Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-19
Aerial torpedo just striking the
water and the torpedoplane from which
1t was launched

around in the water, each waiting for the
other to announce Its readiness to get into
the air When the word came finally they got
into a line a considerable distance apart
and gathered speed, the spray dashing higher
and higher as the rate increased When the
speed got up to seventy knots the seapanes
left the water, rising slowly into the air,
the great boat, which now served as the
cockpit for the crew, sending down a heavy
drip, drip drip.
Tho dull grind of the motors continued
as the seaplanes of the F5-L type, which
were to do the bombing, fell into line one
after the other, soaring along majestically.
The NC flying boats went off by themselves
far out over the water
Preparing for the Hop While
Giant Planes Get Altitude
1.-THE F5-L's are going to bomb from 1000
feet" said Commander Griffin, land 1t will
take twenty minutes or so for them to gain
their altitude. We'd better get into our
pigeon down here and be ready to get after
them"
While the heavy flying boats were gain
ing their altitude, slowly circling and climb
ing. the mechanicians were warming up the
motor, the propeller swinging rapidly, send
ing back so swift breeze that Commander
Griffin and I had to brace ourselves against
1t as we climbed into the cockpIts. The
straps adjusted around our waists, the
Vought ambled down across the flying field
and took off in the air over the James River.
By this time the flying boats were far to
the left, coming toward the target Com.
mander Griffin sent the Vought higher and
higher by means Of series of sharp turns
which tilted the airplane almost on its side.
First 500, then 1000, then 1000 and on UP
to 5,000--so the little dial showed--and from
that altitude we were to watch the bombing
below, the bumbers flying at 1000 feet,
1t required lot of jockeying around to
keep In place, for the speed Of the Vought Is
much greater than that of the heavy sea-
planes loaded with the bombs. Up down and
around we went, simply killing time until
the bombers could get over the target, which
could be seen plainly outlined by the bouys
below.
Presently they came along. We were
directly above The flying boats seemed
much closer than 1000 feet. It seemed
almost as though 1t would be possible to
reach over the side and touch one of them
This Illusion. am sure, is caused by the
relative appearance of objects on the ground
below.
The first seapane neared the target. Out
4toii uHutT sHot u DOLlD, u Huge DlaCk OBJ
ject, with tail to 1t, constructed of cement
for the practice work. All the way down
watched the thing until II splashed in the
water below
Close behind came the second seaplane,
and 1t, too, dropped bomb. Behind that
came the third. Splash! Splash! In the
water.
This continued Until each of the seaplanes
In turn had dropped total Of thirty bombs.
The hits were being observed from below by
system Of triangulation. One observer in
bomb-proof shelter charted the hit from
one angle, while a second charted 1t from
another. When their reports were turned
in to the officer in charge they were cross
checked and the location definitely fixed on
the general chart.
On the ground afterward I learned that
one Of the teams had made a score Of "a
per cent, one a score Of 50 per cent and
the third a score Of So per cent. That this
Is typical is evident from the scores res
corded for two average weeks. thos- ended