New Britain herald., 1927-08-16
Final Preparations Completed and Only Wave of Starters Flag Necessary for Great est Flight in History.
Crash Detail" of Thirty Men Ready to Take Care of Any Injured in Hop- off-Air King Expected to Fly First.

Municipal Airport, Oakland, Cal, Aug. 16 R-A heavy high fog hung over the bay district and out to sea today as crews of nine airplanes awaited the starters flag which will send them roaring out across the Pacific ocean in a spectacular race to the island of Oahu, Hawaii, for, the s35,Ooo Dole prizes.
 True to the weather forecast. q heavy offshore fog was reported in the path picked by the fliers for their estimated 22-hours' journey.
 The ceiling" over the field this morning reached 1,500 feet, later coming down to between 300 and 400, so that the fliers making their tests could be heard but not seen above that height.
 There was not a breath of wind stirring, a fact which caused some of the fiiers to express hope for a slight breeze down the runway to aid the takeof.
 Detail to Handle Accidents,
 A crash detail' of thirty men under command of Captain Burdett A. Palmer. arrived at the field eapy from Crissy Field, San Francisco. The men. members of the 3S1st service squadron of the air corps re- serve, were to handle any accidents arising at the takeoff an dassist in wheeling the planes into position. Julius Kahn, Jr., son of the late congressman, was a member of the detail
 Although emphasis was placed upon the speed of the planes at the starting line. there was a unanimity among aviation experts that the race was not alone for the swift, but one problem well enough to chart course along the great circle route.
 Crowds Arrive Early.
 Early in the day crowds began to press eagerly forward to the fences which mark off three sides of the field. The line of parked cars grew steadily as continuous rib bon of automobiles of all descrip- tions streamed into the airport.
 Around headquarters a battery of movie cameramen installed them selves preparatory to filming the scenes as the fliers swept down the runway and from the air as they made their way through the Gold en Gate.
 Throughout the night work pro- gressed on three planes under field flood lights. The Woolaroc was loaded with special lightweight gas oline shiped from Bartlesville. Okla.
 Martin Jensen set nights work out for his mechanics when he re- tired by ordering new special pump installed. Mechanics worked long after midnight installing the new device.
 Livingston Irving. Berkeley war time flier, had his plane loaded with food supplies during the night, care being taken to stow away the vic- tuals in the order needed.
 The Air King, a biplane built at Lomax, H., the storm center of . controversy yesterday over its car rying qualities and it's fuel supply, 3 a. m.
 This move. indicating the Air King would be among the starters. was made after a conference be- tween Captain C. W. Saunders, head of the starting committee. and F.. M. Lagron, business manager for the National Airways System, which en- tered the plane.
 Hawaii Hangs Out Latch String Honolulu, Aug. 16 Rl-Hawaii is ready to extend one of her famous welcomes to the aerial visitors en- tered in the Dole race. Plans for the reception are complete. even to the promised corporation of the United States weather man. Governor Wallace B. Harrington and other officials and prominent residents will be at Wheeler Field at o'clock tomorrow morning to await the fliers. That is 7:3o a. m. San Francisco time and 11:3o a. m. eastern daylight saving time. If the f1iers have good luck and make the l trip from Oakland in 22 hours held | to be par for the distance, they will ! reach the island of Oahu at 1880 a. m. Honolulu time.
 Military authorities erected grand stands to seat 5000 at the landing field. Parking space for 5000 auto mobiles is provided. Quick lunch restaurants have been built to sup