The Washington times., 1920-07-15
TOP OF THE WORLD
FL|ER QU|TSARMy
Maj. R. w. Schroeder, Holder Of
Altitude Record, Resigns When
Reduced in Rank.

Major r. w. Schroeder, holder of
the worlds altitude record. has re-
signed his commission. 1t was re-
ported in Washington today. on good
authoriqty 1t is said that Major
Schroeder is displeased because or
ders received yesterday at McCook
Field, Dayton, Ohio. reduced his rank
to that OF captain.
He had been selected to hy In the
Gordon Bennett Cup race in France in
September, and his friends here say
that he did not wish to go to France
wearing a captains bars when he
had achieved such fame as a flyer.
On February 27 last at McCook
Field. Dayton. Ohio, Major Schroeder
established a worlds record, almost
losing his life in the attempt.
REACHED 5000 FEET.
He had reached the height of 36,020
feet. 5000 feet higher than any other
aviator had ever been, when his ma
chine fell
After falling for nearly five miles.
and when 1000 above the ground. the
airplane righted itself and glided
gracefully to a landing. When the
plane settled, attendants who rushed
toward it found Major Schroeder sit
ting erect in the machine. apparently
lifeless.
He was unconscious and was rushed
to the hospital. where he stayed until
he recovered from temporary blind
ness caused by the fall.
INSTRUMENTS TOLD STORY.
The instruments on his machine, ex-
amined after the fall, recorded the
best story Of the experiences Of the
aviator in his fight to beat the recr
ord of Roland Rohlfs and bring frst
honor to the air forces Of the United
States army. The thermometer regis
tered a temperature of So degrees be-
low zero centigrade, or 81 degrees be-
low zero Fahrenheit. Altitude figures
from the Paragraph reading indicated
a height of 81, 900 feet, and when cali
brated by Capt. Harrison w. Flickfn-
ger showed an official altitude OF 36,-
O2O feet, a new worlds record and
variation of less than 1000 feet.
The mark set by Major Schroeder
returned to him the record which Ro-
land Rohlfs won from him July 30
1919. with an official altitude OF 3o,3oo
feet, and later increased in second
fight to 81 900 feet. 1t also broke
French pilot who was credited with
an official record Of 33,137 feet
Major Schroeder's first altitude rec
ord was made at Dayton September
1s, 1918, when he few a Bristol fight
ing machine to an altitude Of 2S,9Oo
feet.
sCHROEDER'S STORY.
At the time of the accident Major
Schroeder himself said
"I was thinking of nothing but that
I wanted to attain a height OF 10000
feet, when suddenly the oxygen stop
ped flowing. Then. all at once, II
seemed as though terrible explosion
took place within my head. My eyes
hurt and / could not open them. l.
realized / was falling.
"I guess / pulled hard on the stick,
for I knew l must straighten out for
a glide. The plane seemed to ride
easy. I opened my eyes, but could see
nothing Of the ground. l closed my
ewes tightly and again opened them,
seeing that was over Wilbur Wright
field, close to the hangers. ] couldn't
land there.
"I tilted my machine for a climb.
intended to make sure of a good alti-
tude and then jump for 1t with. my
parachute. But at that instant NC
Cook field came into view. I guess
became an automaton and came down
frh