The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-09
Hundreds Seek Vantage !. Point To View 'Daugh-
 ter Of Stars

All Birmingham paid homage early
 Wednesday morning to the Shenandoah, the most prized possession of the navy air service.
 The 6SO-foot dirgible, first sighted over Leeds at .50 o'clock. and 10 min ,ites later, floated over Birmingham, re- sembling nothing 80 much as giant, silver torpedo, being slowly drawn through the air by some legerdermain. Majestically, ,--the air cruiser continued it's westward route, passing out of sight of Birmingham shortly before 50 o'clock.
 The mammoth .ariship, which passed over the city nearly 24 hours after its departure from its home port on an epoch-making coast-to-coast flight, was the first of its kind to be seen in Bir- mingham. And to those, who viewed the passage of the Daughter of the mountain, from the Birmingham busi- ness district or from their. homes, the sight was unusual. For without per ceptable effort, the dirgible, more than a block and one-half long with beam of 7S feet, seemed to glide through the air slowly, the reflection of the morn l. the huge craft regal appearance.
 The Shenandoah's visit to the city was officially received by seven air planes of the 106th air squadron of the Alabama National Guard at Roberts field, which escorted the ship from we'll beyond the eastern city limits to the Warrior river, 25 miles west.
 Scout On Watch nN& R osn Imnr scout plane, pilOted by K. B. Brabston, left the fielC and hoyered high over the city, ready to signal the field and watching citizens of the Shenandoah's approach. Shortly before z, the flut- tering pennant, denoting that the Shen andOah was near at had, was seen from one of the wing struts of the scout plane and the official convoy took the air, meeting the dirgible at 6:55 o'clock. The planes flew in regular formation, one detachment being in command of Major ". V. M. Robertson, commander of Roberts field, and the second in com mand of Captain Asa N. Duncan. regu- lar army instructor stationed at the field The other planes were .piloted by Captain Sumpter Smith, Lieut.. D. W. Bullock, Lieut.. James B. Kirkham. and Lieut.. Phil G. Bush, in addition | to Lieut.. BrabstOn in the scout plane.
 As passengers the planes carried wives of three of the pilots, Sergt. | Pthiel, of the photographic section of the squadron, and newspaper men.
 Sighted at 7:1O O'clock
 The Shenandoah first was sighted by about z 10 o'clock when it crossed the eastern city line, accom- panied by the convoy. At this time the | ship was flying at about 40 miles per | hour-only two of the five propellors being used-and at an elevation of ap- 1900 feet, with the planes nearly 1000 feet higher and flying ap- | % miles an hour faster.
 As a compliment to the city and in | response to a waved greeting by Gap | tain Duncan, the Shenandoah descend | ed several hundred feet, that it might be | seen in more detail by the residents of the city.
 From a distance of less than 1O0-feet to The Age-Herald reporter, who was | the passenger in Captain Duncan's | plane, the Shenandoah was awe-inspir- ing. Its huge size was in great con- trast to the tiny plane, although but little more of the actual ship could be seen than from he ground.
 The only interesting feature, hidden from those on the ground, was the Ob- platform on top. Situated di- rectly above the main control cabin, the | tiny platform could be seen where Ob- of the sun are made, when the Shenandoah is above the clouds and | must be navigated by compass.
 The officers and crew in the control cabin and the five gondolas, which carry the massive motors, could at times be seen through the glass windows. One feat which was clearly seen was the size of the propellors, three of which were running very slowly. These ap- Deared to be about twice as large as lirplane propellors. #4..
 While passing over the city, the con. 'oy circled the ship twice and in addi- ion two of the pilots ''stunted' for nearly fifteen minutes.
 Mists Mar View
 From the street and from the convoy, he Shenandoah appeared to be moving cry slowly, yet it was in plain sight rom the streets, for only slightly more han 15 minutes. The mountain mists, which had been cleared away by the ising sun made for poor visibility and t [ 80 o'clock the ship passed from ight
 The convoy accompanied the Shen- ndoah to the Warrior river and return