Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-15

from North Carolina until we were
well down on the Mexican coast.
While following the coast in the
fog it was necessary to come down
low over the water sometimes only
two or three hundred feet above the
white line Of surf and | often LOST
that and flew blind until ] could pick
1t mp gain.
II was far from pleasant flying
One of the odd things about this
flight was the length of the night. ON
the flight To France there was only
about five hours of darkness, because
the direction was from the west to
east against the sun because Of the
northern latitude.
But on this flight the direction was
slightly west and in southern ATTITUDES.
where the nights are long. Conse
Guently there were IL hours and
80 minutes of darkness. and il was
impossible to get away from the
necessity of instrument flying.
When I got TO Tampico | recognized
the city by the oil tanks. despite the
heavy fog which lay over it. ! came
down within 50 feet Of the river. But
| was unable Ia get beneath the fog
and so ! went M again and set
compass course for Mexico City.
At 900 feet it was possible to get
over the clouds and everything seemed
set fos an easy flight from there to
the flying field.
But I must have made some bad
errors. for when | drove down out of
the clouds two and a half hours later
there was not a sign Of Mexico City.
Was Completely Lost.
1t is rather amazing that the calcula-
lions by instrument flying should
have been exact all night and that
the course was maintained, hnt that
when daylight came and another
course was sci over the clouds | got
completely lost.
Such. however, is the fact.
l Judge that must have been about
so miles west of the course when !
went down below the clouds, but
have no way Of knowing certainly.
That was rather a puzzle. | knew
| was in a bad country TO play around
in. | tried to puzzle out where I was
hy the water sheds, and noticed that
south of the line Of mountains which
ran through the southern end of the
state of Mexico the rivers all ran
south and that from n chain of noun.
tains To the east they all ran east
So ! imagined that if kept north
and east Of these mountains and
combed the entire territory that !
would be able TO recognize some towns
which would set me on my path
again.
But it was not until | saw sign
of the Hotel Toluca that I really man
aged to get located and then set my
course again for Mexico City.
| had been going only little while
when ! saw the planes of the MeXi-
can army coming to meet me and
was very glad to greet my comrades
of the air in this way.
Praises Policing of Field.
OF the reception. can only say
that it was equal in all its sincerity
with that which / received in France
and England and on my return To
America. Every one has been kind,
and | look forward with pleasure to.
my STAY in Mexico. which | trust will
make the Mexican people realize that
after all we have many things in com
mon. The bond of aviation is a
great one between men who devote
their lives to il. and Mexico has some
splendid pilots.
There is "A difference in all the re-
CeptlonS and ! can only say that OF
Mexico has been unique and will be
long remembered.
| cannot say too much for the adj
mirable way in which the field was
policed and the protection given to
my plane. I am grateful 10 both Pres
ident Gales and Gen. Alvarez for the
great courtesy and consideration they
showed me.
have ALWAYS wanted TO come 10
Mexico and ] am glad TO he here.
The flying field is one of the most
beautiful / have ever seen and very.
smooth. I hope l shall see more or
Mexico s. aviation in the next days
Convright ] 9t,7 in the United States Can
ada. Mexico. Cuba. Central and South Amer
ica. Eurone and the BittiSh nominions. hy