Evening star., 1927-06-13
Motor Disabled
in Spirit of
St. Louis.
FLIES PURSUIT
CRAFT ON TRIP
Crash Feared as He
Races Sharply
Up Into Air.

of St. Louis was unable to take the
air owing to engine trouble, Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh took off from
Boiling Field at 8:43 o'clock this
morning with gesture that struck
terror into the hearts of airmen.
Once more the enthusiastic specta-
tors recalled the name and fame of
Lucky" Lindbergh as they saw him
race down the field in the speedy
single-seater, pull it almost straight
up into the air and climb almost ver-
tically for three or four hundred feet.
Had the engine failed nothing would
have saved Col. Lindbergh from in
slant death.
When Col. Lindbergh left he made
no plans for disposition of his plane
other than to say he would let the
naval air station know what to do
with it when he got to New York. 1t
was felt here that he would fly back
TO WASHINGTON in his Army pursuit
plane. climb aboard the New York
Paris nonstop monoplane and con-
tinue his fight to st. Louis. AviatorS
believed that Col. Lindbergh would
not want any one else to fly the plane.
Guest of Airmen.
The dramatic departure from Wash
ington came after 500 'air people OF
Washington rendered the noted air
man a breakfast at the Mayf1ower
Hotel while some 200 looked on from
the balconies. In brief address, Col.
Lindbergh admonished airmen aspir-
ing to make the Pacific flight not to
use the type of navigation that he dld,
but to rely on radio and celestial naVl-
cation. He predicted oceanic air
travel. but declared it would have to
be backed by sound business or
ganization on the ground.
At this function he was awarded the
highest honors of the National Geo.
graphic Society and the National Aero
nautic Association, under the auspices
of which latter organization the
breakfast was held. The Hubbard
medal of the Geographic Society was
awarded by Comdr. Richard Evelyn
Byrd. the latest recipient. While Por-
ter Adams, president of the aero
mantle Association, announced tnat
Col. Lindbergh, already member OF
tha body. from now on would be an
honorary member.
A frozen" camfollower, which pre-
vented the valve in one of the GYM
ders of the Spirit of st. Louis engine
from functioning, was the cause OF
col. ,Iindbergh abandoning his be.
loved shin and accepting the offer OF
+. Trubee Dawson. Assistant Secre-
tarv of War for Aviation, of any type
of Army Air Corps plane he desired
Chooses Pur: lit Plane.
The former Army flying cadet chose
q pursuit hin. and, explaining tnat
he always had wanted to fl with the
first pursuit group OF SelfrldEe r leiu'
the Armv's crack fighting OUTFIT. de-
cIared he felt honored to be able to
lead such an organization TO Ne"
York.
The pursuit group of 81 planes,
which flew here from Detroit to par
ticipate in the aerial welcome TO the
airman, was augmented by SIX Army
observation planes, making a for1la-
tiou of 81 planes with Col. Llndbergh
fiying in the lead.
Through cheering thronos, which
hacked the lobby of the Mayflower
Hotel and the Seventeenth street en-
trance, Col. Lindbergh, accompanied
bv the three "air Secretaries" Mr..
Dawson, William P. MacCracken, jr..
of the Department of Commerce, and
Edward p. Warner of the Navy,
climbed into a White House automo-
bile and was whisked through the city
with a police escort and followed by
65 automobiles, bearing airmen and
members of the official reception COM
n.ittee.
The speeding caravan went south
'on Seventeenth street, east on Penn
sylvania avenue. down East Executive
avenue behind the Treasury and out
20 low h
street southeast. Here the procession
turned and followed the direct route
to the air base.
Cheered Walking to Plane.
Col. Lindbergh was officially vel
coined to the station by Lieut.. Comdr.
Homer G. Wick, the commanding Off
Ger, and his staff and escorted direct
to the Spirit of st. Louis, which had
been set out in the rear of seaplane
hangar No. 2 and roped off A small
crowd. privileged to gain admission,
applauded the tall flyer as he walked
along at brisk pace, clad in the pin
stripe blue suit and gray felt hat.
Col Lindbergh swept his eyes over
the airplane and between handshakeS
made an examination Of the cockpit.
He expressed himself as being ready
to go, so Aviation Chief Machinist's
Mate William j. Morris. who COM
manded the crew of mechanics that
set up the plane, climbed in and
started the engine. Morris let the
engine idle for a few moments until
sufficient temperature had been OBJ
tanned and then Col Lindbergh
climbed in, felt hat and all.
Instantly a CLEAN Of satisfaction
and composure swept over his face
as he pushed forward on the throttle
and increased the revolutions Of the
engine. He increased the speed of
the propeller until it was nearly
full out" Then the engine began
to pop" at intervals. and he slowed
it down. Again he gave 'er the
gun" and the popping" continued.
Finally he "cut the gun" shut off
! his switches and waited while two
Navy mechanics climbed to the top
of the engine and began unscrewing
spark plugs. They found the plugs to
be in good condition. and this meant
that a deeper search would have to
: be made.
In the meantime the 81 planes Of
the 1st Pursuit Group and the six
Continued on Page S, Column a.