Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-09
Sought 10 Keep Plans Secret.

| secrecy was practically impossible.
| Early the next morning. as We
/ telephone call from one uf vhe great
! not preparing for a transpacitc f1igh,
| the question, but from this time on "
Stopped
The next stop was at the Army
We reached abou, noon. stopping ov,
/ 10 check on the fuel. Then we procee
| we found that the story Of the flight
A big crowd was waiting at the
set for US. We then were Informed thu
flight had been officially made public
authorization, We had no comments L
Made Tests Along Way.
At Kelly Field. our largest Air
Corps station, were many of the
facilities We wished 10 use in the
tests. We stayed that night and all
the next day and next night. getting
away early Sunday morning for RI
l'aso. Before we reached III Paso we
few through many local thunder
storms.
We stopped overnight at III Paso,
making the usual observations OF in
struments and fuel, then sped on to
San Diego.
We stopped at San Diego from Mon.
day afternoon until Saturday morning.
Here many minor alterations were
made on the airplane and equipment,
and we added an S4-gallon gas tank,
bringing the total gasoline capacity to
1,l20 gallons. which we We're certain
would be more than ample TO make
the flight, even though we might nave
10 fight head winds for the entire dis
lance.
We had a large force Of mechanics.
and all the facilities of the Rockwell
depot were at our disposal For the
last two days the men worked "a
hours DAY.
From San Diego we few 10 San
Francisco, having the first test which
was very successful of the radio bea-
con. The radio beacon station at
Grassy f'.e!1 had been altered 10 direct
our course from San Diego north.
Take Along Air Raft.
We reached Crissy Field Saturday
afternoon and conducted our final
tests on Sunday and Monday.
Late Monday morning we landed on
the runway at the Oakland Airport
TO load up with fuel. Here we made
the final compensation of our com
passes and took on LEO gallons of
gasoline and little less than 40 gal
Ions of oil.
An important part of our equip
ment taken on Just before the hop
was q rubber air raft, to be inflated
by a flask of liquid carbon dioXid and
also by a hand pump. This raft was
designed TO be launched in case we
had TO land in the sea and was
equipped to be rigged up with
15-foot telescope duralumin mast,
weighing pounds. The total weight
of the raft was about 80 pounds, but
il would have sustained our weight II
properly launched.
we also took on as emergency ra-
tons two cans of corned beef, TWO
cans of bareback, two cans of Army
emergency rations and a. five gallon
can of water During the night one
of the mechanics also put into the
Fokker two thermos bottles of soup
and two of black coffee.
Rest Easily Night Before Hop.
On Monday afternoon, Gen. Mason
NJ. Patrick arrived from Washington.
He made a final inspection of the
plane and equipment at Oakland and
expressed satisfaction with our ar
rangements.
afternoon and both of us went to bed
at $50 o'clock. Each had a full
| nights sleep, confident that every
| thing humanity possible had been done
! 10 insure the success Of the flight. We
were happy that the preparations
were finally over and we were actu-
! ally ready.
| Bradley Jones was up until after
| midnight making computations on
| the astronomical tables. Jim Rivers
! slept with the plane, which was also
| guarded all night by strong military
| detail
| We rose at $50 o'clock, dressed and
| went downstairs to breakfast in the
| Oakland Hotel. As we went into the
| lobby. there came one of those rare
| little incidents which are treasured in
mems lives forever after.
MaitIands Parents Are There.
We were surprised TO find Mrs.
Maitland, the mother of Lieut.. Matt
land greeting us with CHEEKY smile
She and her husband had come to the
hotel the night before. In fact, they
had occupied the room next to ours.
But, with all the consideration Of
| parents, they had not disturbed us,
| although we Immediately knew how
longinglY they must have looked for
| ward TO the morning and an opportu-
| nitv 10 bid us God speed.
From the hotel we took taxi out
TO the Oakland Airport, arriving there
at $40 am
The weather was perfect, with not
cloud. In that clear, shining light
We saw the big. brown plane, glisten'
ing from its final touches, standing as
| il poised for fight. The enormous
weight OF seven tons. resting on the
| two wheels. caused them 10 settle six
| inches into the soil of the runway.
| IT was necessary to roll the plane
| forward a few feet before getting
! under way.
Told 10 Go Ahead"
Gen. Patrick arrived in an airrlane
a few minutes after o'clock. After
inquiring how We slept he gave a
very simple signal for us to start,
Just Go ahead"
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