The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-08-16
ROCKFORD SHIP
ONTARIO BOUND
ON FIRST JUI'
Illinois Men to Rest at Co
rane Tonight Before Green
land Trip
NOT DAUNTED BY CRASH
America Greenland Iceland
Sweden Air Epic Is Under
Way Today

Cochrane, Ont, Aug. 16.-
(AP)-Bert Hassell and Parker
Cramer landed here at 2:3O
o'clock this afternoon, complet-
ing the first lap of their flight
from Rockford, ILL.,, to Stock
holm, Sweden. They left Rock
ford early this morning, and will
spend the night here before con.
tinuing.
Rockford, Ill.,, Aug. 16.-(AP)-
Bert Hassell took off at GAO a. IA.
Central standard time, today, on the
first lap ot a proposed flight to
Stockholm, Sweden. With Hassell in
the monoplane Greater Rockford was
Parker Cramer, co-pilot.
A large crowd had gathered at the
airport when the big plane was
rolled from its hangar shortly after
8 a. m. The pilots began warming up
the motors, and without any delay
took off at GAO. Weather conditions
for the flight across Canada were
considered ideal, and the Greater
Rockford crew were sure they would
make Cochrane on scheduled time.
The hop from Cochrane to Green.
land is about 1000 miles, much Of
it over water. From Greenland the
flyers plan another hop to Iceland.
and then final jump to Stockholm,
their goal.
The pilots made a perfect hop-off.
circling over the field until the biz
plane had made an altitude Of about
1000 feet, when it was nosed north
eastward toward Cochrane, Ont.
where Hassell planned to make his
first stop and spend the night.
Head for COchrane
The pilots were scheduled to reach
Cochrane in about eight hours, stop.
ping over there to refuel and tune
up the plane for 4 second hop to
Greenland tomorrow.
Hoth Hassell and Cramer cx-
pressed confidence Of success as
they climbed into the Greater Rock
ford and waved goodbye. They were
not daunted by the accident which
halted their first attempt three
weeks ago, when their plane, heavily
loaded for one hop to Greenland,
was unable to make altitude and
crashed in corn field shortly after
leaving Rockford.
A heavy fog over Rock river made
visibility none too good, but the pi-
lots were determined to make their
hop, regardless. They spent less
than 40 minutes warming up their
engine, and, casually waving good
bye, they gave it the gun"
a cn,yCLrnv n$ =:
the air to accompany the Greater
Rockford on part of its journey.
Hassell's take-off was perfect. He
only sped down the runway about
800 yards before taking off.
It was estimated that a crowd Of
fully 10000 was at the field to sec
the flyers off. There was some ex-
citement when another monoplane
crashed into q fence shortly before
Hassell hoped, but no damage was
done, and the plane joined the others
in hopping off after Hassell.
Fred Machesney, proprietor Of the
Rockford airport, returned to the
field at 7:20, reporting he had ac-
companied the Greater Rockford a.
far as Clinton, Wis. He said he ex.
perienced great difficulty in trying
to keep up with Hassell, and when
he last saw the Greater Rockford it
was speeding northeast from Clinton
on q direct line for Cochrane.
The hop to Cochrane would take
the flyers over about 500 miles Of
the route. From Mt. Evans to their
iceland base the mileage is about
884. Their last hop to Stockholm
covers about 1870 miles. much Of it
over the sea.
It was reported at the airport that.
in the excitement of taking off, the
flyers forgot to put in their lunches
they had packed for today. However.
no apprehension was felt, since they
were due to arrive in Cochrane
shortly after mealtime, and they had
emergency rations, if needed.
The radio on the Greater Rockford
was given the call letters Of KHAN,
and Operator Cramer said he would
endeavor to send out reports every
hour, on the hour.
The wave length Of the Greater
Rockford's radio transmitter was as-
signed as 32.8 meters.
The big plane was stocked with
ample food supplies and other pro-
visions for the northern flight. Be-
sides food, the pilots carried I col
lapsible rubber boat, an axe, 4 rifle.
hiking outfits, first aid kits, and
q radio.