The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-14
CHAPTER XVII

THERE was a small clearing
l. about 200 yards from the bush,
in which it was possible to land
slow ship.
I landed at Camp Kearny and
sent for one of the cabin HisSo
Standards used by the Ryan Air
lines for their passenger service be-
tween San Diego and Los Angeles.
When the Standard arrived
flew over and landed in the clear
ing near the lost board which was
clearly visible from the air; but,
after a fifteen minute search,
was unable to locate it from the
ground in the thick mesquite.
So I took off my coat and spread
it over the top Of another bush, then
took the air again with the Stand
ard to locate the board in relation
to the coat.
I had no difficulty in locating
them both and found them to be
about fifty yards apart. I landed
again, but could not locate the
board, so moved my coat to the
spot where I thought it should be
and took off again.
This time I had placed the coat
within twenty feet Of the data
board, but it required several
minutes search in the thick
mesquite to finally locate it.
After returned to Camp Kearny
with the Standard, we made
preparations for the weight tests Of
the Spirit of st. Louis.
The tests we're to be made start
ing with a light load and increas-
ing the weight carried by about
fifty gallons Of fuel for each test
up to 300 gallons, which was to be
the maximum load tested
The plane passed its tests easily
and took off with 500 gallons in
twenty seconds or 1923 feet, and
made a maximum speed Of 126 miles
per hour.
The tests were made in quar-
tering wind, varying from two to
nine miles per hour, and at an ele-
walton Of about 600 feet above sea
level.
The final fight ended at dusk,
and the plane was left under guard
on the field over night.
The next morning, after most Of
the gasoline had been drained. 1
few it back to Dutch Flats, where
final preparations we're made for
the flight to st. Louis.
I was delayed four days at San
Diego by general storm area over
the United States that would
greatly jeopardize the success of an
overnight nonstop fight to st.
Louis.
From this flight 7 expected to
obtain some very important data
for use on the final hop from New
York.
On the afternoon Of May 9, Dean
Blake. chief of the San Diego
weather bureau, predicted favorable
flying conditions for the succeeding
day.
The next morning took the plane
to lockwood Field and at 1855 p. m.
Pacific tine) I took off from North
Island with $50 gallons Of gasoline
for the flight to st. Louis, escorted
by two Army observation planes
and one of the Ryan monoplanes.
We circled North Island and San
Diego, then headed on compass
course for st. Louis.
The ship passed over the first
ridge of mountains. about 1000 feet,
very easily with reduced throttle.
The escorting planes turned back
at the mountains, and I passed ON
over the desert and the Salton Sea
alone. And at sunset I was over
the deserts and mountains of west
ern Arizona.
The moon was we'll above the
horizon, and, with the exception OF
a short period before dawn. was
able to distinguish the contour of
the country the entire night.
I flew a compass course, passing
alternately over snow-capped ridges,
deserts and fertile valleys. One of
the mountain ranges was over 10000
feet high and completely snow-cov-
cred. I cleared this range by about
500 feet and went on over the plains
beyond.
The mountains passed quickly and
long before daybreak I was flying
over the prairies of Western Knasas
At dawn I located my position
about twenty miles south of the
course, just east Of Wichita, Kansas
At s a. m, Central Standard time
I passed over Lambert Field and
landed at $3.50 a. M, May II, four
teen hours and twenty-five minutes
after leaving the Pacific Coast.
The weather during the entire
distance had been exactly as Dean
Blake had predicted,
At 9:13 the next morning (May
12th) I took of from Lambert Field
for New York.
The wind was west and the
weather clear for the greater part
of the distance.
Over the Alleghanys, however, the
sky was overcast and some Of the
mountain tops we're in low hanging