Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-07-13
Trans--P acific Army
tcontinued from Page onel

sons OF Major H. B. Clagett, chief
OF the ninth corps air service, and
Lieutenant Allan P. Anody an Of
ficer OF the U. S. S. Mississippi, who
arrived with the city officials.
The fliers were surrounded by a
small army OF newspaper, camera
men and reporters but q few minutes
before the arrival OF the reception
committee and they responded will
ingly to rapid fire flow OF ques-
tions and demands for picture poses
Their flight? What did 1t mean
to them?
Eve regard the flight to Honolulu
as one OF the greatest featS OF
navigation" said Lieut. Maitland
Never before has plane been able
tc cross such a large expanse OF
water and hit accurately such q
small point OF land without the aid
of guiding ships"
yes, added Lieutenant Hegen-
berger, the navigator of the army's
giant Fokker, had we deviated three
land a half degrees from our course
We would have missed the islands
lentirely. We did not sWerve any
from our intended course, thanks to
the modern scientific instruments OF
navigation
That and the demonstration OF
| the fighting planes widened zone OF
! operation. Lieutenant Maitland said
THAT their flight showed clearly the
possibility Of a bombing plane cruiS-
ing 1000 miles from its base with
10000 pounds of explosives to drop
on enemy ships - or Tor the rapid
transferring OF staff officers from
lone scene of war to another.
Lieutenants Maitland and Hegen-
berger met their wives in the pier
At the foot OF the gangway the two
'proudeSt women in the country"
received the first embraces as their
beWreathed husbands stepped ashore.
Lieut.. Maitland was also met by
his father and mother, Mr.. and Mrs.
| j. w. Maitland of Burlingame, Calf,
and by his brother and sister, -in-laW
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Maitland OF
i Milwaukee.
The parade OF automobiles that
escorted the fliers up Market street
from the Ferry building to the city
hall proceeded between banks or
faces. The sidewalks were packed
the entire distance and from the
| windows of the office buildings hung
thousands OF men and women, cheer
ing, waving or flinging streamers and
confetti on the two young DaShruI,
smiling Ieutenants.
AS the fliers alighted from their
automobile at the city hall and
started to enter the building the
hands of two blind women were OUT
stretched toward them. Mayor
Rolph guided the lieutenants toward
the women saying, II want you to
inject two our blind friends" He
then introduced the fliers to the
women M
1t was many minutes before the
crowd ceased cheering in the rotunda
OF the city hall where the reception
stand was erected, when the city's
greetings were extended by Mayor
Rolph and Supervisor Warren Shan
non. N
The army expressed it's pride OF
the fliers and appreciation for the
city's welcome through Major H. B.
Clagett.
i The navy, through Rear Admiral
Thomas Washington, con1mandant OF
the twelfth naval district, and
through Lieut.. Snody, assured every
one that it hadaa pride in the flierS
equal to that of the army. Lieut..
Snody was with Commander Rodgers
on his Inflated San francisco Homo =
lulu flight attempt in 1925 and his
words on this occasion were ''if
ECommander Rodgers were here he
would agree with me that this feat
was well DONE" The tribute to the
army was GREETED by thunderous ap-
plause. i:
The city presented each tlier with
a gold medal. On one side OF these
was the seal of the city and county
and engraved on the opposite side
were these words: ITO the intrepid
pilot Cor navigator) Lieutenant Lester
! T. Maitland Cor Lieutenant Albert
Hegenbergerl for the first nonstop
flight from the San Francisco bay
to Hawaii
This is The happiest day OF my
life" said Lieutenant Maitland, re-
spending in accepting the gift.
! "And this is the happiest day OF my
life" echoed Lieut.. Hegenberger in
accepting his medal, "only l repeat
what Lieutenant Maitland said in
Hawaii, "if we flew like we talk
we never would have gotten there"
Ernest L. Smith, civilian tlier who
could not take of for Honolulu the
day the army men left the Oakland
airport because OF a broken wind
shield, was introduced to the crowd
and speaking "unofficially' for the
"other boys" congratulated the lieu
tenants.
Mrs. Maitland and Mrs. Hegen-
berger declined to project themselves
into the foreground OF the picture.
They did not join the parade and at
the city hall they sat with the audi
ence instead of up On the reception
stand Both said that they wanted
their husbands to be gwen their full
share of attention and that they
considered it fitting to remain in
the background.
The San Francisco chamber OF
commerce feted the tliers at lunch
icon.
Then Oakland claimed them with
no less enthusiasm than San Fran