Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-09-17

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS JOIA 1SOO-
gers of the navy seaplane Pho, No. l,
issued his first official statement of the
attempt to span the Pacific in nom
stop flight from San Francisco to the
Hawaiian islands.
In an extemporary report, dedicated
to "the American people, Commander
Rodgers chronicled the experiences and
trials gone through by himself and
crew of four men since the plane took
off from the waters of San Francisco
bay, August 81.
BY COMMANDER JOHN RODGERS
lin command of navy seaplane PN-9,
No. IL
For the benefit of the interested pub
lie, l desire OF make at this time a
definite statement of facts in regard to
the voyage of the Pho, No. 1, from
San Francisco to Nawiliwili.
The PN-9, No. l and No. g. left
San Francisco approximately at the
same time on August 81. The Pho,
No. 3, was not sighted by No. 1 after
departure. Plane PN-9 No. 1, proceed
ed as per instructions, sailing on a
straight course to Kahului.
The navigation was done entirely by
dead reckoning, no attention being
paid to radio bearings.
The engines worked perfectly. In
the morning it became evident that
the gasoline supply was running short
and it would be doubtful If we could
reach Kahului. I therefore decided to
land at the Aroostook,
l started to write a message which
would give her some clue OF our where
abOuts but just then the gasoline gave
out. Both engines were cut out ST
multaneously and we started to glide
from about 800 feet.
Lieutenant Cornell, who had the
contacts, made a beautiful landing in
the heavy swells, both engines being
dead, having no power Due to total
expenditure of gasoline,s we could not
use radio and we're therefore out of
communication at twilight. / deter
mined our position to be fifty miles
north of the Aroostook's station.
We rugged a radio antennae on the
plane and received without much diff
f1culty everything that was in the air.
We sailed before the wind endeavor-
ing to work the plane in toward the
Hawaiian islands, hoping to make
Oahu. We made fifty miles a day..
We knew we could get along with
our food, of which we had small emer-
gency ratiors. We were depending on
small water still for water.
This supplied water, but the still re-
quired gasoline as fuel. We managed
to get the still going on the sixth day
by burning wood from the trailing
edges of the lower wings. On the sew
enth day we made a canteen and a
half of water in about five hours.
On the eighth day a heavy rain
squat 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.
All during the trip we realized that
an extemporized radio sending set
would sIlve our difficulties in few
hours by giving our position to the
search ships. We tried rigging one
up. bat were unable to make one which
worked a sufficient distance. The re-
ceiver, as / hrve said, functioned per-
fectly all thS time. We knew just
what was going on about us.
Crossing the steamer lane from
Honolulu to the coast steamer
crossed our bow about FIVE miles
ahead. In the early morning. Due
probably to the fact that the sun was
low and directly in the eyes of observ-
ers, we were not seen.
We passed Oahu at about 40 miles
distance, the island being clearly Wis
ible, the afternoon of the eighth, and
headed and close hauled for Kauai.
We had reached a point about Is miles
off Nawiliwili and were trying to sig
nal that port when we were sighted
by the patrolling submarine, ten miles
of Nawiliwili, were taken in tow and
towed into the harbor, where the
whole island greeted us.
The most exciting part of the whole
Journey was getting the plane an
chored safe in the harbor of Nawili-
will Finally we got 1t we'll secured
In a safe place and went ashore. We
were taken care Of by the good people
of the island, who insisted on treating
us as invalids, whereas, as a matter
Of fact we were in very good shape
and perfectly capable Of taking care
of ourselves.
We believe the Pho is great plane
in the air, capable of maintaining
itself on the surface of the water in
ordinary weather almost indefinitely
The morale of the crew was high
AS a matter of fact it appears from
what we heard after our arrival that
we were the least concerned people in
the world as TO our safety.
wish to say finally that as Ha.
waiian fight commander l was fully
supported by all units of the navy.