New-York tribune., 1919-06-15

chester, England, and after being grad
uated from college there served an
apprenticeship in engineering. He
took up aeronautics in 1909, chiefly as
a hobby. At first he experimental
with kite gliders, flying them without
engines. During the next three years
he worked with several airplane con-
1912.
In the intervening years before the
outbreak of the war he took part in a
number of flying competitions. In the
aerial race between London and Man
chester, organized by "The London
Daily Mail" for a prize of $4,000, he
finished second. In this flight he used
a Farman machine fitted with q 15O-
horsepower Sunbeam engine Of British
make.
Set Altitude Record
Following this he won several small
competitions, chiefly 'cross-country
flights. He also won several speed
contests, and established an altitude
record OF $4,000 feet.
When the war broke out his machine
was commandeered by the military au-
thorities and he went along with it.
At first he was appointed instructor
at the Eastchurch Kent airdromc
Later he was attached to one of the
home defence squadrons whose duty
consisted Of repulsing Zeppelin and
Gotha air raids over London.
After a period spent in training
fighting pilots in the tactics Of aerial
combat, including acrobatcs. Captain
Alcock went to the Dardanelles and
Salonica, where he saw considerable ac-
tive service. 1t was there that he won
the Distinguished Service Cross for
bringing down seven German airplanes.
Captain Alcock was one of the first
pilots to bomb the city Of Constanti-
nople. He also bombed Adrianople
and other large Turkish and Bulgarian
cities.
His final fight over the enemy lines
was in big Handley- Page biplane.
While on this flight a hundred miles
outside the Allied lines one Of the
propellers on his machine broke and he
attempted to return with one engine.
The machine actually covered eighty
eight miles Of the distance in this
condition, but was finally compelled
to descend upon the sea near Suvla
Bay, within twelve miles Of its base.
All Three Swim Ashore
Two other men were in the machine
with Captain Alcock, and they fioatcd
on the machine for two hours, Finally
all three swan ashore On the beach
they lay all night within. sound of
the Turkish sentries patrolline the
beach.
Daylight came, and all three we're
discovered and made prisoners after
surrendering themselves. They were
taken to Constantinople, where they
were imprisoned for a month, after
which they were sent to an internment
camp. They were released when the
Turkish armistice was signed.
1t was while in the Dardanclles that
Captain Alcock displayed the measure
of his engineering ability. For a time
the Allied forces were without light
scouting machines. No aircraft, other
than the heavy bombing machines, were
near the sphere of action.
Realizing the urgent need Of a scout
plane, Captain Alcock constructed
one with spare material obtained from
the Mediterranean base at Malta. This
machine was built upon the lines of a
design he had completed just before
leaving England. The machine was
highly successful and attained a higher
speed than any other machine in that
theatre. 1t had the distinction of being
the first machine to be built on active
service,
Brown Pilot of Note
The navigator of the Vckcrs-Vimy
bomber is Lieutenant Arthur Whitten
Brown, an engineer by profession and
pilot of note in the war He was born
in Glasgow, Scotland, of American
parents.
lie holds more scientific degrees than
any other airman who has come to
Newfoundland for the transatlantic
flight, being privileged to attach the
following letters after his name: A. M.
/. b., M. 1. NJ. E. and A. NJ. +. A. I. E.
His professional career was spent
"AN'i IiAS oAlGlau WeStlnSnOuSe COm-
pany and Vickers Limited, builders of
the machine in which he and Captain
Alcock are attempting to fly across the
Atlantic.
His thorough knowledge of surveying
led him to take up aviation and the
study of aerial navigation as applied
to surveying. For the past twelve
months he has made speciality of the
development of aerial navigation.
In 1914, at the outbreak of the Euro
pean war, he enlisted in the University
and Public Schools Corps After a
period of training he won his commits
sion and was gazetted to the Manches-
ter regiment.
Saw Air Service in France
lie served with the second battalion
OF that regiment in France for period
ana then transferred to the Royal Flv-
| ing Corps as an observer. Later he
was wounded and taken prisoner by the
Germans.
In 1917 he was repatriated, after a
period Of internment in Switzerland
on his return to England he was as.
signed to the Ministry of Munitions,
where he was employed in the develop-
ment OF aeronautical engines. During
the course Of this work he did much
flying on home stations.
He is pilot Of great experience