Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-06-19
FLYER BATTLES
THRU CYCLONE
NBORDER TRIP
Kelly Field Flyer Caught in
Storm En- Route to Ell
Pas0 in DH4-B.

piN AN toNlO, texas, June ID
Fighting for his life against a cyclonC
rainstorm which was closing i'm around
his plane and threatening TO destroy
II any minute, was one of the many
exciting experiences encountered by
Lieutenant n. j. Plumb during his
flight from Kelly Field to FL Paso in a
DH4-B plane.
Lieutenant Plumb, who is a member
Of the llth Aero Squadron at Kelly
Field, gives the following description
of his experiences:
with Chauf. Hoffman as a passen
ger, ! left Kelly Field on ferry
flight TO FL Paso. Flying a straight
air line 10 Sanderson nothing event
full happened at first. outside of dodg-
ing a number of light transforms in
Real and Edwards Counties.
AT point approximately 80 miles
north Of Del Rio, in Val Verde County
j noticed steady increase in the tenn
perature of the motor, with no evi-
dence of loss of water This was most
alarming, as the ground over which we
were flying was hopeless for land
ing. For this reason | headed south,
throttled so as just TO retain flying
speed. and pick up Del Rio on the Rio
Grande. Upon landing and investi-
eating, il was found that the radiator
was full of water, but the wire con
trolling the shutters had broken. With
this repaired and with a new supply OF
gas and oil We again started, intending
TO land at Maria.
ION the course half way between
Del Rio and SanderSon we encounter
ed a severe storm, rain concentration
at 5000 feet, falling IN great quantity
with considerable display of lightning.
The sky denoted great storm sweep
ing down from the northwest When
j encountered the first leg Of the
storm, il was moving southeast at the
rate of about 20 miles an hour. |
swung below this leg and pushed ON to
Maria.
About 80 miles from Sanderson
noticed across my course another leg
of the storm with a gap in il about
wide enough 10 drive two planes
through. wing TO wing. In this gap a
light drizzle was falling. through
which we passed into an arena and
scene which | venture TO say no one
has ever before witnessed.
Inside we were truly in the cy-
clonic center of the storm. where the
heavy black clouds hung reStlessly at
an altitude of about 200 feet
was driving among the mountains
at the north end Of the Santiago
mountain range, each of which ex-
ceeds 5000 feet in elevation.
noticed that all about Us the rain was
pouring down with tremendous dis
charge of lightning. The air currents
were circling, madly boiling. and the
big plane was tossed about like q ship
on heavy sea.
''As fortune would have il. the air
finally righted the plane and W.
emerged over deep valley where il
was possible To correct the position Of
the plane with a fall of 500 fee,
which brought US close 70 the rock
and brush below
AS the storm was closing in on II,
sides, and the cyclonic movement cf
the air was becoming mere fierCs
every moment, | decided 10 tGrn back
end fight my way through the gap
again. On passing between tro
mountains 10 reach the eastern ide Of
the circle. was horroT-stricGen 10
find that the storm aLi welded to-
gether al the gap ana appeared as
black as the rest.
"This hell hole was row closing up
Ike some mad serpent aro1nd u. 50
] SGT everything for oar final flight.
opening the motor full and placing
tie maohire near ,ts maximum climb.
Tie rainfall was 50 i,ns, that | coulG
nu' make out the oL: struts Of the
wigs. After five NJ mites We en:c"g-
az into a gray. hes " INST. which !
rercgnized rs the liFht clouds M the
eage OF tie storm. ~ landed NJ Del
RIO shortly sfter. T.. next day, af
ter replacing a lost ailcron, we con
ti'ued to RI Iaso."
o Q