Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-16
Get Good Start.


ROCKFORD, III, August Is OP).-H
P. Ferdinand, amateur radio operator
reported he had received message
from the Greater Rockford airplane
at 1888 central standard time. report
ing the plane was over Whitefish Point
Mich.
Hassen, accompanied by Parker
Cramer, co-pilot and navigator, took
OF at $40 am. Central standard time
on the first leg of the flight.
Their first objective was Cochrane
Ontario.
The pilots make a perfect hop-of
from the airport, circiing over the fielc
until the big plane had made an alti'
ttide of about / 900 feet when It was
nosed northeastward toward Cochrane
A squadron Of escort planes took tht
air with the flyers.
There was some excitement when an
other moroplane crashed into fence
shortly before Hasseil hoped, but nc
damage was done and the plane Joined
the others in hopping OF after Hasseii
Most of the escort planes were chart
cred by news photographers ana re-
porters and were back at the nelo
shortly after Hasselrs plane was lost 70
view
Fred Machesney, proprietor of the
Rockford Airport. returned to the field
at 7:2o. reporting he had accompanied
the Greater Rockford as far as Clinton
wis. He said he experienced great olf-
hculty IN trying 70 keep up with Has
se1I. and when he last saw the Creates
Rockford it was speeding northeas'
from Clinton on a direct line tol
Cocflrane
Due in Hours.
The uair was scheduled to reach
rochrane in about s hours, stopping
over there TO refuel and tune UP the
plane for a second hop to Greenland
tomorrow.
Both HasseI and Cramer expressed
confidence of success as they climoec
into the Greater Rockford and waved
eood-by. They were not daunteo by
the accident which halted their FRS
attempt three weeks ago when Their
uIane, heavily loaded for one hop tc
Greenland. was unable 10 make altitude
and crashed In cornfeld shortly after
leaving Rockford.
A large crowd of 10000 had gath
cred at the airport when the plane
was rolled from its hangar shortly after
8 am. The pilots began warming ur
the motors. and without any delay took
Of 40 minutes later. Weather condi-
tons for the flight across Canada were
considered ideal and the Greater Rock
ford crew was certain ii would make
Cochrane on scheduled time.
Garry Rubber Boat.
From Rockford their course wa
northeast across Canada TO Cochrant
and thence on 10 Mount Evans. Green
land. From Rockford 70 Cochrane !!
about 300 miles. From CechTane 4
Mount Evans ii is 900 miles. Tnt
pilots planned 10 make shorter hoI
from Mount Evans 10 ReyEl Elavik, Ice
land. 334 miles, where base was read;
for additional fuel and oil. Between
Reykjavik and the Swedish coast, theii
last hop. of about 1880 miles, lies {
great expanse Of open sea.
The big plane was stocked viii
ample food supplies and other pro
visions for the northern flight Beside
food the pilots carried a collapsibI'
rubber boat, an AK, rife, hiking out
fits and flrst-aid kits.
The Greater Rockford, fully loaded
weighs about 5000 pounds and has 3
wing spread Of &c feet II can carr
three persons, although the flight wa
limited 70 q crew Of two.
A radio on 323-meter wave iengti
was part Of the planes equipment. ant
Continued on Page 6. Column 81