Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-11
WELCOME ROARED
TO RETURNING FLYER
BY IS AlRPLANES

Continued from First Page)
the ship time and again, circled over
Northeast and Southeast Washington
and returned to their escort duty,
while about 81 Navy and Marine Corps
planes from Hampton Roads and
Quantico carried out the same pro.
gram on the port side of the vessel.
Meanwhile the Los Angeles, able to
throttle down to a speed comparable
to that Of the Memphis, held course
directly above the ship. The planes
and the airship carried the Memphis
through cheering throngs on the Po-
tomac Park and War College point sea
walls and the naval air station sea
wall up to the navy yard and then
their task was at an end.
The Army, by it's numbers and it's
perfectly drilled formations, bore the
brunt of the reception. Nine Martin
bombers from Langley Field, flying in
a huge Vshaped formation, cruised
alongside the Memphis while thou
sand feet higher were 26 Army pur-
suit planes. 81 of which were from
Selfridge Field, Michigan. In addi.
ton, there were 9 observation. Army
and 2 air mail planes. The air mail
planes carried two Of Col. Lindbergh's
close friends. They flew to Washing.
ton yesterday to participate in the
welcome.
The roar of the many engines in the
skies was made even more penetrat-
ing by the pursuit group. which now
and then, on a signal from Maj.
Thomas Lanphier, the commander,
flying the leading plane. pointed their
noses downward, and at a speed of
more than $50 miles an hour dived
onto the nine bombers and nine OBJ
servation planes, sending out pene-
trating drone that turned all eyes IN
their direction.
Sky Appears Crowded.
The large number of planes handled
themselves perfectly in the air, al
though conditions appeared to be
somewhat crowded. despite the fact
that the entire sky was there.
The Army pursuit planes took off
from Boiling Field on information
flashed from radio plane, in groups
Of threes. Maj. Lanphier and his
flight were off first, and they waited
in the air above Boiling Field until
the remaining % planes had joined
them. Then they struck out for Alex
andria.
The Martin bombers, lined up to
take off into the wind which then was
blowing from the north, were forced
to shift their position as the wind
direction changed and came in from
the west. They had to use a short
portion of the field and take of over
the water. They went off one BIZ one
and until all nine were in the air when
they snapped into a V-shaped forma.
ton. The nine observation planes
then followed and the Army's aerial
reception committee went forth to wait
on and welcome their distinguished
colleague.
Four torpedo planes, part of a contin-
gent of more than rs that went out to
sea yesterday and greeted the Mem
phis, appeared in sight shortly after
the Los Angeles pushed her shining
nose up the river. These four planes
were followed by four more of that
type. and then came three Marine
fighters from Quantico. Soon this
number was joined by IL Navy fight.
ing planes from Hampton Roads. and
the aerial escort and greeting was at
its height.
AS the Memphis prepared to dock
at the Navy Yard, a white panel was
placed on Boiling Field and the ARMY
planes landed. The Navy craft, those
of the seaplane type, landed in the
river and the others followed onto the
ground.