Evening star., 1928-06-06
BALLOON RACE WON
. BY ARMY AIR CORPS
Victorious Bag Covers 261
MiIes-Akron Entry Is Sec
ond, Detroit Third.

The Army Air Corps balloon, carry
ing Capt w. E. Kepner. pilot, and
Lieut.. William o. Eareckson, aide, of
Scott Field Belleville, ILL.,, today was
officially declared the winner of the
National Elimination Balloon race by
the contest committee of the National
Aeronautic Association, under whose
regulations the event was held from
Pittsburgh on Memorial day.
The balloon entered by the American
Business Club of Akron and carrying
C. A. Palmer, pilot, and j. w. Nell
aide, was given second place. while the
Detroit Balloon Clubs entry, with w
c. Naylor, pilot, and Russell Wherritt
aide. was awarded third place These
three balloons are eligible to represent
the United States in the Gordon Ben
nett International Balloon Race, to
start from Detroit June 30.
Official Measurements.
Official announcement Of the stand
ing of the ID balloons was delayed un-
til today, owing to the fact that much
data concerning the landings and an
official check of the distance covered
had to be made. Yesterday afternoon
d. H. Baldwin of the Geological Sur
vey measured the distances traversed
by each and reported his findings to
Carl F.. Schory. secretary Of the contest
committee.
The distance covered by the winnnc
Army balloon was 26l \, miles, the land
ing having been made at point l
mile north of Weems and 2 miles
west of Irvington. Va. The balloon
piloted by Palmer covered 248 miles be-
fore landing at a point 4 miles
southeast of Cummor. Va, and Navlor S
craft went down 3 miles west at
Whitewater, Va, after having flown
1872 miles. These three balloons were
the only ones to get out of Pennsyl-
vania, the rest having either been
struck by lightning or brought down
voluntarily.
Order of Finish.
The remaining contestants covered
distances ranging from 5a4 to 80 As
miles. The order in which they finished
follows.
Detroit Balloon Club entry, c. NJ. La
Gallee and w. A. Elikoff. Connellsville.
Pa. distance. 30 As miles; Naval Air
Station, Lakenurst. N. j., Lieut.. T. q.
w. Settle and George N. Steelman,
South Perryopolis. Pa, 2ll2 miles;
Army balloon from Langley Field, Lieut..
Paul Evert (killed by lightningl and
Lieut.. U. G. Ent. Foxdale. Pa. 49,.
miles; Goodyear Tire g. Rubber Co. w.
T. Van Orman and W. w. Morton (thc
latter killed by lightning), Youngwood,
Pa. 17li miles.
Cleveland Chamber Of Commerce. C..
X. Wollam and J. r. Cooper, Young
wood Pa. 14As miles; Z. j. Hill and
A. G. Schlosser. Irwin. Pa, 1914 miles;
George Hineman and E. r. Johnson,
Jeannette Pa. IL miles; Army balloon
from Scott Field. Capt. Edmund Hill
and Lieut.. j. G. Fisher, Irwin. Pa. 10
miles; Gardner Motor Co. St. Louis,
H. E. HONEYWELL and Arthur C. Hoskins,
near Irwin, Pa. 8 miles; Naval Air
Station. Lakehurst. Lieut.. j. H. Stevens
and Lieut.. George F. Watson. Pitcairn.
Pa. IA miles. and the Pittsburgh sun
Telegraph, w. G. Bennett and Walter
Chambers. Trafford City. 534 miles,
The winning Army balloon covered
the shortest distance ever made by a
winner of the national races since they
started in 1909. The previous low
record" recorded, 301 80 miles, was made
between St Louis and Fort Pleasant,
KY, In 1914 by r. A, D, Preston.