New Britain herald., 1927-05-25
AV|ATOR'S own
STORY Of ESCAPE
His Experience as Related in
Official Report
BY CHARLES A. LINDBERGH
In An Official Air Mail Service
Report

III OHAHLES n. LINDbENIH
In An Official Air Mail Service
Report
took off from Lambert-St. Louis
Field at 4:25 p. M, September Is.
ard after an uneyentful trip arrived
at Springfield. ILL.,. at $40 p. m. and
Peoria. ILL.,. at 5;55 p. III.
Off the Peoria Field at 6:1o p. m.
There was a light ground haze, but
the Sky was practically clear with
but scattered cumulous clouds.
Darkness was encountered about Is
miles northeast of Peoria. and took
up a compass course. checking on
the lights of the towns below until
q low fog rolled in under me few
miles northeast Of Marseilles and the
Illinois river.
Flare Falls Him
The fog extended from the ground
up to about 800 feet, and. as I was
unable to fly under 1t, turned back
and attempted to drop a flare and
land. The flare did not function and
again headed for haywood (Chi-
Cages air mail port) hoping to find
= break in the fog over the field.
Examination disclosed that the cause
OF the flare failure was the short
length Of the release lever and that
the flare might still De used by
pulling out the release cable.
Glare Of Towns
I continued on . compass course
1o~rAns until ~ al
I saw a dull glow on the top OF the
fog. indicating town below. There
were several Of these light patches
on the fog, visible only when look
ing away from tho moon, and I
knew them to be towns bordering
: haywood.
At no time, however. was able
to locate the exact position OF the
field, although I understand that the
searchlights were directed upward
and two barrels Of gasoline burned
in an endeavor to attract my atten-
ton. Several times I descended to
tho top OF the fog, which was 500 to
900 feet high. according to my alti-
meter. The sky above was clear with
tho exception OF scattered clouds,
and the moon and stars were shin
ing bright. After circling around for
S5 minutes headed west to be sure
OF clearing Lake Michigan, and in
an attempt to pick up one Of the
lights on the Transcontinental.
Engine Quits
After flying west for fifteen min
l, $,,r
southwest hoping to strike the edge
of the fog south OF the Illinois river.
My engine quit at $40 p. M, and
cut In the reserve. I was at that
time only 1900 feet high, and as the
engine did not pick up as soon as
] expected I showed the flashlight in
my belt and was about to release
the parachute flare and jump when
the engine finally took hold again. A
second trial showed the main tank
to be dry. and accordingly maxi
mum of twenty minutes flying time
left.
There were no openings in the fog
and ! decided to leave the ship as
soon as the reserve tank was ex-
hausted. I tried to get the mail pit
open with tho idea OF throwing out
the mail sacks, and then jumping,
but was unable to open the front
buckle. knew that the risk of fire
with no gasoline in the tanks was
: very slight, and began to climb for
altitude, when I saw light on the
ground for several seconds.
First Td1hfs
This was the first light had seen
for nearly two hours, and as almost
enough gasoline for fifteen minutes
flying remained in the reserve,
Elided down to 1900 feet and pulled
out the flare release cable and as
nearly as could judge over the
spot where the light had appeared.
This time the flare functioned but |,
only to illuminate the top Of a
solid bank Of fog, into which 1t
soon disappeared without showing
any trace Of the ground.
!, Seven minutes gasoline remained |
In the gravity tank. Seeing the glow |
OF Z town through the fog turned |
towards the open country and nosed |
the plane up. At 5000 feet the en-
Eins sputtered and died. stepped |
up on the cowling and out over the
right side Of the cockpit. pulling the
rip cord after 1oo-foot fall. The
parachute. an Irving seat service
type. functioned perfectly: I was
falling head downward when the |
risers jerked me into an upright |
position and the chute opened. This
time saved the rip cord.
Plano Hovers Near
pulled the flashlight from my
belt and was playing 1t down to-
: wards the top of the fog when I
heard the planes engine pick up.
When I jumped 1t had practically
stopped dead and had neglected to
cut the switches. Apparently when
the ship nosed down an additional
supply Of gasoline drained to the
carburetor. Soon she came into
sight. about quarter mile away |
headed in the general direction Of
my parachute.
put the flashlight In a pocket Of
my flying suit preparatory to Slip
ping the parachute out OF the way,
If necessary. The plane was making
a left spiral of about mile
p diameter and passed approximately !
800 yards away from my chute,
leaving me on the outside of the
circle. ! was undecided as to
whether the plane or was descend
ing more rapidly and glided my
chute away from the spiral path
of the ship as rapidly as I could,