The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-17
Torches and Smoke
From WarShipS Guide
SeapIaneS On Course

Burning brilliant torches at night.
sweeping the sky with searchlights
and by day sending up dense columns
of black smoke. destroyers are mark
ing the transatlantic course of the
great NC seaplanes.
With the "jump-off" Of Comman-
der Towers history-making air
squadron from Trepassey the Navy
Department yesterday made public
the preparations for the flight. A
destroyer is posted every fifty miles
across the Atlantic from Trepassey
to Portugal to guide the seaplanes
and to rush to their assistance II
they encounter trouble.
Orders To the Planes
These are the orders under which
the NC planes are flying:
Depart about one hour before
sunset Mercator's course from Mis-
taken Point to Corvo as a landfall,
thence shortest route to Horta or
Punta Delgado. the first port of land
ing being dependent on weather on
arrival At Corvo, or on some emerg-
ency arising on planes that requires
landing before reaching Punta Del
gado. II weather and other circum-
stances are favorable landing will
be at Punta Delgado, otherwise
planes land at Horta, wait good
weather or completion repairs. then
proceed to Punta Delgado
PLANES will refuel at Punta Del
gado as quickly as possible, and il
practicable will stop there only one
night
"Punta Delgado to Lisbon: De-
parture in early morning. Mercator
course will be followed to mouth OF
Tagus.
Lisbon to Plymouth: Departure
in early morning. Skirt coast to Cape
Finisterre, thence direct across Bay
of Biscay to Brest, thence direct to
Plymouth.
The estimated speed through air
is sixty miles per hour, which will
make speed over ground greater or
less than sixty miles by the amount
wind component is with or against
seaplanes."
Final plans for the flight and in
structions to individual patrol ships
were taken up at a conference OF
naval officers on the destroyer Column
bia in the North river on April "a
The ships then proceeded to quietly
steam out and take their stations. 1t
had been hoped 10 start the planes
from Trepassey on May II. The two
day delay has somewhat upset plans,
but is in no way serious.
Ready for an S. o. s.
Here arc the orders to the planes
and to the destroyers which are max
ing the path across the ocean for
their comrades OF the air:
THE planes will endeavor to re-
main together. but If not practicable
to do so, will proceed singly
PLANES will probably maintain an
altitude between | 900 and 1000 feet
but may 80 TO 5000 feet
'Destroyers VIII be stationed along
the route at fifty-mile intervals
wherever route OF planes passes out
OF sight OF coast
PLANES will check course when
passing over dcstroycrs, which will
steam slowly on true course to next
station ship while planes arc in sight.
I'm case one plane Is forced TO
land, the others will remain in the
vicinity until report as to her con-
ditiOn is received.
IF the 5. o. S. call comes at night.
destroyers will keep brilliantly i'll
Illuminated while proceeding to plane.
with torch will keep searchIight
sweeping heavens. and will keep
bright lookout for Very's signals. the
color Of which will indicate char
acter OF forced landing and condition
Of plane.
I'm proceeding to assistance by
day destroyCrs will make heavy
smoke.
During the flight each station
destroyer will show the number OF
the station il is marking in such
way as to be plainly visible !ry.n
aloft at a height of 1000 feet or
less. For daylight zones, numbers
eight feet high painted black on
white background stretched across
forecastle deck on awning ridge ropes
or painted on forecastIe deck well
forward Of bridge will answer. u
Illuminated numbers eight feet high