Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03

air service pilot could receive has been
bestowed on them and they know too
well the seriousness Of the tremendous
proposition; know that some European
countries are drilling pilots for similar
undertakings It's to be race after
all.
MAI. FREDERICK L. MARTIN Of
Indiana is the commander. Lieut..
Leigh Wade, attached to Boiling Field
here and a native OF Michigan, Is the
supply officer. Lieut.. Lowell H. Smith
of "refueling in flight fame, a native
Of California, is the adjutant. Lieut..
Erik H. Nelson, of Swedish birth. is
engineering officer. All but Maj. Mar
tin are single.
The major collected his pilots around
him January in the Bachelors Club of
Langley Field and then and there
formed a brotherhood with unanimity
as the slogan. Since that date they
have been "in training for the flight.
They have learned more about meteor
oiogy than they ever knew before: have
learned to foretell the morrow by winds
and conditions Of the sky; and have
been drilled in navigation-the back
bone Of the whole fight-by a civilian
expert from McCook Field, Ohio, Brad
ley Jones.
The Navy, master at the art, has
devoted many days with the pilots in
this study and some time this week
Will fly them out over the Atlantic
ocean in two FIJI scouting planes
and let the Army pilots do the nayi-
eating.
The one Douglas world cruiser is
flown daily with pontoons and wheels
Interchangeable. In addition, regu-
lar courses in calisthenics are COW
cred daily with the object of getting
in prize-fighter condition.
A representative Of The Star Wis
tied the officers at Langley wednes-
day. He. found large room in the
Bachelors Club knee deep" in maps
and charts. The officers were at
| work mapping their courses for the
six divisions Of the fight. The black
boards were covered with figures.
Between now and the middle of Feb
ruary, when the pilots will depart for
Santa Monica, Calf, and take over
the world cruisers fresh from the
factory. the officers will be complet-
ing their maps for the journey.
From charts Of magnetic variation,
the compass, courses are being COM
puted and set down on maps cut in
strips of about six inches in width,
which can be rolled up. This is the
most important part of the whole
preparation, for without true courses
flying over water and unfamiliar land
would probably pile the expedition
up on the rocks.
Each pilot has prepared his own
maps, which have been checked
against the others. Although Maj.
Martin will lead loose formation of
the four planes. other members Of the
flight will not depend upon him solely
for guidance.
Fifty-f1ve landings are expected to
be made. One city in each division
has been designated "major base"
where supplies Of all kinds may be
obtained, and this base will feed"
occasion arise:
TAKING a Mercator projection map,
Maj. Martin detailed the route
as follows:
AT Seattle, Wash. we will substi-
tute pontoons for our landing wheels,
which will add about 500 pounds of
weight to the ship and will allow only
seventeen pounds Of personal effects
each for the pilot and mechanic.
Thus we will be able to carry a tooth
brush and perhaps some paste.
Our first stop will be at Prince
Rupert, B. c., and from there we will
go to Sitka, Alaska, where a sub
base will be located. Seattle will be
the major base of this division and
will be In the charge of Lieut.. Clay
ton L. Bissell Of Washington.
From Sitka the Alaskan points to
be touched will be Cordova, Seward
and Chignik, and from there we will
fly to Akutan, Dutch Harbor, Macon,
Island of Atka and Chicagoff, Island
of Aftu in the Aleutian proup The