Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-07
MICHIGAN PLANES
TO GREET FLYER
Army Orders Fl SeIfridge
Field Craft to Capital
for Exhibition.

orders went out from the Army Air
CT 'ay to Sell .dge Field, Mich.
igan, for 81 planes of the FIRST Pur-
suit Group, representing the latest
type of military single-Seater fighting
craft, to fly to Washington and well
come Col. Charles A. Lindbergh to the
city.
The group, as fG' as could be learn
ed today, will meet the Memphis, Col.
Lindbergh's ship, several miles down
the river and escort her to Washington,
and while the Memphis is preparing
to dock, will stage a pro: am of for
nation acrobatics at terrific speeds
high above the Navy Yard
The group also will be prepared to
escort Col. Lindbergh to New York.
making the largest and most dignified
military escort ever accorded q dis
tinguished air traveller. Plans also
are being set afoot to have the 81 Cur
tiss pursuit planes fly to st. Louis with
Col. Lindbergh, starting out from New
York one day ahead and picking him
up at point along the airways, DOS
sibly at Dayton.
Sight for Capital.
When the pursuit group joins the
Los Angeles and the NAVY and Marine
aerial escort. which will be augmented
by many planes from Boiling Field
and nearby Eastern Army posts, the
SKY above the river between Mount
Vernon and the Navy Yard will be
literally darkened with aircraft. If
weather conditions permit all of the
planes IN the air that it is now pro-
posed, it not only will be a wonder.
flI SIGHT for CnJ tn1 e.
the entire population Of Washington,
as the city never has seen more than
~ planes in the air at one time
should there be a low ceiling" on
that day. of about 800 or 900 feet.
1t was felt in some military air quar-
ters that some of the air escort would
nave to be curtailed. Rear Admiral
William A. Moffett, chief of the Blu.
reau OF Aeronautics. already has as.
signed several altitude levels for his
planes to fly at to avoid collisions and
also informed the pilots they must
keep on the starboard side of the
cruiser. The Army planes. likewise
VIII be told to keep to their specific
layer" The various altitude levels
nave been based on a ceiling" OF
about $500 feet on that day. and un.
less the undersurface Of the clouds
or mist is at this figure, military air
chiefs would not permit their birdmen
to fly out Of sight of the ground.
Will Be Discharged.
Capt. Willis Mcdowell, acting com.
mandant OF the Navy Yard, had his
plans virtually complete today. At the
hour Col. Lindbergh is scheduled to
arrive, II O'Clock noon, the Navy
Yard employees will be discharged. and
as the Navy Department has decided
that only the official reception commit
tee Will be admitted to the yard and
to the Mayffower dock, it is expected
the employees will file out of the yard
or wait in their shops facing on the
avenue Col. Lindbergh will take out of
the yard to get a glimpse of the noted
airman.
Two tugs. the Tecumseh and the
Choctaw, will be standing by in the
river to assist the Memphis in dock
ing. If this is found necessary. With
the exception Of the commandant and
his official staff, the only other per.
sons to await Col Lindberghs arrival
will be the official reception committee
and newspaper men.
Ships From Coast.
Two airplanes bearing greetings of
Pacific coast cities today were headed
toward the Capital to participate in
the welcome for Col. Lindbergh.
The Pride of San Diego. sister
ship of Lindbergh's New York-to-
Paris plane, left Tucson, Ariz., for FL
Paso, Tex, this morning. The plane
took off from San Diego yesterday. pi-
loted by Capt. Frank M. Hawkes..
Lieut.. Oakley G. Kelly, who with
Lieut.. John A. Macready, made the
first transcontinental flight in May,
1923, was ready to hop off fro , iPer-
son Field, Vancouver Barracks, Wash.
for Washington. Staff Sergt. Lawrence
G. Turner, Aurora, ILL.,, will accom-
pany him to Chicago.