Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-11
4,OOO-Mile Flight
To Sweden Planned
By Two u. S. Pilots
Hassell and Cramer TO Al
tempt One-Stop Trip
to Stockholm.

A 4,000-mile one-stop flight from
Rockford, Ill, to Stockholm, Sweden
With departure scheduled for the goth
of this month, will be undertaken by
B. r. ]. tFish) Hassell, pioneer airman
and Parker D. tShorty) Cramer, an
aeronautical inspector of the Depart
ment of Commerce, according to de-
tailed plans announced by Cramer dur
ing a call at the department late yester-
day afternoon.
Following a Great Circle course. the
two airmen, in single-engined Stinson-
Detroiter monoplane, plan stop in the
western part of Greenland. several miles
inland from Holsteinborg, on Davis
Strait, where a base has been estab-
lshed for them by the Hobbs meteoro-
logical expedition Of the University of
Michigan. From this inland base the
airmen plan to fly direct to Stockholm,
and if their efforts are crowned with
success. they will have travelled what
they claim to be the most feasible route
from the center of the United States to
Europe. Stockholm, they emphasize, is
a terminal for many air lines connecting
all the important cities Of the CONT
nent, and it requires but few hours
additional flying after arrival at the
Swedish city to be in France. England
or Central Europe.
Cramer Granted Leave.
Cranler, who since the organization
of the aeronautics branch OF the De-
partment Of Commerce, has been fly
ing inspector. examining applicants for
licenses, inspecting planes and investi-
eating accidents. has been granted a
leave of absence to accompany Hasseu,
who originated the project about a year
ago and has brought 1t up TO the
threshold of an attempt.
HasSen is flyer OF the old school,
having piloted the early models about
the country in 1910 and subsequent
years. He flew continuously until 1925
when, it is said, he thought he would
indulge In other pursuits. But the
game had a grip on him and he once
more has entered the field. His prof.
ect has the moral and financial sup
port of the citizens of Rockford. of
which city HaSSell Is native and resi-
dent. Enthusiasm over the undertaking
there is running high, according to
Cramer. particularly on the part of
large number of residents of Swedish
descent
The first leg of the projected fight
viii take the nonoplane from Rockford,
up through the center of Lake Michi-
gan, thence into Canada near Moose
Factory and the southern tip of James
Bay and thence due east to Cape Child
ley. Here they will encounter their
first over-water flying of any conse-
quence, the north Canada forests being
dotted with lakes, large and small
Without stopping at Cape Chidley,
unless blocked by fog they will pro-
ceed across Davis Strait for about 500
miles. the same body of water and
about the same distance as flown by
the world flyers, except 1t will be farther
north. The course will be set with
the object OF striking HolSteinborg
right on the nose" after which the
ship will proceed inland for few miles
until it picks up the camp Of the
Hobbs expedition. The scientists are
camped on the banks of a river, part
Of which is dry, and its bed offers
several miles of level, hard sand, an
ideal landing field. according to reports
received by the flyers.
Plans for Fueling.
Fuel now is being carried inland by
Eskimos from Holsteinborg, Cramer
said. and pilot-mechanic will be there
10 mark off the area suitable for a
landing With as little delay as possi-
BILE the flyers will take on another
load Of gasoline and oil sufficient for
about 1890 miles Of flying and prepare
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