The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-09-04
Beck In America

Inc American RounQ-Cne-W
fight was started March II, from
Glover Field, Santa Monica, CAL, the
squadron being made up of four
planes as follows: Seattle, flag plane,
with Major Fred L. Martin as pilot,
and Sergeant Alva Harvey as mechani-
clan; Chicago, Lieutenant Lowell H.
Smith, pilot, and Leslie P. Arnold, me-
chanician; Boston, Lieutenant Leigh
Wade, pilot; Sergeant A. M. Ogden,
mechanician; New Orleans, Lieuten-
ant John Harding, Jr., mechanician.
On the first day the squadron hop
ped to Sacramento, covering $40 miles
Of the journey which was estimated
between $4,000 and 10000 miles. The
second leg of the journey was 800
miles to Seattle, where the flyers ar
rived March 20 after stops at Eugene,
Ore, and Vancouver, Wash. They
were DELAYED at Seattle by bad
weather, and in making minor repairs
to the planes until April 6, when they
hoped to Prince Rupert, B. c., $50
miles, arriving the same DAY. 1t was
at this point that the first accident
occurred to Major Martins plane; the
Seattle being damaged in landing.
April 10 the air cruisers did 800
miles to Sitka, Alaska, where unfav-
orable weather delayed them three
days, after which they again took
the air and went 61O miles to Seward.
On that stretch they encountered their
first snow storm, but they resumed
their trip April Is for the 450-mile
fight to Chignik, which proved to be
the last of the trip for Major Martin
with his companions. 1t was during
that flight he was forced down near
Cape Igvak by the defective crank
shaft.
Lieutenants Smith, Wade and Nelson
flew from Chignik to Dutch Harbor,
400 miles April 10 and remained there
until May 8, when they were directed
to proceed without Major Martin. On
that day the three remaining planes
covered $50 miles, which brought them
to Atka Island. After delay Of six
days they hoped $50 miles on May
9 to Attu Island, the farthest west
bit of land belonging to the North
American continent.
Another delay of seven days was oc-
casioned by unfavorable weather but
the birdmen got away for the fight
across the Pacific on May 16 and al
though they encountered rain, snow
and fog for nearly half the distance
they arrived safely in Kashiwabara
Bay, Paramsshiru Island, Japan, thus
completing the first flight across that
ocean.
Hopping off from Paramashiru, May
10 they flew 500 miles to Yetorofu,
and three days later 354 miles brought
them to Minato on the main island
of Japan. Good weather at this point
impelled the aviators to go on and
second fight on May % took them
$50 miles to Kasmumigaura, the air
base for Toxic. Here the aviators re-
NAMED week overhauling their ma
chimes. During the time series OF
festivals in their honor was held in
Toxic.
Resuming on June 1 the squadron
winged its way $50 miles to Kushi-
moto and the next day went another
$50 miles to Kagoshima, the last stop
in Japan. The aviators thus COM
pleted the first fight over the Empire
Ol nippon ever Indue ny OHAtSu 0IoeSS
Army men.
Lieutenant Smith, who had been
acting commander since the elimina-
tion of Major Martin, was formally
appointed commander June 3 and the
next day had his first bit of com
mander's luck" which had followed
Major Martin from the outset. Leav-
ing Kagoshima, June Lieutenant
Smiths plane developed engine trouble
and refused to ascend. He directed
Lieutenants Wade and Nelson to make
the hop of 610 miles across the China
Sea to Shanghai and he followed the
next day, covering the distance in
one hour and Is minutes less than his
companions required. A stretch of
555 miles to Annoy was covered June
z and the next day they flew 300 miles
to Hongkong.
After a days rest in Hongkong the
three planes made 500 miles June 10,
bringing them to Haipong and the
next day flight of 800 miles landed
them at Tourane. Here Commander
Smith experienced more engine trouble
and delay of five days was necessi-
tated while a new engine was in
stalled in his machine.