Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-29

The fastest steamer traverses the
broad waters OF the Pacific. in which
no land intervenes, in from five and
one-half to six days
Supplement Rodgers Flight. y
Maitland and Hegenberger by their
successful flight supplemented the
pioneer work begun August 81. 1925,
by their brothers of the Navy. On
that date three giant planes Of the
Navy made the first attempt to cross
the Pacific from San Francisco Bay
to Hawaii. One plane failed to rise,
another fell into the sea 300 miles or
shore and the third, containing the
heroic Comdr. John Rodgers and three
other men, came down 300 miles short
OF its destination. For nine days
they drffted with their seaplane and
were picked up when hope had been
almost abandoned.
The flight ended today exemplifed
the advance which aviation had taken.
Whereas the Navy had found it essen
tial to place line of warships reach
ing from CALIFORNIA; shore to the
Hawaiian Islands, at 200-mile inter.
4; walls, the Army flyers. few without
such support and in a land plane that
would have fioated two to three hours.
They had, however, pneumatic life
raft.
In their flight of approximately
400 miles, Maitland and Hegenberger
completed the longest transoceanic
airplane flight ever accomplished.
The landing was made on rain
soaked field. The huge plane TAXED
the entire lf1gth of the field. Then,
circling, it came back to the front Of
the review stand, where the highest
Army, Navy and civil authorities in
the island were waiting to extend
congratulations to the flyers.
Crowd Wild With Joy.
The crowd. augmented by hundreds
hurriedly returning to the field, went
wild with joy and enthusiasm. Guns
of fortresses hundred in salute as the
plane stopped before the reviewing
stand.
From the time they passed through
the Golden Gate and began their ira
verse of the miles of landless Pacific,
the Army flyers had been definitely
reported seen only once before they
reached Hawaii. A report came that
they had been seen 800 miles off the
California coast, but the steamship
sending the radio could not be
identified.
The passengers and crew OF the
steamer oOIlOHldy A1U IIliACo tAC
Golden Gate, were electrified when
Maitland brought his plane out of
mist and dropped to within 200 feet
of the water as he passed by. He had
been more than nine hours on his
way.
The next report from the flyers
came from the steamship President
Pierce, LOO miles from California,
which reported hearing their radio
asking for a bearing TO be sent to
establish location.
At am. the plane radioed that
the flyers were about 700 miles of
Honolulu.
Could Not Find Food.
Col. Howard, department air officer,
rushed to the plane, grasped Matt
lands hand and shouted You did it,
and congratulate you"
Mai. Gen. Edward NJ. Lewis, com.
mander of the Hawaiian Department
of the Army, clasped hands with Matt
land and Hegenberger The eyes Of
both aviators filled with tears as he
said:
''My boys, congratulate you"
Maitland said that the radio beacon
on the Island of Mauai failed to func
ton
"Our compass" he said, sis what
got us here. If we hadn't had that
we should have been out OF luck"
When asked whether they were tired
and hungry, both flyers admitted that
a cold chicken sandwich would appea
10 them They told those who crowded
about to congratulate them that they
were somewhat tired.
1--WE had some coffee and sand
witches, but we could not find them
although we looked all over the plane
while travelling" said Maitland.
Then, first congratulations over, HI
demanded:
How about a cigarette?"
Hegenberger said:
sure, we had a lot or NEAR
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