The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1927-05-03
u. S. ARMY "Good Will" Filters Return After
Making 10000 Mile Trip to South America

WASHINGTON, May 3.-The Army
Pan-American Good WIZ flicrs re-
turned to Washington late yesterday
afternoon after a 10000 mile cruise
through Central and South America
The flight through South America
was beset with numerous hardships
and mishaps.
Hard luck greeted the fliers on
the first day of their schedule when
a sea of mud prevented their hop
off from San Antonio on the first leg
OF the Journey December 20.
The planes were to have started
from Duncan Field near San Al !
tonic. They were brought TO tn 3
starting line and christened, but were
unable to lift their heavy loads from
the soft field. They were dragged
across the road to Kelly Field that
night and the following morning took
to the air from the long concrete
runway there The flight to Browns
vile was made without mishap AMI
December 22 the squadron flew to
Tampico, Mexico.
Engine Burned Out
At Tampico the st. Louis burned
out an engine. The San Francisco
flew on to Vera Cruz December %,
leaving the other planes. This was
the first of many separations of the
flight The fliers went by rail to
Mexico City where they were feted
by President Gales and spent Christ
mas. On December 80 the planes
were joined again at Vera Cruz and
flew to Puerto, Mexico, the follow
ing day to celebrate the New Year.
They hoped to Salinas Cruz jan
uary l and on the third they dropped
their planes between the four vol,
canoes that guard Guatemala City
apd delivered message from Presi-
dent Coolidge to President Chacon.
The first serious crack-up occurred
here when the New York damaged
its landing gear in attempting to
get away, The flight was delayed un
til the 18th when the Detroit, San
Frsascig q and San Ap,rrie flow
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 neces
sary and supplies were shipped from
New York to repair the plane II pos I,
sible The st. Louis accompanied the
New York, the two reaching Papama !
January IA.
Feted BY Mexico
The other planes followed the |
schedule. the aviators going by rail
20 Tegucigaipa, where they We're
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 Government, Ricardo Lo'
PEE Callejas. The call was short |
one, however. and the fliers flew on |
to Punta Arenas the same day. From |
Punta Arenas the aviators went by |
rail to San Jose to deliver Presi- |
dent Coolidge's message to President
Jimenez. The squadron was reunited |
at France Field. Panama, January |
49, the Detroit, San Francisco and |
San Antonio flying from Punta Are /
mas to David for lunch and complet-
ing the hop to Balboa the same day |
At France Field the New York
was repaired and the other planes i
were thoroughly overhauled. Tho
squadron was separated again jan I
nary 13. however, when heavy swells |
prevented the New York and San An i
tonic from leaving the field and the
st. Louis was forced down IN the
Gulf of Darien. The San Francisco
and Detroit, however, reached Bar |
ranquilla and flew on to Giradot from
whence they went by land to Bogota, |
the capital.
Down Mountainous Coast
On January % they returned to
Barranquilla and the squadron reas-
sembled at France Field, and pre-
pared for the long flight down the
mountainous coasts of western South
America Louis first leg of the flight
ended in trouble, however, for the
st. Louis developed engine trouble
and was forced to return to France
FIELD with the Detroit as an es-
cort. The other three reached Buena
Ventura, colombia, and pushed OH
to Tumaco that night, where they
waited for the other two.
The flight was resumed February
2 when the New York. Detroit, San
Francisco and st. Louis went on IL
Guayaquil, Ecuador, but the San An
tonic was forced to remain in Tumaco
II days awaiting a new engine. The
others pushed on while Captain Nc
Daniel and Lieutenant Robinson OF
the San Antonio waited in q village
ICcu4lowoA nu pe~n Savan