Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-12-30
Seaplanes
HopOfffor
Canal Zone
Flight Over Route
M ore Hazardous
Than Crossing Allan
tic Starts Today

San Diego, Cal. Dec. 30.-Head-
ed by the F5-L. squadron of
fourteen seaplanes. left the North
Island navy air station here at
$50 o'clock this morning on the
first lap of the proposed flight
from San Diego to Panama bay.
The seaplanes, comprising the
Pacific air force started on their
9000-mile flight to Balboa, Canal
Zone, which is regarded by naval
authorities a more severe and haz-
ardous test than the crossing of the
Atlantic ocean. The route lies along
the Mexican and Central American
west coasts with hops" of the sea-
plane squadron scheduled from
bay to bay or port to port.
Take off of the fleet of air craft
was accomplished without unto
ward incident, the fleet taxiiing
down the harbor channel to the
port entrance under the Point
Lofa headland and there with the
open sea before them rising from
the water and disappearing into the
skyline as the might roar of their
combined motors dimmed from
hearing.
Muslin in Command.
Twelve q the fleet are F-5-L
naval seaplanes equipped with twin
Liberty motors of 400 horsepower
each. These, in two divisions, led
and forward among them was Cap
tain Henry Muslin, commander or
the Pacific air force and flight
commander, aboard the seaplane
number 9 with his pennant whip
ping from the outboard strut. Lieu
tenant L. D. Spaulding is pilot OF
this Flagship"
In the wake of the Fol- dlvls~
ions, the two great NC seaplanes'
numbers 5 and of the type when
successfully flew across the Attain
| tic took off ten minutes later
These are equipped with three LID
ertv motors of 400 horsepower eacn
and with superior speed were ex-
pected to overtake the F-5~Ls $ OF
the first lap of the 3000-mile tl1gn'
which was to find the aircraft flee'
riding the waters of San Bartolme
bay on the Lower California coast
this afternoon. Commander JoIi
! II Towers, who won fame in the
transatlantic flight of NC planes
is commander of the NC dlvlsloi
in the Balboa flight but is com
handing from aboard the auxiliary
aircraft tender Mugford, which
with the aircraft tender Aroostook
sailed in advance to the vicinity o
| Cedrs island to await the passlnt
Of the planes. Commanding th'
F-5-I divisions is Lieutenant Com
mander c. P. Mason. aboard sea
pIane number 8, piloted by Ensigi
w. H. Rohrbach.
Dangers Are Many.
In a comparison of the trans
! Atlantic and Bolboa flight, Com
, mander John H. Towers said he re
garded the present one more diff
cult because about 1900 miles long
; err and less safeguarded. since i
the Atlantic flight the entire Allan
tic force of destroyers served
. patrols,
It is believed. however. that pre-
arations for the present flight ar
adequate and that it will be sue
cessfully made, although danger
are many. BY the plan of dayligh
: flights from bay to bay or port t
port, ready check upon the squad
; ron's Flaps" viii be available. A
t the Sam Bartolme bav stop tn
=, ship, Guyana, fuel steamer,
awaiting the aeria fleet to replen
ish the fuel thanks and provid
warm dinner for the crews. TIL
air craft will remain there until tc
morrow morning and then hop
to Magdalera bay. On the follow
Ing day they will cross the Gulf {
California to Baoderias bay on tn
; ! Mexican mainland.