Evening star., 1924-08-04
LITTLE HOPE WADE
CAN FINISH FLIGHT
Out of 1t Unless Wrecked
Plane Is Repaired, Say
Officials Here.

Unless the wrecked airplane of
Lieut.. Wade, Army flyer, can be re-
paired 1t Reykjavik, he is definitely
out of the world flight, it was said
today at the War Department.
Spare parts are available at Rey-
kjavik and repairs can be made there
unless the Boston was completely
smashed. Army officers were not op-
timistic on this score, however, and
held out little hope that the united
squadron could fly home.
One possibility still discussed was
that a naval plane might be furnished
to replace the wrecked craft.
May Not Send Substitute.
1t was indicated that consideration
of plan to send a new craft to re-
place the Boston would not be pur-
sued because it was found to be i'm
practicable.
On arrival of the Richmond at
Reyk javik, unless Lieut.. Wade's ship
is in better condition than reports
have indicated, he will be instructed
to continue to the United States on
aboard in midocean.
Army Air Service officials received
wireless reports from the Navy
patrol force that the Richmond had
recovered the wrecked Boston and
that there still was some hope that
it might be salvaged. If not too
badly smashed, facilities aboard the
cruiser are available for repair
work.
The advices gave no details and
did not make it clear whether they
were forwarded before press dis
patches telling Of the abandonment
of the craft.
One Afrship Accessible.
There Is one airship in easy access
capable of taking the place of the
wrecked Boston. 1t is Douglas
machine now at Langley Field and is
similar to the one in which Maj.
Martin, first commander of the flight,
flew to Alaska on the first part OF
the expedition.
Weather conditions, possible ways
in which to expedite the delivery Of
considerations first must be taken
into account. Delay to the other
members of the squadron also must
be borne in mind.
Army and Navy officers expressed
keen disappointment that Lieut..
Wade's machine had been put out of
commission with his goal of complet-
ing the flight almost in sight.
Rear Admiral Magruder, command
ing the cruiser squadron protecting
the travel lane, has authority, Navy
Department officials said today, to
turn over to Lieut.. Leigh Wade one
of the special cruiser planes to re-
place the Boston, if this plan is found
feasible.
Cruiser Planes Powers.
The cruiser plane, carried as regu-
lar equipment by the Richmond class,
is capable of six hours continuous
flight, at from rs to 80 miles an hour,
giving it ample radius, according to
naval experts, to enable the Ameri-
can flyer to complete the trip. The
plane is a two-seater and is not es.
sentially different in operation from
that which carried Lieut.. Wade
10 900 miles before his mishap.
Lieut. Wade before the flight served
as engineer officer at Boiling Field,
D. c., and was one of the pilots chos-
en- to represent the Army in the
bombing maneuvers which resulted in
the sinking of the three old German
warcraft off the Virginia Capes last
Summer. He has flown all types of
airplanes, American, British, French,
Italian and German. acting in the ca
pacity as test pilot at McCook Field,
DAYTON, Ohio. He has held the alti-
tude record for the Martin bomber
type for more than year.
Staff Sergt. Henry H. Ogden. his
mechanic, is the son of E. B. Ogden
of woodville, Miss. He is % years
old and is regarded as one of the
most expert motor engineers in the
enlisted ranks of the Army Air Serv-
ioe. He enlisted at the aviation re-
mir depot at Montgomery, Ala, and
tsn, Tex, and with the 57th Service
squadron, Selfridge Field. Mount
Clemens, Mich.
4 s-s.as