Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-15
NINE PLANES READY
FOR HAWAII RACE
Pilots Expect to Get Away
Tomorrow in First Long
Aerial Contest.

BY the Associated Press
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, Oakland,
Calf, August 15.-The first long-dlS-
lance aerial derby in history, over
transoceanic course 2.4O0 miles out III
the Pacific, will get under way at noon
tomorrow when nine planes will swing
into the anyways for Oatu, main island
in the Hawaiian group.
Seventeen men and one woman
Miss Mildred Doran, 22-year-old Mich
igan school teacher-will travel to-
ward Wheeler Field, near Honolulu,
for a $25, 900 first prize and a $4,000
second award, the gifts Of James Dole
Of Hawaii.
Early today only one plane lacked
official approval. The Dallas Spirit,
piloted by Capt. William Erwin, dis
tinguished wartime flyer, which ar
rived here few days ago, was ready
for navigation tests and expected TO
qualify before noon, the deadline for
Federal certification of official entries
to the Dole starting committee.
Capt Erwin's plane had passed the
Department of Commerce tests and
confidence was expressed In A. II.
Eichwaldt, navigator, who Will ac'
company the Dallas Spirit, to pass the
tests. The Dallas Spirit will be the
ninth starter, eight having qualified
previously.
Ton of Gasoline for Each.
The planes will carry nine tons of
gasoline, averaging a ton OF fuel to
each plane. They will dash down
take-off runway permitting only one
plane to get into the air at time.
The difference between the first start
err and the last was originally figured
at 16 minutes, but as post time ap-
preached it was estimated that at least
10 minutes would elapse between take
offs. The list of starters in the order
of take.off is as follows:
1.-The monoplane Oklahoma, plloted
by Bennett Griffin; AL Henley, naviga-
tor.
Normal Goddard, San Diego, pilot
of the monoplane Ell Encanto. with
Lieut.. X. G.. Hawkins, San Diego, In
the navigator's cabin.
3-Livingston G. Irving, war ace,
f1ying alone in a Breese monoplane.
4-Jack Frost, plotting the San Fran.
cisco Examiners Golden Eagle, navi'
gated by Gordon Scott OF Santa
Monica.
81. Auggy Pedlar of Detroit, pilot;
Lieut.. V. r. Knorpe, San Diego, navl-
gator, carrying Miss Mildred Doran,
22-year-old Michigan school teacher
as passenger.
hacked by the citizens of Peoria, Ill.,,
and navigated by Ralph G. Loves, jr.,
Peoria. The plane Is the SMALLEST IN
the race.
MARTIN Jensen, 26.year-old flyer
from the Hawaiian Islands, carrying
Paul Schulter, master mariner In the
navtgator's cabin They will fly new
Breese monoplane, purchased by cltl-
zens Of Honolulu.
.8-Arthur Goebel, Hollywood stunt
flyer, plotting a monoplane, navigated
by Lieut.. William c. Davis, u. S. N.
9-Capt. William Erwin, plotting the
Dallas Spirit, navigated by "A. II. Elch'
waldt.
Plan Hop in 22 Hours.
The airmen expect to be in Honolulu
% hours after they leave this airport,
providing the navigators are able 10
map out a course over the great cir.
Gle which will strike the Isle OF Oahu,
a thin target in the Pacific.
Originally there were Is entrants In
the race. Two failed to find planes,
three planes crashed en- route 10 the
take-off place, resulting In three
deaths, and one has been unable 10
get away from his home hangar with
his new plane.
Today the airport was a stream OF
dust from the roar of motors gong
through their final PAGES before post
time tomorrow. The pilots and navi'
gators were cleaning up final details
incident to their departure, the most
important Of which was sending ward
robes to Honolulu by steamer, for they
all feel certain of landing on Wheeler
Field shortly after dawn wednesday
morning.
Take.Offs Carefully Planned.
Airport officials and pilots realize
the take.off is one Of the most danger
Gus parts of the trip and all arrange
ments centered on preparing for the
worst-a smashup of loaded plane, II
It overturned and exploded with a
ton of gasoline in it's tanks. WITHIN
the view Of thousands.
The pilot must show all his skill
to get his loaded plane into the air.
If he misjudges the moment when his
plane has sufficient speed to go Off the
ground and tries a take-off, it will be
difficult to avoid a crash, for the
loaded plane is almost certain to over
turn. The Oakland Airport runway is
Z 900 feet in length, and ends within a
mile Of San Francisco Bay, where the
flyers will head through the Golden
Gate.
NAVY TO GUARD FLIGHT.