Evening star., 1927-04-24
GOODWILL FLYERS
BACK ON u. S. SOIL
End 20, 900 Mile Pathfinding
Voyage at Miami in
Schedule Time.
BY the Associated press.

MIAMI, Fla. April 23.--Thcir mia.
sion of spreading friendship and good
will throughout o. score Of Latin
American countries successfully COM
pleted, the United States Army's Pan
American flyers rested tonight on their
native soil for the first time since they
started their special Journey Of peace
four months ago.
Their ranks depleted as the result
Of a collision between the planes New
York and Detroit over Buenos Aires,
February %, that cost the lives OF
Capt. Clinton w. Woolsey and Lieut..
John w. Benton, the Army's eight
"aerial ambassadors" landed here at
2A7 o'clock this afternoon from
Havana, making the hop in 3 hours
and 12 minutes.
Escorted by Mai Gen. Mason NJ.
Patrick of the Army Air Service and
nine commercial planes, the San An
tonic, San Francisco and st. Louis
and relief plane that replaced the
flagship New York we're cheered by
thousands as they ended their 10000
mile pathflnding voyage that started
December 81 at San Antonio and car
ried them across another continent.
The Detroit, which also was wrecked
In the collision. was not replaced
ULAO 10 UC IhuAHb again
eve made lots of new friends, but
gosh it's good to get back among the
home folks" was the expression of
Maj. Herbert A. Dargue, flight COM
mander after the official welcome.
lie dwelt particularly on the visit
to the Argentine capital where his
two comrades lost their lives.
THE air service had no finer men
than Capt. Woolsey and Lieut.. Ben
ton" the commander said. II say
this not because they are dead, but
because l knew them SO well in the
day of their active service as pilots.
But the tragedy only brought the two
nations closer together. The presi-
dent of the Argentine republic rushed
to the scene of the crash, threw his
arms around and extended his most
sincere sympathy for the whole nation.
From then on, they did everything
humanity possible for us.
"At Buenos Aires we had been re-
ceived officially aboard a battleship in
the bay and had taken off again for
the landing field about 15 miles away.
We were flying in close, but regular
formation as we approached the held.
The Detroit turned wide to make its
landing and there seemed to be no.
difficulty, although we were flying
against setting sun.
Describes Fatal Crash.
suddenly the Detroit crashed into
us. Lord knows how it happened.
The two planes seemed backed up,
sealing US in our cockpits
Il have only one fleeting express
sion--that Capt. Woolsey was trying
to push us away. / saw that it was
a complete crash and jumped, using
my parachute as did my companion,
Lieut. Whitehead. The others must
have been unable to get clear of the
wreck and use their 'chutes.'
at was a terrible blow, but we re1l-
ICED that our mission was one OF good
will, and we must forget our sorrow.
The mayor Of the next city telegraph
ed, asking whether to cancel arrange
ments for dance. Although sick It
heart. we wired back that our plans
were unchanged. We were not ther
to bear sorrow to our Latin American
friends.
Everywhere. without an exception,
we were surprised at the affection
with which we were greeted. They
seemed to grasp our mission and un-
derstand that we came as friends.
We could have asked nothing more.
II need not say, however, that we
were glad to get back to our own
country. AS we first caught sight of
the Florida Keys, the first American
land for four months. looked back
at the other ships. I could see the
face Of only Lieut.. Whitehead in my
own plane, but / knew the others
We're grinning the same as we, from
ear to ear"
Arrive on Schedule Time.
Leaving Havana at 11:45 Eastern
time this morning, the flyers and
their escort of planes We're sighted
off the bay at 2:45, and exactly on
scheduled time, the four Pan-Ameri'
can ships had taxiied up to their
moorings off the municipal dock at
pm The noise of their motors
was drowned out by the welcoming
shrieks of whistle and sirens, the
blare Of bands and the cheers of
hundreds of persons.
The commanders ship, the New
York II, which replaced the wrecked
flagship. was the first to reach its
anchorage and for several minutes the
crowd endeavored vainly to convey
it's message of greeting to Maj. Dar-
que and his companion, Lieut.. White
head. Finally the others were made
fast and the pilots brought ashore,
with baggage that approXimated that
of the average week end trip.
A parade to the city hall followed.
Here w. II. Burwell. president of the
Miami Chamber Of Commerce; Mayor
E. G. Romfh and Gen. Patrick voiced
their welcome to the flyers Maj.
Dargue responded with brief ex.
preston Of gratitude.
Will Come to Capital.
The round of entertainment for the
flyers will continue until they depart
for their next stop at Jacksonville,
en- route to Washington. No definite
time for their departure had been set,
but it probably will be Monday.
They were guests tonight at din
ner dance in Coral Gables. A swim
at Miami Beach, boat ride on the
bay and a motor tour Of the city is
on tomorroW's program.
The other members of the expedi'
tion are:
Capt. A. B. Daniel, plotting the
San Antonio, and Lieut.. c. Nick.
Robinson; Capt. Ira c. Eaker, pilot
ing the San Francisco, and Lieut..
Muir S. Fairchild; Lieut.. B. s. Thomp.
son. plotting the st. Louis, and Lieut..
T n UaddipDtou