Imperial Valley press., 1928-07-14
FLYER
HAS CONFIDENCE
OF HIS FRIENDS
BY NEA SERVICE

NEW MAETINSNILLE, w. Va,
July 14-Inhabitants of this city
are watching closely the progress
Of the proposed transatlantic
flight to be made by VI. II. ''Ding-
err Daughtcry, who halls from
here.
Despite the fact that he has no
legs, and only one arm, ''Dinger -
is an accomplished pilot and hopes
to fly from New York to Rome on
a nonstop trip. Notwithstanding
his physical handicaps "Dinger
is certain he will succeed, and his
ftlow-townsmcn hold the same
opinion.
The first leg of his flight is al
ready under way. Daughtery hop
ped off from Langlin field here the
other day for New York. to confer
with friends there before taking
off on his nonstop flight to Rome
Although he was forced down with
in SO miles of Roosevelt field, New
York, his friends here are still con
fident that he will make it.
Daughtcry is %, the son of a
farmer living near town. On his
graduation from the local high
school, he got a job as yard clerk
in the Baltimore 4 Ohio railway
offices here. 1t was that job that
led to rs being crippled. Work
ing on train one day, he fell be
meath the wheels. Both legs and
one arm were severed. lie spent
long months in a hospital.
Uses Artificial Limbs
When Dinger recovered he set
out to overcome his handicap. He
got two artificial legs and an arti-
ficial arm and spent months gec-
ting familiar with their use. Even,
tually he was able to walk nearly
as we'll as ever: strangers who saw
him on the street did net often
realize that he was crippled.
Then he studied tclcgraphy. In
the course of time he became Il
railroad train dispatcher here, and
from that post he catered politics.
being elected county assessor on tie
Democratic ticket by the largest
majority on record here He is just
new completing his second terri
in that office.
A couple of years ago New
Martinsville got the thrill of its
life. IIloraa Swanson came hcrc
with her movie company to make
the film. 'Stage Struck Cor
geous Gloria, without realizing it.
gave the Dinger and idea.
eff she can become well known
and popular. and can cash in on
it, why can IT H. muscd the Ding
cr. Forthwith he decided to learn
to fly an airplanc.
Last winter Daughterv went 20
Florida, where he learned to fly.
Despite his physical handicaps he
became proficient pilot, winning
n license as a transport pilot from
the Department of Commerce. This
spring he flew his ship from Florida
to New Martinsville' and it was
after that flight that he set his
mind on Il flight to Italy.
Travels Alone
All spring he studied navigation.
The use of radio was already an
open booE to him. In between
times he devoted himself to the
art of analyzing weather bureau
reports. At length he decided that
he was ready.
So, the other day, he climbed
into his plane, sped down the run
way here and was off for New
York. He will take off for Italy,
he says, rs soon us weather re
ports are favorable. He is SUI
prcmcly confident that he will
make it successfully.
His fellow citizens are Gonff-
dent, too. They point out that the
Dingcr has way of overcoming
hqndicans. Hasn' he leorend to
dance, drive an auto and use a
typewriter since he was crippled
Ism I he also a skilled stunt pilot
even though he has only enc good
limb instead of four,