Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-19
Commander Ready to Start
Any Minute, Says Only
Weather Delays.
ACOSTA AND NOVILLE
COMPLETE AIR CREW
America Unlikely to Start Tomor-
row-Fourth Of Group Expe-
rienced in Three Ways.

by the Associated Press.
ROOSEVELT FIELD, n. Y, June
1S.-Lieut. Berdt Balchen, for
mer Norwegian naval officer, has been
chosen as the fourth member of the
crew of the Fokker monoplane
America on it's transa tlantic flight.
The big plane was in it's hangar to-
night ready to take off for Paris as
soon as the Weather Bureau reports
favorable flying conditions over the
Atlantic. Comdr. Byrd said there was
no chance for start either tonight
or tomorrow, according to his latest
weather reports.
Lieut.. Balchen, who is close
friend of Comdr. Byrd, is an expert
pilot, navigator and mechanic. He
flew over the Arctic wastes in search
of Capt. Roald Amundsen when the
explorer was missing in 1925. Lieut..
Balchen came to this country with
Comdr. Byrd when Byrd returned
from his fight over the North Pole
last year.
Four Are Going.
In addition 10 Comdr. Byrd and
Lieut.. Balchen the Americas crew
will consist of Bert Acosta, pilot, and
Lieut.. George o. Neville, radio en-.
gineer and alternate pilot.
The America was visited today by
the man who originally selected to
hold her stick" on the transatlantic
dash, Floyd Bennett, Comdr. Byrd's
North Pole companion. 1t was Ben.
netts first sight of the plane since
the America nosed over on her back
at Teterboro Airport, N. j., in April,
1njuring Bennett, Byrd and Neville.
Bennett, who was brought out to the
hangar in private ambulance from
st. Vincent's Hospital. New York,
where he is still under medical at.
tendance, placed his final 20. X" on
the America and the fight plans, after
q conference with Byrd, in the hangar.
Lieut.. Neville has been tinkering
with motion picture cameras, learning
the tricks Of shutters and focuses. n,
preparation for the filming, for the
first time, OF transatlantic hop,
Neville has two cameras, with which
ne will shoot" cloudbanks, icebergs.
and Atlantic vessels. He also viii
take pictures of the last bit OF land
seen by those on the America before
she roars out across the Atlantic
wastes. the first land sighted across
the ocean and the arrival In Paris.
A possible change in the take-off
time Of the America was discussed
today. 1t was said that IL weather
conditions are good, a midnight hop.
or may be decided upon. Hitherto,
dawn was regarded as the best hour
for the departure, but the lessons
taught by the flights of Lindbergh's q
Spirit OF st. Louis and Chamberlin's
Columbia were said to have caused a
possible change in the plans for the
Americas zero hour.
Time Is Discussed.
1t was pointed out that a midnight
take-off would bring the America into
Paris in daylight and not at night, as
In the case of Col. Lindbergh, who
left Roosevelt Field at ISL o'clock in
the morning.
Lighthouses would show the course
TO Newfoundland, it was said, and at
dawn, the America would leave land
behind and head out over the sea.
All that remains to be done to ne
America is to load her with her 1900
gallons Of gasoline, 1900 in the tanks
and 100 more slowed away In case Of
emergencies.