The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-09-08
DOOLITTLE IS OFF
ON LONG FLIGHT
Daring Airman Left Jacksonville
Monday For Coast to Coast
Flight

Jacksonville, Sept. 4.-Lieut. j. ii
Doolittle, army airman, took his DE-
Haviland plane into the air at Pab!e
Beach near here, at 1908 p. m. anc
sailed awoy for his transcon.lnenta
fight. Before nightfall tomorrow
he expects to touch the other side OF
the continent at San Diego, Calf.
A record breaking holiday crowo
cheered the intrepid flier as he hop
ped off. Troops paced off an area Of
the hard surfaced beach, while within
the circle, army officers, friends OF
the aviator and newspaper me1
shouted we'll wishes. Sending hin
off too were Lieutenants Uustone
and Parnold from the air station al
Montgomery, Ala, who came here tc
give the pathfnding fiier their mora
aid.
Lieutenant Doolittle went we'll IN
to the air, clearing easily the incom
ing breakers Of the surf, turned west
ward and pushed the nose of the ma
chine for Tallahassee, the state cap
ital. The drone of his giant motors
was soon lost to the crowd as he dis
appeared into the night. He expect,
ed to pass over the slumbering capl'
tai city two hours later, thence tc
pick up the lights of Mobile whlis
skirting the gulf, probably 50 miles
short of the city.
AS he continues the plane Will nead
no Canal street in New Orleans which
place ne expects to reach within five
hours.
From the Crescent city he will fly
direct through Sabine, Texas, to San
Antonio, where shortly after day
break he plans to make the only stop
of his transcontinental journey. The
schedule calls for a 50 minute stop
at San Anonio, where the machine
will be doctored and the fuel tanks
replenished and where the aviator
will be greeted by his wife and two
babies.
From San Antonio the flier will hop
off from the flight across the desert
expanse of Arizona, New Mexico and
the extremity of California.
Lieutenant Doolittle's take off here
tonight was without mishap, such as
marked his previous trial. Last month
the fier came here in eight hours
from San Antonio and planned to
leave Sunday night. His plane did not
lift promptly, raced to the surf,
struck wave and turned over on It's
back. The lieutenant was unhurt.
The wrecked plane was dissembled
and shipped back to San Antonio,
where it was repaired for tonight's
trial.
Lieutenant Doolittle is flying on
his own responsibility in so far as de-
fraying his personal expenses. He
has the sanction of the government,
however, in his attempt to prove the
feasibility of quick transcontinental
movement Of aircraft.
Two fellow aviators have tried the
feat before him. Of them, Lieuten-
ant W. D. Coney of Brunswick, Ga,
partly succeeded ard gave his life
in attempting to do it thoroughly
Lieutenant Pearson, who left from
Ell Paso, Texas, for Jacksonville fol
the transcontinental trial, was forced
down in the desert waste Of the Big
End district of Texas and was lost tc
the outside world for several days
Lieutenant Doolittle, who IS % year:
of age, has served FIVE years in the
army service. His DeHaviland four
plane, constructed under his persona
supervision, carries 285 gallons o1
gas, or enough for 13 1-2 hours il
the air. It's fusilage on either side
bears the insignia of the Eighteenth
aero squadron, two pairs Of dice, ors
showing a natural seven" and ths
other Crap"
The air fight is 1900 miles. Lieu
tenant Doolit:ie planned not to push
his engine but to move along at I
safe speed.
Jacksonville, Fla, Sept. Lieu
tenant Doolittle passed over Lake
City, Fla, approximately so miles or
his way at 1856, according to teie
Dbcne a aSv;cec He hsS hoa,o -, tht