Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-20
BYRD AND NOv|LLE
GIVEN AIR CROSSES
Wilbur Urges Civilian Recog.
milton for Commercial
Aviation ProWeSs.
Ey the Associated Press.


NEW YORK. July 20.-Two more
American aviators today possess that
coveted honor of the air-the Distln-
guished Flying CroSs-hiShest trophy
of American acronauttcs.
Curtis d. Wilbur, Secretary OF the
Navy last night pinned crosses on the
breasts of Condr. Richard r. BYRD
ir and Lieut.. George .. Novllle Tor
i1vjng the America from New York to
france under adverse conditions. The
-,~esentations were made at munlcl-
PAL banquet.
clarence D. Chamberain. pilot of the
Columbia, that plowed- through loS
TO win it's way to Germany, ana bert
Acosta and Bernt Balchen, shlpmateS
Of Byrd and Neville. saw the medals
r;nncd on the natty white uniforms Of
their co.heroes, and Joined in the Wig
orous APPLAUSE.
Civilian Recognition Urged.
Mayor Walker. toastmaster, suS-
rested that Balchen, Acosta ana Chanl.
berlin. all civilians, should be indicted
INTO the Reserve Officers' Corps SO
that Congress might award them SINH
lar crosses. He said the suggestion
came to him from Comdr. Byrd. only
members Of the Army or Navy can
be awarded the cross.
Secretary Wilbur expressed the hope
that lin view of the necessity Tor the
DEVELOPMENT Of commercial aviation"
some form of recognition will be pro-
yided by Congress for the civilian
flyers.
Comdr. Byrd expressed his pleas.
urs at the Secretary's statement and
declared Chamberlin, Acosta AM Bal
chen deserve the honor ''as much as
We do, if not more"
Best i'm Country.
"r want to say this" said Coridr
Byrd. 81 am proud TO receive this
reception and to share 1t with Clar--
ence Chamberlin. He is a gallant
gentleman and gallant flyer, and
what he has done is unexceiled in
the whole history of aviation, If not
In the history of the world.
IT want to say word about my
shipmates who went on the America
with me. Those fellows did not go
for glory. / selected them because I
thought they were the best in the
country"
Chamberlin humorously described
q transatlantic flight as comparatively
q simple matter.
Most anybody" he said. "can fly
the first is hours. That's no trick
at all. And after that all you have
to do Is look down at the ocean and
then recall that it is just as far back
to America as it is ahead to Europe"
Comdr. Byrd sketched the results
Of their fight in scientific data gath.
cred in long hours without sight of
land or water. and predicted tansat.
iantic flights on a regular commercial
basis within 10 years.
Many Distinguished Visitors.
In the same room in which Col.
1indbergh was accorded similar honor
the flyers were toasted and eulogiZed
by speakers to the applause Of some
1000 banqueters.
William H. Woodin, representing
Gov. Smith, welcomed the aviators
for the State Of New York. DIR. John
III. Finley was another speaker. Cardi.
nal Hayes gave the invocation and
Bishop William T. Manning said the
benediction. -
Maxine Mongendre. consul general
Of France, and Sir Harry G. Arm
strong, consul general of Great Britain,
were at the speakers table.
As he pinned each medal to the
myers white Navy uniform Secretary
Wilbur said:
THE President Of the United States
takes pleasure in presenting the Dis
tinguished Flying Cross for services
on the occasion Of the flight of the
plane America from New York City
TO France. Citation is for extraor.
binary achievement in aerial flight, in
recognition of courage, resourceful.
ness and Skill"