Evening star., 1928-02-08
Officials and Diplomats to
Greet French Aviators, Due
This Afternoon.
IL NEWEST U. S. PLANES
TO HOP OFF AS ESCORT
Small Crowd Gathers at Boiling
Field-Social Functions Ar.
ranged for Airmen.

Warrington this afternoon vas anx-
lousiy awaiting the safe arrival at BoI-
Ing Field Of Frances two famous air
men-Lieut. Dieudonne Costes and
Lieut. Concr. Joseph Lebr;x-vho took
on from Maxwell Field, Montgomery.
Ala, at $40 o'clock this morning. Cen.
tral time. for nonstop flight through
raln fog and general thick and unfayor-
able flying weather.
At Boiling Field a small crowd had
gathered and by O'Clock high officers
OF the Government. the diplomatic
corps and Army and Navy al, lien were
arriving TO receive officially the two air.
men who are the first to make a nom
stop flight across the South Atlantic
ocean from the mainland Of Africa TO
the mainland Of South America.
Twelve Of the newest and best planes
IN the military services took OF
at O'Clock to hold rendezvous
over Fort Humphreys. where the
breguet blplane Nungesser ct Coli vas
to be picked up and escorted to the
field The military air fell vas In a
generally unsatisfactory condition owing
10 the rain, but the l2 escort planes.
more familiar with the good and bad
portions than the visitors. we're to land
first and show the French plane the
way.
Noted Group Of Welcomery.
In the receiving stand to welcome the
flyers this afternoon were Secretary Of
War Davis. Secretary of the Navy VIII
bur. Acting Secretary of state Olds,
Ambassador Claudel Of France and hts
stafi. the three assistant secretaries 20:
aeronauticS, William P. MacCracken.
jr.: r. TTubee Dawson and Edward p.
Warner: the air attaches of the en-
basSies, and three score or more ARMY
and Navy aviaiors IN uniform.
The Navy Band was TO welcome the
visitors with the French anthem and
The Star Spangled Banner" and after
being formally greeted. the nyers 90 to
the French embassy in automobiles,
where the Army Band arranged 20 vel.
come them with military music. A re-
ception by Maj. Georges Theunault. air
attache. follows.
The banquet that had been planned
for tonight at the Maydower Hotel as q
tributs TO the airmen from the citizens
OF Washington. and which IS under she
sponsorship Of the National Ae.omaut.e
Association. was postponed sc neon to-
iav until Saturday night at 7:30 O'Clock.
The postponement was agreed upon
following conference between Am
baSSador Claudel and John r. Victory
OF the national advisory committee for
aeronauticS. in charge OF the AFFAIR
Tickets held for tcnight's postponed
function will be honored Saturday
night. 1t was explained. Mr.. Victory
stated today that the banquet would net
be limited Ia members Of the aSSocia-
ton. but that the public Is invited.
Tickets may be obtained at the head
quarters Of the association. in the Barr
Building
Nine Army single and two scatter
fighting planes and three Navy single
scatter fighters constitute the aerial
formation OF welcome. The pilots OF
the Army group are, First formation
of three CurtiSs P-l pursuit planes.
Lieuts. Henry r. Angel. J. S Dexter
and r. l. HaZen: second formation Of
curtiSs Falcon" OIL observation
planes, LieuiS, Bob E. Nowland. William
Scott and Elwood QueSada: third FOR
nation Of Falcons" Capt. l.. G. Null
ser Lieuts, Peter E. Skanse and Dev-
ereux Meyers,
VIII Visit President
Navy formation Of CurtiSS Hawk"
fighting planes Iieuts, Ernest ", Liteh.
Frederick r. Buse and A. J. Williams,
ir,
Tomorrow noon the flyers will be re-
ceived by President Cool,ag" a. the
White House and Immediately after
their visit with the Executivs they will
be guests u, a luncheon given by the
three Assistant Air Secretaries AZ the
Maynower Hotel Tomorrow night Q
grand ball will be given III their l.onor
at the French embassy and FRIDAY they
will b. entertained by the President and
Mrs Coolidge at luncheon at the White
House
In flying 10 Washington today. the
French atrnien are using u reversed pcr-
ton Of Col. lindberghS Nonstop course
between the Capital and Mexico City.
Should .rev adopt u diree: rcute "aS
the crow flies" they weult pass over
Atlanta after leaving Montgomery. The
northwest tip Of South Caroln,a. VEST
ern North Carolina. Roanoke. Char
lotteSt,lle and fredericksburg
This route calls Tor ryins over areas
that are mountainous and OF sssc sc,lhsg-
terrain type, In the event they elect
not IN take this courSe because IT the
weather, they would bear closer TO the
MAST line According ,c weather repeEss
'ereived at noon, conditions around FAY
etteviliv> N, G., aud Norfolk were very
favorable.