Evening star., 1928-04-25
LEARNED
LAND PLANES HERE
"PoSt Graduate" Course
Taken at Boiling Field to Fit
/ Self for Macmillan Grew.

Flovd Bennett took his "post-grad-
uate" course in flying i'll Washington
three years ago and Just prior to his
first spectacular adventure-the Mac
MILAN Arctic expedition under the
auspices OF the National Geographic
Society. os which he was n member
Having been chosen as mechanic
nilot for the Looming amphibanS that
COMPRISED the naval aviation section OF
the expedltion. Bennett was ordered
to Washinston al his own request ana
given the KEYS" to the hangers Al
Boiling Field in order that he could
ACQUIRE all the knowledge possible on
the handling Of land planes both Dig
and small.
When Bennett became member ot
the expedition he had very little eN-
perience with land planes. as his tram
ms and experience had been almost
altogether on sea craft.
Learned Army Craft
with a determination that character
iyed his later successes, he plunged INTO
the task of getting on intimate terms
with every Army plane on the helo
starting with the tiny Slngle-Seater
Sperry messenger and ending with the
numbering twin-engined Martin BOMBER.
AT the end OF a weeks intensive
f1vine. he departed as quietly as ne
came and no one heard anything from
him directly as 10 what lie had ac-
conpliShed. A short time ago. B"rnt
Balchen. who piloted the Byrd plane
America virtually the entire distance
between New York and Paris, oehEe.ed
q Fokker plane 10 the Naval Air sta
ton at AnacoStia and III the course oil
.y-s4 nffRarE
delivered a eulogy on Benefits aolaty
ss a big ship pilot
Without a doubt" said the little
Norwegian. Floyd Bennett Is the best
big ship pilot I ever saw.
Partly on recommendation of a rep
reSentative Of The Star who spent As
DAYS with him on the U. S. S. Rich
niond while that cruiser assisted the
Army world flight planes between Eng
land and Boston. Bennett, then quiet,
efficient and unaSsuming mechanic
pilot on that vessel. was Selected TO take
part in the Macmillan expedition.
The Stars representative had seen
Bennett in action-aS a mechanic who
kept the two Wright "Whirlwind" en-
gines and Voight observation planes
aboard the Richmond in tip-top con-
6ition: as a pilot who braved rough
seas in take-offs and landings while
searching for the missing Italian trans
atlantic flyer. Locatelli, and as a hero
who fought dangerous fire that broke
out in one of the planes one morning
early and extinguished it as a general
alarm was sounded throughout the
vessel. For the calm, efficient manner
IN which he handled the fire and pre-
vented damage to other parts Of the
ship. Bennett was commended by the
captain at ceremony before the as
cen1bled crew.
Made Brilliant Record.
Hence q glowing recommendation
was given which served TO substantiate
not only his Navy record. but reports
as 10 his general ability which already
had been received.
Bennett acquitted himself brilliantly
on the Macmillan expedition and re-
turned TO the ranks Of the Navy, only
70 be relieved once more from MS rou-
tine duty by Comdr. Richard z. Byrd,
who, recognizing his qualifications and
characteristics. chose him for the ex-
tremely hazardous role as pilot Of the
North Pole plane.
For this fight TO the Pole Bennett re-
ceiye6 two Of the highest awards with
ing the gift of the American Govern
nlent - the Congressional Medal of
Honor and the Distinguished Service
Medal.
The Medal Of Honor was awarded
"for distinguishing himself by courage
and intrepidity at the risk Of his life
as a member Of the Byrd Arctic Expe-
dition and thus contributing largely TO
the success Of the first heavier than
air craft fight TO the North Pole and
return" 3"
the Distinguished Service Medal was
awarded "for exceptionally n1er1tor.ous
service 10 the Government; his courage
and ability contributed largely 20 the
success Of the first heavier -than-air
craft fight 70 the North Pole and re-
turn"