed
. al The way across The Atlantic.
IF The patrol vessels. The com
naEder stated, number had al
ready sailed. while others would
leave New York ana other ports
within i few days.
SO far commander Towers said
plans for the flight had followed a
schedule arranged IN detail Feb. "a
The IIrSnips' crews, the command
a. stated. would include Command
lrg officer navigator. two pilots and
4 radio officer IN addition 4 reserve
pilot will board each plane Tor -ne
trip 70 New Foundland to assist IN
adjusting minor defects IN the mech
ANS m. Il any occur and TO meet an
emergency such as illness among rhe
regular crews. In addition to the
commanders. Commander Towers
announced the personnel of the ex-
petition as follows:
Crew No. Pilot Commander n
G. Richardson; pilot. Lieut. D r.
McCuliough: radio operator. Lieut.
Commander r. A. Lavender: engi-
neer. machinist. /. r. Moore: re-
serve pilot-engineer, Lieut. r.
Shodes.
Continued IN Page 4-coi. 81