Evening star., 1928-05-18
16 SEAPLANES HERE
FOR 10O-M|LE RACE
Two Others Due as Final
Preparations Are Made for
Event Tomorrow.

All but 2 of the 18 planes finally de-
termined upon as entrants for the 100
mile CurtisS marine trophy race were at
the Naval Air Station at Anacostia to-
day making final preparations for the
seaplane classic of America tomorrow
afternoon at O'Clock on the Potomac
River.
While the pilots and mechanics pored
over their engines and planes in an ef-
fort to find" a few more miles that
they believed are needed to place them
"in the money" they cast a wary eye
at the sky now and then and nluttered
hopes that the weather would adjust
itself in order that the only major air.
craft racing contest the East win have
an opportunity to witness this year
maybe will be run off under conditions
at least as ideal as they were two years
ago, when the event was held here.
Hopes for Fair Weather.
Early this afternoon consideration
had been given to the possibility OF un'
fair weather, but 1t had not reached the
point of discussing poStponement or a
probable date in the event 1t Is found
necessary to abandon the contest. 1t
was explained that each of the 18 ships
entered could cover the 100 miles with
out difficulty even though 1t were rain
ing but in this respect thought was
given to the public of Washington, for
which the seaplane display is being held.
The two absent planes this afternoon
were in Quantico and New York. but
both will be here tomorrow II not late
this afternoon. The one at Quantico,
Looming amphibian with Liberty en-
gine. Is being groomed by the Brown
Field mechanics, while the one at New
York, a Vought "Corsair' feet spotter,
is just emerging from the assembly line
Of the factory.
Awards After Race.
The awards to the winning pilots. 1t
was definitely decided today. will be
presented Immediately after the race.
T. Douglas Robinson, assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy, will present the mas
siye Curtiss trophy to the pilot cover
ing the i00-mile course in the shortest
| time Then Edward p Warner, Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy In charge
Of Aeronauttcs, will award his cup, do
mated as a prize to the pilot and plane
/ flying closest to the official speed OF
| the plane. Mr.. Warner, upon request
Of The Evening Star, also viii award
| the gold wrist watches donated by this
newspaper to the winners of the five
| groups into which the entrants are
| divided
Several test flights were made this
morning, and more are scheduled for
this afternoon. They are to familiarize
the pilot with landmarks along the 20
mile course, and also To get in practice
on turning at the two pylons at each
end of the course. Those who flew this
morning were Lieut.. Comdr, A. G.
Miles in his Curtiss Hawk" single
scatter and Lieut. w. q, Tomlinson In
! his Consolidated training plane. both
pilots of the local station: Lieut.. De
Long Mills OF the Naval Air Station at
Lakehurst. NJ. j.. in his Wasp-engined
Looming amphibian. and Lieut. r.. W. d,
Woods OF the Aircraft Squadron's
Scouting Fleet in his big Martin
T3M-2 torpedo and bombing plane.
Maj. Charles A. LutZ commanding
the air detachment at Quantico, and
Capt Harold c. Major, u, s. M, g.. OF
the Bureau of Aeronautlcs we're pre-
pairing TO make pylon flights early this
afternoon.
Numbers to Identify Planes.
Mechanics at the Air Station this
afternoon were painting numbers on
! the wings and fuseiages OF the planes
| for the guidance of the public with re-
spect To the identity Of the pilots. Three
of the torpedo planes, whicfr bear huge
| squadron numbers on the fuseiage and
wings, were entered under these mum"
bers. These appear on the program
as 9~T~l0. 9-T-i4 and 9-T-3 The
"0-T" means that the plane Is from
| Torpedo Plane Squadron No. 0, and the
third number Is the identification with
III the squadron,
Tomorrow afternoon at ] o'clock, u
pilots meeting will be called and Carl
! T.. Echroy, secretary OF theh contest
committee OF the National Aeronautie
Association, under whose rules and reg
ilations the event will be held, with
Lieut. s. w. Galloway OF theh station,
will outline the procedure To be tol~
lowed In the conduct 0f the race.
| Lieut. Galloway, who has had much
experience with hgh~speed racing
planes and races, said today each group
would take off and gather In fornia-
ton overhead II would select It's REM
devious IN the sky and at the desig~
mated time for IL 10 30 across the start
| ing line the formation would deploy
into column The planes VIII follow
one another across, each group crossing
the line at intervals OF two minutes
The sl0weht planes will =trrt FIRST tol-
Continued ON Page 4, Column 6)