Imperial Valley press., 1927-07-12
AV|AT()RS
GET Wild
WELCOME.
Bay City Cuts Loose AS
Hegenberger and Matt
land Return.
ARRIVAL DELAYED
Tumult Reigns AS Flyers
Who Crossed Pacific
Touch Ground
by United Press Leased Wire

DAN MANY lApNFS, ouiN
Fourteen days after they pointed
the nose of their great three motored
\ Bird of Paradise" through Gold
en- Gate toward Hawaii, Lieuten-
ants Lester j. Maitland and Albert
F. Hegenberger came home today
to the rewards of theif conquest.
First welcomed by roaring squad.
rons of airplanes, the army fliers
entered the bay aboard the Calf
ornia Honolulu liner Maui and at
10 A. NJ, were approaching the
docks where thousands of persons
waited.
The Maui came to berth at pier
32 at 1910 A. NJ.
The wives of the Trans-Pacific
ailmen stood waiting on the pier,
little to one side of the crowd.
Lieutenant Maitland saw his wife
almost Immediately and waved eX-
eitedly. He was joined by Hcgcn-
berger and both waved delighted
greetings while the crowd set up
gigantic cheer.
Mayor Gives Greetings
America S first greeting to' the
men who first conquered the aerial
wastes between this country and the
Hawaiiuas shouted from the deck Of
a tug by Mayor James Rolph, Jr.
'Roys, we re glad you re with us
again. he cried.
Major II. b. Claggett, senior Of
ficer ut Crissy Field, shouted from
the tug:
"Hello Lest
Hello Major, Maitland re-
piled.
The city's plans for welcome
We're set several hours back by the
delay in the Maui 5 arrival, caused
by heavy haze off Golden Gate. At
2 A. NJ, after She schedul ed time
of docking, a squadron of planes
took off from Crssy Field to at
tempt to sight the vessel, return
ing because of poor visibility.
~ At 1925 the Maui was reported
several miles off Golden Gate and
the planes left the field again,
'whirling above the liner as it
steamed through the bay entrance
to quarantine.
The welcome on the sunny bay
assumed spontaneous character.
Countless boats of all descriptions
I crowded into the escorting fleet.
l Fire boats threw streams Of water
1 skyward. Band music mixed rau
cously with the scream of sirens
and whistles. s
Tumult reigned when the fliers
walked down the gangplank. With
Maitland wife were his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. James w. Maitland
of Burlingame, Cal.
Flight for Defense
Ceremonies on the pier were cut
short, due to the surging throng
which police found difficulty to
control. Maitland was asked as he
hurried through to a waiting auto
mobile:
"What was the flight for?'
"Aerial defense; NOT offense, -
Maitland said. 1--WE, proved that
a plane, heavily loaded, can fly
thousand miles to sea and back "a
gain." "
AS soon as the filters entered thelr
automobile parade was begun
down Market street, stralght
lane hung with banners and flanked
by unbroken lines of cheering clt'
izens. to the civic center. Maitland
and Hegenberger wore full uniform
of air service Lieutenants, their
silver bars and wings flashing back
the ravs of the sun from their open
car.
The parade ended at the city
hall, where mayor Rolph rendered
an official reception to the tri-
umphant airmen on behalf OF the
city and nation. Federal, state and
municipal officials, army, navy ana
marine- Officers, state dignitarles
and distinguished citizens were pres
ent.
The mayors words were of glow.
ling praise for the daring and skill
of the airmen who two weeks ago
today, started through golden gate
on an aerial voyage which ended
.c5 hours and %, minutes later at
Wheeler Field, Honolulu. q,