The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-03
STAR AV|AT ORS. FRENCH EXECUTIVE DIFFER VI DELY TOURS COUNTRY IN
 IN PERSONALITY NEW PRIVATE JAR
Kelly Has !mpuIsive Mature, While MacReady Is Staid
 And Quiet

DAYTON. June 2.-Lieuts. Oakley Kelley and John A. MacReady, regarded as the countrys pre- mier airmen since they bettered the worlds endurance record and made the first successful nonstop trans continental flight, owe their success as a flying team as much to their contrasting personalities Is to their admitted superiority as pilots, in the opinion of aViators at McCook field here, the home station of the men. predict that the ability Of the two men to work together in trying sit nations will bring further aerial honors to the United States army.
 Kelley's enthusiastic and impul- sive nature gives the combination the necessary punch" while Mac Ready, more staid and quiet. fur nishes the balance which Is a neces- sary element in carrying through many difficult situations. according to the belief of those who have ob- served the men working and flying together during the past two years. ovcrtalses Ship.
 A striking illustration of the di- vergent characteristics of the two flyers is given by Lieut.. Harold R. Harris who. In a speedy plane, over took the pair as they passed over Dayton in their recent transconti- mental flight. Harris. getting a late take of, pursued the big ship for sonA miles before overriding 1t. As he came abreast, he says, the man in the cockpit carelessly threw up an arm. That's MacReady," liar ris says he decided as he observed the action. For moment the second passenger of the T-2 did not appear. Then from the depths of the fuselage a bundle of blankets suddenly ap- peared and was waved frantically in the wind. That was easy" said Harris. q knew it. was Kelley, with out giving second glance"
 Kelley Worked Out Plan.
 Credit for the working out of the transcontinental flight plan Is given almost entirely tc Kelley by his brother aviators. As chief of main tenance' of planes and engines at the mammoth flying center, Kelley in the face of ridicule. opposition and state ments that the air service had no ship which had even chance of flying across the continent, has worked, talked and lived on the plans fer the coast to coast flight, during his two years at the field.
 For some time no plane appeared that seemed capable of carrying out Ktlley's plans. but finally T-2, Fokker ship originally designed as an eight passenger transport, was brought to McCook field. Kelley recognized the possibility of long distance flights in it, officers say, and he immediately started work. With rebuilt fuselage and new Liberty engine Kelley and MacReady started for the coast last fall only to be forced down at Indianapolis through a mishap. Undaunted Kelley, aided by Lieut.. E. W. Dykeman, an in anprinpprinR ment of the field, continued his work on the plane and after further i'm provements had been made Kelley. in company with MacReady. realized the ambition he has held for almost two years.
 Neither Has Had Accident. 1 McCook field aViators say that one of the best testimonials to the flying ability of Kelley and MacReady, IS the fact that neither has had seri- ous mishap during more than five years of air service. Both have been i fliers since 1917.
 l Both Kelley and Macfseady origi- nally were Californians and both re-
 ceived their training at Rockwen field at San Diego, kelley's family, however, now reside at Grove City, Pa.
 MacReady has had a picturesque career. Graduated from the Univer- sity of California, he was admitted to the bar and subsequently, became rancher, justice of the peace in small mining community, and early in the war entered the air serVice where he has remained ever since. He has earned a reputation as boxer in the service.
 Kelley, somewhat younger eh- tered the service after completing hls schooling