The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-03-06
U. S. FLYERS TO
CIRCLE WORLD
Trip Win Show Ease OF Comma
nicatiOn Between the
Continents.

Washington. - Secretary Of War
Weeks has formally approved the
project for a flight of four or five
army airplanes around the world next
spring and summer
This fight, the most ambitious I'M
dertaking of the army aiF service, is
intended to demonstrate the feasibil-
ity with which aerial communication
may be established between the vari-
GUS continents and to obtain data
concerning the operation OF present
type airplanes under varying climatic
conditions.
As now planned, the personnel for
TIE fight will consist of four commits
stoned officers and four enlisted men,
well qualified for long and arduous
flight. The selection of personnel is
now under consideration by Mai. Gen.
Mason NJ. Patrick chief of the air
service, and his associates.
Await Foreign Approval.
4 Until authority has been received
from all foreign governments whose
territory will be visited the exact
route of the flight will not be deter
mined. The route tentatively mapped
out follows:
Leave washington about the mid
die Of March and proceed to Seattle,
Depart from Seattle about April 1, fly
ing northward along the coast Of Can
ada and southern Alaska.
They will fly across the AIeutian
islands, down through the possessions
OF Japan, along the shores Of China.
French mdo-China, Siam and Burma,
across India, up the Persian gulf,
across Turkey and Europe to England,
thence north through the Farce islands
to Iceland, thence to Greenland and
southwark along the eastern shore Of
the continent to Cape Farewell, Green.
land, from which point a direct flight
will be made to Hamilton Inlet on the
Laborador coast, thence southwark
along the Canadian shore and up the
Sc. Lawrence river to Quebec and
Montreal, from which point the fight
will proceed to Washington, thus COM
pIetinR the circumference Of the globe
via the air.
This itinerary has been worked out
tentatively In the expectation that 1t
will enable the flyers to dodge the
rainy seasons in the United States
and india and insure fight over Ice
land ana Greenland during August
and September.
Pilots win Study Routes.
Existing airway facilities will be
followed In the United States, south
ern Japan and between India and
London. The intervening sections OF
the long route win be given further
study by experienced pilots, who VIII
proceed over the route prior to the
arrival of the flight.
A path-finding expedition Of two Of
Acefs has been in the field for some
fine, Lieut.. Clarence e. Crumrine Is
now In Greenland, Investigating facil-
ikses for aviation there. Lieut.. Cliff
ford 6. Mutt, now In the Philippines,
VIII visit Japan to make preliminary
ARRANGEMENTS as soon as the wishes
Of tie Tokyo government have been
fnade known to the State department.
Meanwhile, a detailed study Of the
route IS being made in the office Of
General Patrick, the United States
coast guard Is obtaining data on ia
eilities between Seattle and Attn is
land In the Aleutian group, which is
The point Of departure Of the flight
from United States territory.
Special attention is being given to
weather conditions along the proposed
route with view to making avail
able every possible facility to the
army flyers.
Ths planes chosen for the flight are
Douglas world-cruisers, designed and
butt by the Douglas Airplane COM
pany. Santa Monica, Cal. They VIII
be powered with Liberty motors. At
Seattle the planes win be equipped
with pontoons for water landings.
Present plans contemplate removing
che pontoons at Tokyo and using land
ing gear from that point on.