Evening star., 1927-05-03
GOOD WILL FLYERS
REST FROM FLIGHT
Aviators Honored on Arrival
# Here--Dargue to Tour
/. Country.

Home from their 20,470-mile flight
from San Antonio, Tex, to Boiling
Field. during which they visited every
latin American country, carried mes.
saees Of good will from the people OF
the United States and brought back
exnressions of equal good feeling be-
tween the big northern republic ana
those south of the Rio Grande. the
eight Pan-American flyers today were
Adjusting themselves to conditions
fhey left behind last December ana
prepared to take long rest from
their arduous task.
= THE eight birdmen were received by
Maj. Gen. Mason NJ. Patrick. CHIEF
Of the Army Air Corps, in his ofilce at
noon today and were told that as soon
a. thew made their report and
straightened up accounts they could
have the we'll deserved rest. For
Maj. Herbert A. Dargue, the COM
Ynander, however, another task lay
before him today. That was TO ny
the New York III to various cities
throughout the United States and as
Spokesman for his comrades discuss
the results of the epochal flight IN
detail.
Report to President.
Swelcomed ar their destination yes
+erdav afternoon by President Cool
idge at Boiling Field, the Pan-Amerl-
can hirdmen, through Maj. Dargue'
reported to the Executive as follows:
s'Mr. President. you gave US mis-
nion OF goodwill to perform. l hope
We have done il TO your satisfaction.
We carried messages from you TO the
countries we visited and we bring
hack physical evidence Of the pleasure
With which they were received"
As he spoke, Maj. Dargue handed
me President the written replies Of
the chiefs of the States to the South.
q thank you. Major Darque," said
the president as he took the envelopes
from the airman.
Receive Flying Crosses.
TT. report OF the flyers followed
their receipt OF certificates awarded
them the distinguished flying crosses,
provided for in the Army five year
building program. They are the first
afrnen of the military service to re-
ceiye the newly created honor. The
recipients OF the cross, in addition
to Maj. Dargue, were: Capt. A. B.
Mcdaniel, Capt. Ira c. Eaker, Lieut.
c. Mex. Robinson, Lieut.. Muir s.
Fairchild, Lieut.. B. s. Thompson and
".
Several thousand persons witnessed
the arrival Of the airmen as they flew
in q close, diamond-shaped formation
over the city, just as they had done
time and again over the Latin Ameri-
can capitals. While those on the
ground were thrilled by the spectacle
OF the homecoming, two airmen aloft
received even a greater thrill. They
were Maj. Dargue and Capt. Eaker.
both on duty in Washington for a
number of years before being selected
for the fight. They looked down on
the city they had flown over so much
in the past with feeling of genuine
joy, they said today.
Salute Is Premature.
The spectators reached large pro-
portions at about 3 o'clock and
whiled away the time studying the
various exhibits In Hangers and s.
The United States Army Band, under
the direction of Capt. w. j. Stannard,
played several numbers and a few
Z minutes before o'clock. the four
field pieces from Fort Myer doomed
out a 21-gun salute. The salute was
one-half hour premature, as the Presi-
dent was not due to arrive until AIS
o'clock. A mistake in the signal sys.
tenn which had been established be-
tween the battery and point on the
railroad track back Of the field to
obtain advance notice of the Presi.
dents arrival was given as the cause.
Thinking the Presidential party was
arriving as the guns began firing, six
Curtiss pursuit planes, piloted by
Capt. Robert E. ~Oldys, Capt. Ralph
II. Wooten and Capt. Ross Hoyt OF
this city and Lieut., Charles Austin,
Lieut.. Richard Aldworth anc Sergt.
James A. Lee of Langley Field, raced
into the air and began a rapid pro-
gram of maneuvers and acrobatics.
"A few minutes behind schedule, the
Presidential party arrived at 4:s5,
o'clock and the Executive was greet
ed with a 21-gun salute and THE
star Spangled Banner" Accompany
ing him in the Presidential stand
were Secretary Of War Davis and f.
Trubee Davison, assistant secretary
of war for aviation.
Flyers Come From South.
Exactly at 4A5 o'clock the Pan
American flyers and their 12-plane
escort from Langley Field became Wis
ibie to the South. The four ampnio'
laas, flying in diamond-shape formation,
were in the lead and the escorting ad-
vanced training pursuit planes were
dtSided into four flights Of three planes
each. Turning left as they approached
the field, Maj. Dargue led his flyers
and the escort on a wide tour OF the
city. They were plainly visible at all
times and the President watched their
progress with interest
Having taken in the entire city with
one wide sweep, Maj. Dargue headed
the big formation back to Boiling
Field. Directly over the post he sig
nailed for q formation break and the
group broke Immediately, some going
TO the left and others to the right.
The escorting planes withdrew far
and wide, giving the Pan-American
afrmen complete control of the air.
"A few moments passed as MAI.
Dargue reduced his 3,000-foot altitude.
As the wind was from the South, he
withdrew over Anacostia out of sight
Of the spectators and short time
later came gliding in from the North
edge Of the field. The amphibian's
wheels touched the ground at Boiling
Field at 4:56 o'clock and as the huge
bKnck and yellow bird roared up to
the Zine" the audience broke into
applause.
Maj Darque Greeted First
Secretaries Davis and Dawson,
Mai. Gen. Charles 2. Summerall and
Gen. Patrick, chief of the Army Air
Corps, then marched out from the
presidential stand. Maj Darque, the
first to alight, was greeted by the
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