Evening star., 1928-06-13
FRENCH AIR GROUP
FETEp IN CAPITAL
Complete 5000 Mile Tour of
u. S. to Study Aviation
Developments.

Headed by Gen. Paul Boucabeille,
who led the famous taxicab army
which rushed to the Marne in the early
days OF the World War and saved Paris
from capture by the Germans, the
French aeronautica1 mission, which
hase just completed 9,000-mie flight
throughout the United States to study
the operations OF the air mail, air pas
Senger traffic and aircraft factories.
was in Washington today for a brief
rest preparatory to sailing for France
from New York Friday.
The mission arrived at the Naval Air
Station at Anacostia yesterday after
noon In the Navy Ford three-engined
monoplane that had been placed at
It's disposal and which was piloted
throughout the trip by Lieut.. II. r.
Bowes and Lieut. George de Baum, both
Of the local air base.
Trip to Mount Vernon.
A trip to Mount Vernon and lunch
con as guests OF honor of the National
Aeronautical Association at the Hay
Adams house constituted the program
today. Last night the members were
given dinner at the MayfloWer Hotel
Assistant Secretaries of War Navy and
Commerce for Aeronautics-F Trubee
Dawson, Edward p Warner and Will
nam p. MacCracken. jr, respectively.
Tne local Navy plane picked up The
mission at the air mail terminal Had
ley Field, New Brunswick, N. j., on
May "a and flew to the West coast and
back. making stops at the following
places for investigation and study:
Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland, Iowa City,
Omaha, North Platte, Cheyenne. Salt
Lake City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San
Diego, Ell Paso, Wichita, Kansas City.
st. Louis Dayton, Columbus and Wash
ington. Three of the party made the
trip into Washington late yesterday in
plane furnished by the Buhl Airplane
Co. of Marysville, Mich.
Throughout the trip, the first OF its
kind, and one Of the longest ever un-
dertaken by large transport loaded TO
capacity, Ljeuts. Bowes and DeBaun ex-
perienced no trouble. The pilots. who
mad never carried such a heavy LOAD
over the Rocky Mountains, were little
apprehensiye before leaving Cheyenne
about the trip, but they reported the
three engines hoisted them over the
humps" without difficulty.
Met Violent Head Wind.
Now and then they were forced to
cruise up and down a narrow valley
and look for an opening in the ridges
when clouds covered the peaks. On
the last stage OF the journey into Salt
Lake City over the most treacherous
portion OF the mountain route, VIC
lent head wind held the speed of the
plane down TO about Is miles per hour.
Besides Gen. Boucabeille, others in
the party are: Henri Pichot and M.
Fournier OF the Chamber OF Com
merce OF Paris. NJ. de Montgolfier of
Troyes, Or. Abdel Nour of Ardenes,
e. Cochart OF Charlesville, Prof.
David Salfati Of Paris, Col Andre
Wateau, noted French ace who in
the first week or two OF the war few out
over the German advance in a prima-
tive airplane and discovered the plan
OF attack on Paris: M. d'AnglejaR of
the French air mail service, j. Joire, a
banker of Tourcoing. and Fl. Kahn, an
engineer of Paris. Leighton w. Rogers.
commercial attache in France, was
assigned by the Department of Com
merce to accompany the delegation on
It's trip.
Met by Embassy OfficiaI
OpOit It's arrival ht the air SLALlDIl
yesterday the delegation was met by
Maj. Georges Thenault, air attache OF
the French Embassy who escorted the
members TO the French Embassy and
presented them TO Ambassador Claudel.
Those present at the dinner last night
were:
Ambassador CiaudeI, Mai. Gen
Charles r. Summerall, chief of staff
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, chief
of the Bureau OF Aeronautics. Rear Ad-
miral Charles F. Hughes. chief of OPP
erations; Mai. Gen James f.. Fechet,
chief OF the Army Air Corps Mai. Gen.
John A. Lejeune, commandant OF the
Marine Corps; Brig. Gen BENJAMIN D.
Foulois. assistant chief OF the Air Corps,
Robert f. Olds, Undersecretary OF State
Porter Adams. president Of the National
Aeronautic Association: Mai, Thenault.
Capt. Emory s. Land. assistant chief of
the Bureau of Aeronautics: Commits
sioner Taliaferro; Capt. Ira C. Eaker.
Pan american goodwill flyer: DR.. Julius
Klein, chief OF the Bureau OF Foreign
and Domestic Commerce: Or. George
w. Lewis. director OF research. national
advisory committee for aeronautics. and
Maj. Clarence M. Young. director OF
aeronautics, Department OF Commerce.