The Bismarck tribune., 1919-09-23
NINE AIRPLANES,
SIX BALLOONS,
DUE OCTOBER s
All American Pathfnders Will
Perform Day and Night
in Aerial Flights
HERE FOR THREE DAYS
Thirty-One Trucks and More
Than 100 Men Accompany
Big Aerial Caravan
HERE FOR THREE DAYS

Duc 10 ucldyS III WlSCOuSlU dllu
Minnesota, the All American Pathfnd-
ers, consisting of nine airplanes and
six ballOns, will not reach Bismarck
before October 8. They are scheduled
to arrive in Fargo October and after
remaining there for two or three dtys
will fly to this city. ....
It is expected that very large
crowd will be in Bismarck the three
days the caravan will be in this city
as it is the largest number of air
planes ever visiting this state before.
During their stay here, the birdmen
will give all kinds Of aerial exhibitions
and stunt flying and the ballons which
accompany the Pathfnders will also
be sent up every day,
The purpose of the Pathfinders is
to map the country. indicate aerial
routes, plot flying fields and secure
other accurate and valuable informa-
ton for the use of the army air SER
vice and any commercial aerial VEN
lures which might establish cross
country aerial routes. This is the
largest number of aircraft that has
ever been sent out by the army air
service and wherever the Pathfinders
20 they draw huge crowds to witness
the big exhibition.
Land at Fort Lincoln
While at Bismarck, the aerial cara
van will be stationed at the Fort Lin
coin flying field where ample facilities
are provided for venture of this
magnitude. Accompanying the air
planes and ballons are 81 motor trucks
used to transport the ballons. the 81
officers and 80 enlisted men who form
the personnel and machinery to re-
pair any broken parts of the aircraft
that might be damaged on the trip.
From here the All American Path
finders will 60 to Billings, Mont, and
thence to the Pacific coast thus COM
pleting the first trans CONTINENTAL trip
of any great number of airplanes
One of the features of the exhibit
tions that will be staged during the
Path6nders stay in this city will he
night flying the first ever seen in this
vicinity. One of the motor trucks is
equipped with huge electric search
lights which illuminate the fyingfeld
making night landings possible. The
field lighting equipment has the most
powerful light in the world throwing
a. beam effectively up q distance of
$4,000 feet This light can be seen
40 miles.
Has Brass Band
Besides the flying exhibitions which
will be held during the three day stay,
there is a. brass band carried with the
caravan that will give concerts both
in the city and out at the flying field.
A miving picture show is alco carried
in the trucks and films will be shown
on O. special screen giving scenes In
the army air service, bow men are
trained to he aviators. pictures taken
from machine high In the air and
other interesting scenes.
the other. but the ballons are carried
debated on the motor trucks, One of
the most interesting parts of the pro-
gram to be given in this city will be
the arrival Of the nine airplanes in
advance of the motor trucks in flight
formation such as was used on the
, battle front in France bv the Ameri-
can aviators when attacking and re-
sisting attacks Of German airplanes.
Night Msneuvers
Besides the dav flights, night man
envers will also be held. the machines
fving in perfect formation going
4 through the various evolutions follow
ed in pursuit and defense flying and
manv other novel flying stunts only
possible when number of machines
are in the air at the same time.
AS an example of the completeness
of the Pathfinder's equipment it is
pointed out that a field engineering
squad is carried to construct any
bridges necessary for the passage Of
the heavily laden motor trucks and
repairing anv bridges that are not
strong enough to support such heavy
loads. A recently adopted complete
portable machine shop is also included
and is carried on truck especially
built for this purpose.
While here. the men will hold re-
cruiting rallies and give any men of
this vicinity of proper age a chance
to enlist in the air service Of the
army, or the motor truck branch,