Evening star., 1924-09-13
WORLD FLYERS OFF
TO DAYTON AFTER
TR|FL|NG ACCIDENT
Reports of Severe Rainstorm
on Route Also Delays Leav-
ing Boiling Field.
START ON FINAL STAGE
OF JOURNEY AT 1880 Am.
Smith Expresses Appreciation of
Washington Welcome as
Planes Take Air.

After a delay Of half an hour, due
to broken tail skid fitting on the
flag plane Chicago which threatened
for time to hold the world flyers
in Washington another day, the six
airmen left the ground at Boiling
Field at 10:49 o'clock today for 400
mile flight to McCook Field, at Day
ton, Ohio.
The weather between here and Day
ton also for a time threatened to
prevent the flyers from getting under
way. When Lieut.. Lowell H. Smith
and his comrades arrived on the field
at $50 o'clock. it was raining hard
in Moundsville. the midway point be-
tween here and Dayton on the model
airway, and the clouds were no higher
than 1000 feet.
Report Clearer Weather.
Lieut.. Smith decided to wait for
later reports, which as they were re-
ceived, stated that conditions were
vile reported that it had stopped
raining and that the ceiling" was
getting higher every minute.
The pilots who had spent most of
the time since their arrival at the
field posing for camera men and
talking with old friends, as we'll as
meeting many persons who crowded
about them for the honor of shaking
their hands, climbed into their planes
and started the motors at 10 O'Clock.
Just before he went aboard, Lieut..
Smith said to the Stars representa-
tive: I'VE are very sorry to leave
Washington, but at the same time
we are anxious to push forward to
the goal. We have been signally
honored by the President of the
United States and all official Wash
ington. The population of the Dis
trict also gave US a hearty welcome
yesterday as we rode in the Defense
Day parade. We were greatly af-
fected and are grateful"
Attire of Flyers.
Lieut.. Smith removed his blouse and
put on that greasy suede jacket he has
worn ever since leaving Santa Monica
on March II. Lieut.. Leslie p. Arnold,
assistant pilot of the Chicago. wore a
light gray sweater under a khaki jumper
and sported a brand-new helmet. Lieut..
Wade's flying clothes consisted OF
greasy jumper, while Lieut. H. H. Og-
den wore a brand-new jumper and he'll
met. Lieut.. Eric Nelson wore no helmet
at all, but he and Harding had greasy
jumpers.
At 1905 o'clock Smith, with the
help of ground men, turned his plane
around and TAXED down to the north
end of the field. followed by the Bas-
ton II and the New Orleans. At the
farthest end of the field they turned
around and got into V-shaped po-
sition, the Chicago first. the New Or
leans to the left and the Boston IL
on the right. The propellers were
turning rapidly and the pilots were
ready to throw open the big Liberty
motors at 1915 O'Clock, when it was
discovered the tail of the Chicago
was resting on the ground and not
on the skid, which had given way.
Rushes to Hangar.
Lieut.. Arnold jumped out and climb
ed into nearby automobile, when
raced him down the field to the en-
gineering hangar. Presently ne re-
turned with several mechanics hang-
ing onto the machine and was fol-
lowed by a truck loaded with arr
plane supplies. A careful examina-
ton revealed a tail-skid mounting
had given way. Lieut.. Smith assured
himself that the plane could get off
the ground without damage to the
rudder and, after minor repairs, de-
cided to go ahead to Dayton, where
an entirely new mounting and skid
will be installed.
One-half hour after the accident
had been discovered Lieut.. Smith
gave the signal to go ahead. Wade
started his motor, followed by Smith
and Nelson, and after warming up
the engine for few minutes the
three planes moved forward. In
creasing their speed with every foot
of ground, the three pairs Of wheels
left the ground at 10:49 o'clock. The
planes, in perfect formation. contin-
ued straight ahead in flight until
over the steel plant. when they turned
westward, climbing all the while
until they were out Of sight.
Route of Flyers.
Just after they left the ground
Capt B. S. Wright, advance officer
for the world flyers. took off in
De Haviland observation plane for
Dayton His ship is much faster and
he should be at McCook Field before
the others. The route of the world
flyers will take them over Cumber-
land, Md; Uniontown, Pa; Wheeling,
w. Va; Columbus. Ohio, and Dayton,
where they should land about 5
o'clock this evening, eastern stand
ard time.
BY 8 o'clock this morning little
groups of people gathered on the
field and were enlarged later by the
arrival of many automobiles. BY the
time the flyers were ready to leave
several hundred persons were on the
side lines.
Brig. Gen. Mitchell. assistant chief
of the Army Air Service, accompanied
the flyers for a short distance in
an escort plane. A photographers
plane also went along.