The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-02
HOMECOMING
OF FLYERS TO
BE CELEBRATED

LII NIlI1IOxVkA i Eli
tConeinned from psae one,
Bernard S. Thompson, and Leonard
ID. Wellington.
Numerous Hardships En- Route
The United States Army's
Goodwill" flight through South
America was bcsct with numerous
hardships and mishaps.
Hard luck greeted the. fliers on
the first day of their schedule
when sea Of mud prevented their
hop-off from San Antonio On the
first leg Of the journey Dcccm-
Der 20.
The planes were to have started
from Duncan Field near here.
They were brought to the starting
line and christened, but were un-
able to lift their heavy loads from
the soft field. They were dragged
across the road to Kelly Field
that night and the following morn
ing took to the air from the long
concrete runway there. The flight
to Brownsville was made without
mishap and December % the
squadron flew to Tampico, Mex.
At Tampico the st. Louis burned
out an engine. The San Francisco
flew to Vera Cruz December q,
leaving the other planes. This
was the first IF many separations
on the flight. The flyers went by
rail to Mexico City where they
were feted by President Gales and
spent Christmas. On December 30
the planes were joined again mt
Vera Cruz and flew to Puerto,
Mexico. the following day to cele-
bratc the New Year.
Landing Gear Damaged
They hoped to Salinas, Cruz
January | and on the third they
dropped their planes between the
four volcanoes that guard Guatc-
mala City and delivered a mes
sage from President Coolidge to
President Chacon. The first Sc
rious crack-up occurred here when
the New York damaged it's land
ing gear in attempting to get
away. The flight was delayed un-
til the 18th when the Detroit, San
Francisco and San Antonio flew
to San Salvador and the New York
started to follow the water route
to Panama. An extra plane, which
was left in San Antonio at the
start of the flight was shipped to
Panama to replace the New York
if necessary and supplies were
shipped from New York to repair
the plane if possible. The ST..
Louis accompanied the New York,
the two reaching Panama Janu-
airy IA.
The other planes followed the
schedule, the aviators going by
rail to Tegucigaipa, wnere they
were feted by the government,
and then flying to Amapala on the
18th. They continued to Managua
on the 18th and were entertained
there by the minister of govern
ment, Ricardo Lopez Callejas. The
call was a short one, however, and
the flyers flew on to Punta Arenas
the same day. From Punta Arenas
the aviators went by rail to San
Jose to- deliver President Cool
idge's message to President JIM
enez. The squadron was reunited
at France Field, Panama, Janu-
airy Is, the Detroit, San Francisco
and San Antonio flying from Pun
ia Arenas to David for lunch and
completing the hop to Balboa the
same day.
Separated Again
At France Field the New York
was repaired and the other planes
were thoroughly overhaulci. The
squadron was separated again
January %, however, when heavy
swclls prevented the New York
and San Antonio from leaving the
field and the St. Louis was forced
down in the Gulf of Darien. The
San Francisco and Detroit, how
ever, reached Barranquilla and
flew on to Giradot from whence
they went by land to Bogota, the
capital.
On January % they returned to
Barranquilla and the squadron re-
assembled at France Field, and
prepared for the long flight down
the mountainous coasts of west
ern South America. The first leg
of the flight ended in trouble,
however, for the St. Louis devel-
oped engine trouble and was
forced to return to France Field
with the Detroit as an escort. The
other three reached Buena Vent
ura, Columbia, and pushed on to
Tumaco that night, where they
waited for the other two.
The flight was resumed Febru-
airy 2 when the New York, De-
.troit, San Francisco ard St. Louis
went on to Guayaquil, Ecuador,
but the San Antonio was forced to
remain in Tumaco II days await
ing a new engine. The others
pushed on while Captain Mcdaniel
and Lieutenant Robinson of the
San Antonio waited in village
where no one could speak English.
The water supply was very. low
and bad in Tumaco and the flyers
were not permitted enough to al
low them to bathe. A rain in the
middle Of their exile period, fur
nished them enough water for one
hath. Lieutenant tobineolljf who