The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-01
BYRD LOST IN
DENSE CLOUDS
OVER FRANCE
(continued from nape onel

Continued from page one)
in the home of Joseph Croiffier,
deputy mayor Of Ver-Sur- Mer.
Commander Byrd declared on arriv-
ing in this little picturesque resort
that the America had encountered
bad weather all the way from the
United States. Fog had kept them
from finding the airline to Paris and
had forced them to gropc blindly in
the air until they had no choice but
to make descent as best they could
when their gasoline ran out.
With things made as shipshapc
aboard their plane as possible, the
American aviators divided into two
groups, going to different homes, to
obtain needed rest.
Commander Byrd and Lieutenant
George O. Neville. radio engineer
and alternate pilot, went to the home
of the deputy mayor, while Bert
Acosta. the pilot, and Lieutenant
Bcrnt Balchen, the fourth member Of
the crew, went to the home of the
lighthouse keeper, Lercop. They
were sound asleep in a few minutes
and their hosts set up a guard to
keep them from being disturbed.
Compass Fails Them
Commander Byrd, explaining the
wandering Of the America in the
fog over France for many hours and
his final landing in the sea, said
that his compass went wrong shortly
after the America reached the coast
of France near Brest. Then the
thick fog held the plane and they
did not know where they were.
He said that they might have been
near Paris at one time but that they
could not be sure. When their gas
and oil was nearly run out. Com
mander Byrd said. the America was
headed in the direction where the
| sea was thought to lie in the hope
that safer landing could be made
there than on unseen terrain.
The commander said that the
America was driven until the fuel
was virtually used up. He sent down
flare and then followed with the
plane.
Lights In Shallow Water
Commander Byrd said the plane
! struck shallow water and the land
ing gear was torn off. The plane
quickly submerged to the wings to
which the flyers chung until they
| succeeded in launching their rubber
life boat.
As soon as this was done they took
their instruments, personal effects
! and sack of mail ashore where
they waited two hours in the rain
before they were discovered by the
villagers and taken into their homes.
| Hopes to Save Ship
Commander Byrd estimated that ht
flew 1900 miles from the time Of
leaving Roosevelt Field until hi;
landing at Ver-Sur-Mer.
The commander expressed hop
that he would be able to save hi
ship but Aviators who have seen tn
plane today expressed the opinion
that the hopes Of salvage are Sigh
as the plane was breaking up in tn
sea.
Will Not Fly Back
Commander Byrd said he woul
like to fly to Paris from ver-Sur
Mer bot that he had no idea of re
turning to New York by air even j
the plane were in condition to max
the journey.
The citizens of this little sea r.
i's0rt. gave the aviators reception i
the town hall this. afternoon and
great crowd was present in spite 9
the Indictment weather.
u PRESIDENT COOLIDGE SENDS
CONGRATULATIONS TO BYRD
Washington, July L. R -Th
congratulations at President ,Coolida
we're cabled to Commander Byrd K
day By the state department.. -
Il send you my sincere congratuli
II tions on your successful flight aero.