Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-22
L. S. Airmen
To Circle Globe

- Dayton. u, NOV. Il IA. I.J-SOIIle
time in the early summer of 1924,
four or possibly six army airplanes
will hop off from Boiling Field,
the west Before their pilots again
glimpse the nations capital, they
will have travelled 10000 miles, cross
ed two oceans and almost a score OF
countries and encircled the globe in
the air for the first time in the
worlds history.
Such is the picture in the minds
of officials at McCook Field here,
who, under the direction of Army
Air Service headqual ters at Wash
inSton. are making plans for the
first round the world aerial cruise
Tentatively, route has been laid
out and two air officers are going
over it with the idea of making
recommendations for necessary
changes and completing other prep
arations. Lieut.. G. L. Crumrine, of
the local field, now is in LELAND
heading eastward, while an officer of
the Philippines aerial forces is work.
ing in the opposite direction. They
will meet in Euroe and after COM
pairing data, return to their home
stations.
The flight, designed primarily to
demonstrate the ability of planes to
operate away from their regular sup
ply bases during war times. will be
made in comparatively short jumps.
The distance between most of the
stations will be 500 miles or less, the
longest hop being approximately $50
miles.
AS laid out at present, the route
to be taken would not neccssitate
sustained Hirht
After crossing the country from the
capitol to Seattle, Washington, the
squadron would head northward
through Canada and after touching
at Wrangel. Alaska, would hop TO
the Aleutian Islands and then to the
Japanese archipelago where several
stops would be made. The mainland
of Asia would be reached at Shang-
hal, China.
For the trip across the Atlantic, al
ternate routes are available. One
itinerary calls for hops from Aber-
qeen, Scotland. to Farce Island, to
Iceland, to Greenland and to the
mainland of North America at
Frcderikdal- Hamilton, Inlet Canada
The other provides for the European
take-off at Dunmore Head, Ireland,
and the more direct course to New
foundland and thence to Quebec.
Through continental Asia and Eu-
rope the tentative itinerary would
carry the aviators to Shanghai.
China; Mandalay and Delhi. India:
Choribar and Bagdad, Persia; Da-
mascus, Syria; Aleppo and Con-
stantinople, Turkey; Angora, Asia
minor; Bucharest. Roumania; Bel
grade, Serbia: Budapest, Hungary:
Vienna. Austria; Munich and Strass-
bourg, Germany, and Paris and Lon
don.
The cruise must start either late in
June or early in July, officials here
belleve, because of the fact that in
crossing the Pacific and Atlantic. the
aviators must push far northward
where cold weather otherwise might
be encountered. No estimate of the
time required for the trip has been
made.
While most of the stations where
stops would be made under present
plans, could furnish little other than
fuel and food for the aviators.
preparations will be made for the
overcoming of motor or other
mechanical troubles. Probably every
third station will have a supply Of
spare parts of various kinds and
several spare engines will be sent to
points where it is deemed possible
Fhey may be needed.