Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-05-05
THRONG on HAND
To GREET HEROES:
ALL RECORDS FALL
Trip Of 2,403 Miles Is Made
in 20 Hours and 40 Min
utes in the Giant Army
MonopIane

SAN DIEGO, Cal, May S.-Lieu-
tenants John A MacReady and
Oakley Kelly. U. S. A., landed at
North Island air station, San Diego,
at 12:26:56 2-5 p. m. today, having
completed history's first nonstop
airplane flight from Atlantic to Pa
cific.,
The feat also was a new record
for the longest airplane flight.
The two aviators had been in the
air 26 hours 40 minutes, 42-5 sec-
onds between Mitchell field, New
York, and North island, San Diego.
The air distance between New
York and San Diego is approximate
ly 2,4O3 miles. The best previous
distance flight by an alrplane was
from San Diego to Indianapolis, by
Kelly and MacReady, distance Of
1900 miles.
The flight they completed this aft
ernoon probably will exceed in dis
lance 1850 miles, when the official
mileage is computed from their in
AS the monoplane came into sight
din of sirens cut loose with bedlam
from scores of factories in San
Diego, ships on the harbor and gov
eminent craft at the naval station.
Throngs to San Diego
airplanes are an accustomed sight
poured into the streets, shouting and
waving handlkerchiefs as the plane.
roared above.
Flyers Warmly Received
At the field another throng was
awaiting to watch the landing. Bust
less men were on hand with com
mittee of greeters to welcome the
two aviators, who were making his
tory.
While thousands cheered and
whistles and sirens blew a noisy
welcome, the big machine passed di-
rectly over the business district OF
San Diego and headed for North
island.
The big army biplanes, sent out
to meet the To, were left lin her
dust" as the record-making mono
plane swept past them at a rate
estimated to be close to 120 miles an
hour. At 1928 the To circled over
North island and prepared to land
Spectators who thronged the fly
ing field cheered Justify and waved
theoretically to the. sailing birdmen
above them.
The day was perfect for the finish
of the record,making flight, prac-
tically no wind blowing and the at
mosphere clear without a sign Of
fog.
The aviators were congratulated
by Captain Gill Erwin, Lieutenant
Virgil Hines and other army and
navy officers and civilians.
Lieutenants MacReady and Kelly,
continuous flight, are the same in
on a nonstop trans continental trip
from San Diego. November 4, Of
last year.
After winging their way east as
far as indianapolis and setting q
new nonstop record at that time, tho
aviators were forced down near In.
dianapolis with a leaky radiator.
Determined to Conquer
Their determination to conquer
space. however, was undaunted and
the two aviators tanned new de-
vices and equipment which would
assure them success on their next
attempt.
Hopping off from Roosevelt field
yesterday the To pilots headed west
on venture as treacherous as any
voyage of an explorer of the fif-
teenth century. The huge mono
plane slowly lifted from the ground
and heavily laden with large stores
of gasoline for the long journey.
in the clouds. Smooth
sailing marked the first leg of the
journey and the airmen were in
high spirits as they passed Dayton,
Ohio, dropping u note to army Of
1cers at Wilbur Wright and Nc
Cook fields, saying all was well and
today in San Diego.
AS the clouds of night gathered
about the two heavily coated fig
ures, seated stiffy in the cockpit of
the roaring monster, the aviators
utilized their powerful searchlight
and by the CLEAN of white in the
inky blackness their progress was
traced as they raced over city after
city in the midwest The trip was
unevcntful as far as Kansas City,
and there the backened clouds
poured forth rain and the Explorers
of the air wandered slightly from
their chosen course. Reports indi-
Gated they followed the Mississippi
river north a short distance, then
discovered their mistake and again
headed southwest.
Cross Rocky Mountains
AS they sailed through the night
the stacatto of their motor reused
sleepers in farm houses and towns
in Kansas and the Panhandle of
Texas, and as dawn broke on the
horizon the gallant flyers still speed
ng swiftly and safely westward,
we're sighted against the blue-black
clouds over Tucumcari, N. M.
The test of their strength and
heart came as they faced the peaks
Of the Rocky Mountains, shooting
off rays of the rising sun as warn
ng of its dangers. Here the fly
ers were froced to soar higher and
higher to clear the mountain tops
which pierced the clouds But by
his time the long overland trip had (
steadily drained the gasoline tank,
md the ascent was only a slight
H~1in or II" F~Tiy monopIane.
tluIn the heights of the Rockies.
he flyers glided gently down to the
Pacific coast, Il friendly wind aiding
he last dash &c the enochal journey
Fhlch brought San DIEGO wit'Hn