Evening star., 1925-09-12
BY COMMANDER JOHN RODGERS,
L. S. N, Commander seaplane
PN-9 No. /.
By the Associated Press.

HONOLULU, September 12.-F'oV
the benefit of the interested public,
desire TO make at this time definite
statement of facts in regard to the
voyage of the PM No. / from San
Francisco to Nawiliwili. Other state
ments heretofore published by the
press are unauthorized by me.
The PN9 No. l and No. 3 left San
Francisco approximately at the same
time on August 81, No. leading
by about 20 minutes. The PN-9 No. 8
was not sighted by No. l after the de-
parture. Plane PN-9 No. l proceeded
as per instructions, sailing on a
straight course to Kahului.
The wind out of San Francisco was
very light from the northwest, grad
ually hauling to the north. The nav
igation was done entirely by dead
reckoning, no attention being paid to
radio bearings. We flew between 200
and 400 feet below the clouds during
the night, the sky being thickly over
cast and all destroyers were picked up
as expected at a distance easily Yisi-
BILE from the PN-9, while at the same
time the plane was easily visible from
the destroyers.
Engine Worked Perfectly.
The engine worked perfectly and
there We're no signs of leaks or any
other trouble. The wind changed to
northeast as expected about 500 miles
from San Francisco, but was much
lighter than had been hoped for. In
the morning it became evident that
the gasoline supply was running short
and it would be doubtful if we could
reach kahului, due to the fact that
expected favorable winds were not en-
rnTJntarn6 1aI
that our gasoline supply would carry
US about midway between the Aroos-
took and the Tangier, respectively, the
next to the last and the last station
ship. | therefore decided to land at
Aroostook, which is a fully equipped
airplane tender.
We still had plenty of gasoline to
land, refuel and take off again for
Honolulu. This was in accordance
Eith the pre- arranged plans to meet
the situation with which we were
agreed on approaching the Aroostook.
We received radio bearings from
her. indicating that we were south
of her and that on reaching a point
where I thought she should be visible
and not being able to see her, we
changed our course TO approach on
these bearings. 1t became evident
that she would not be found on this
course. l started to write a message
which would give her some clue to
our whereabouts, but just then the
gasoline gave out. Both engines
were cut out simultaneously and we
started to glide from about 500 feet.
Made Beautiful Landing.
Lieut.. Conneil, who had the con-
facts, made a beautiful landing IN
ha hnt OF hai
dead, having no power. Due to total
expenditure of gasoline we could not
use radio and We're therefore out of
communication at twilight. l deter
mined our position to be so miles
north Of the Aroostook's station. We
rugged a radio antenna on the plane
and received without much difficulty
everything that was in the air. We
sailed before the wind, endeavoring
to work the plane in toward the
Hawaiian Islands, hoping to make
is. an average of 2 miles an hour,
the plane appeared to be
making much better speed.
We cut the fabric from the lower
wing and rugged a foresail Weather
conditions were moderate, although
during the afternoon the seas were
high The plane at all times behaved
very well. After the first day we felt
sure that unless the weather changed
very much for the worse we could
make Oahu, or, falling that, we would
certainly be able to make Kauai. Our
only concern was a question of water
supply. We knew we could get along
without food, of which we had small
rations. We were depend
ing on a small water still for water.
Burned Wings for Still.
This supplied water, but the plane
still required gasoline as fuel. We
to get the still going on the
sixth day by burning wood from the
trailing edges of the lower wings. On
the seventh day we made canteen
and a half of water in about five
hours. The water in the radiators of
the engines was undrinkable, due to
being impregnated with patent solu-
ton to prevent leaks. We managed to
make our small original supply of wa
ter. about two canteens n man, stretch
over seven days On the eighth day
a heavy rain squall passed over us
and we caught about two gallons in
the fabric which had been cut from
the lower wings. This enabled us to
survive and consequently we were In
very good condition when we arrived
off NaWiliwili.
All during the trip we realized that
an extemporized radio sending set
would solve our difficulties in few
hours by giving our position to the
searching ships We tried rigging
one up, but were unable to make one
which worked a sufficient distance.
The re ser, as 1 have said, func-
toned perfectly all the time. We knew
Just what was going on about us.
Crossing the steamer lane from
Honolulu to the coast "a steamer cross
ed our bow about five miles ahead, in
the early morning. Due particularly
to the fact that the sun was low and
directly in the eyes of observers we
were not seen.
Saw Oahu Island.
On the 7th, Lieut.. Connell devised
which enabled us to crab
off the wind about Is degrees, and
we're of great assistance to US in get
ting across Kauai Channel. Without
them we could not have made Kauai.
We passed Oahu about 40 miles dis
lance. the island being clearly visible,
the afternoon of the 8th, and headed
and close-hauled for Kauai. We had
reached a noint about Is miles of
and We're trying to signal
that port when we were sighted by
the patroling submarine, 10 miles off
were taken in tow and
towed into the harbor, where the
whole island population was out to re-
ceive us.
The most exciting part of the whole
Journey was getting the plane anchor
ed safe in the harbor Of Nawiliwili
Finally we got it well secured in a
safe place and went ashore. We We're
taken care of by the good people of
The island who insisted on treating
Us as invalids, whereas, as a matter
9 tn