Evening star., 1927-05-31
FLYER DECORATED
BY BRITISH RULER
At ROYAL PALACE
King Gives Air Force Cross to
Lindbergh, Then Chats
About Flight.
AVIATOR HAS LONG TALK
WITH PRINCE OF WALES
Will Fly to Paris Thursday and
Sail for Home Saturday
Aboard Destroyer.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 31.-A young man
with keen eyes and a winning smile
called at Buckingham Palace today
and told King George how it feels to
fly over the Atlantic, all alone. from
New York to Paris.
The King received his visitor cor.
daily and before many minutes had
passed decorated him with the Air
Force Cross, to add to the French
Legion Of Honor and the Belgian in
sigma of knight of the Order of Leo
pold. which Capt. Lindbergh already
wears.
The honor conferred by the British
sovereign seemed to stump the hero.
He flushed and for a second hestated
as to what he should say next, but an
other handshake from the King soon
put him at his ease.
Then they sat down. and Lindv told
the King how it was done, talking in
a most natural and enthusiastic man
ner. The King was enthusia site, too.
George V doesn't care much for fly
ng himself-in fact, he has never been
in the air-but he is sportsman, and
he is a hero worshper just like every
body else when he hears of a real
heroic deed.
Makes King ChuckIe.
His kindly eyes twinkled as the
American boy related some of his eX-
periences, and he was seemingly much
taken by Lindy's happy way of max
ing his points clear. The King chuck
led time and again at his visitors live
ly. animated maner of relating certain
Incidents.
The flyer arrived at Buckingham
Palace a few minutes ahead of sched.
ue, coming from Downing street,
where he was received by Premier
Baldwin, to whom also he related some
of the most interesting details of his
flight and subsequent experiences. He
was presented to Mrs. Baldwin as
well as Miss Betty.
When, accompanied by Frederick
Sterling. counselor of the American
embassy. he arrived at the palace for
his visit to the King. he found an
enormous crowd waiting. His car.
however, passed into the courtyard al
most unnoticed owing to the fact that
so many motors were going through.
When, however, he alighted at the
privy purse door and the American
colors on the ;lauffeur's uniform
We're noticed, the spectators recognized
him. There was a cheer after cheer,
and the men even raised their hats,
while the women and children outside
the yard gates screamed themselves
hoarse as the hero disappeared into
the Kings household.
Baby Princess Present.
Several palace officials were assem-
gled i'm the vestibule to greet the Amer
lean as he entered. At this moment,
Capt. Lindbergh noticed baby in the
arms of a uniformed nurse. 1t was
Princess Elizabeth. daughter of the
Duke and Duchess of York. Nurse
knight had brought the baby down.
stairs to witness. the airman's arrival.
The reception at the entrance was
without formalitiex. Capt. Lindbergh
and Mr.. Sterling being met by Gen.
Trotter. one of the Kings aides, and
escorted through the corridor to the
waiting room and thence to the Kings
private room on the first floor.
Lindbergh was with the King Just
20 minutes. and it is understood he
did his share of the talking, although
his royal host showed much curios-
ity about some of his experiences and
asked numerous questions.
Only few minutes elapsed after
the audience began before the King
bestowed the Air Force Cross upon the
aviator. 1t was noticed that Lind.
bergh did not wear it when he left,
but carried 1t in it's case, much to the
disappointment Of the crowd Of pho.
tographers awaiting him.
Awarded for Courageous Acts.
The Air Force Cross was instituted
in 1918. 1t was designed for bestowal
upon officers and warrant officers of
the royal air force for acts of cour-
age or devotion to duty when flying,
although not in active operations
against an enemy. In this way it diff
fers from the Distinguished FLYING
Cross, which is awarded for acts of
gallantry when flying in active opera.
tions against hostile force.
King George, like most Englishmen,
had the Derby much in mind today,
and his parting words to Capt. Lind
bergh at buckingham Palace were
Continued on Page 4, Column A.