The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-17
OCEAN FLIERS
REST HERE ON
DETROIT jump
Throng Shouts Welcome to
Bremen Crew; Visit
Wives in City.
RECEPTION is INFORMAL
Worn Airmen Happy When
Elaborate Greeting Is
Dispensed With.

Baron Gunther Won Huenefeld
Mai. James G. Fitzmaurice and
Capt. Hermann Koehl the trium-
virate of fliers who made the first
successful westward crossing of the
Atlantic, took off from Schoen> Field
for Detroit at 1885 a. m. today, after
an afternoon and night of the most
exceptional entertainment that
they have received in any city i'll
America.
They actually were permitted to
rest.
The reason for this does not lie in
any want of desire on the part OF
Indianapolis citizenry to welcome
the heroes as they have been wei
coined elsewhere.
1t was just that the visit here
Wednesday was so impromptu that
nc elaborate entertainment plans
could be made and the f1ierS were
very, very happy.
Haldeman Also Leaves
George Haldeman, pilot Of the
American Girl plane with Ruth
Elder on their eastward Atlantic
fight, also took off for Detroit in
his Stinson Detroiter, which he has
been demonstrating here for the
last ten days.
He was with the fliers from the
time of their arrival, his plane be-
ing a member of the feet greeting
them at Schoen Field.
It was not until Wednesday
morning that the actual decision
was reached to make Indianapolis a
stopping off place for the Bremen
hiers, en- route from st. Louis to
Detroit.
Wives Visiting Here
Mrs. F1tzmaurice and Mrs. Koehi
are visiting here at the home OF
Mrs. Koehl's cousins, Mr.. and Mrs
Richard A. Kurtz, Seventy Second
ST. and White River. 1t was after
long distance telephone confer
ence between husbands and wives
that Indianapolis was placed on the
itinerary.
Late in leaving st. Louis, it was
2:20 p. m. before they landed here.
BY that time large crowd had COL
lected and more or less formal
greeting was prepared.
Under escort of one plane from
the army and another from the
national guard, the huge Junkers
monoplane, sister ship to the his
tory-making Bremen used in the
Atlantic crossing, scared out of the
southwest, circled the field twice
and came to rest a half-mile from
the welcoming crowd in what avi-
ators call dead stick" landing.
Welcomed Heartily
Then the welcoming.
How are you, Fitz?" Mrs. Fitz-
maurice greeted her dashing, mill
tary- -garbed husband as he dis
mounted from the plane cabin.
They embraced and then she in
formed him that weather reports
from Detroit said flying conditions
there were dangerous and the party
might have to remain here over
night.
"Fitz" smiled a bit wearily and
seemed unmoved by the news. Later,
all the crew members expressed
qualification at the circumstances.
Captain Koehl dismounted hurled
ly and worriedly. His mind was on
the motor that had frozen" 1t was
a few minutes before he noted the
presence of pretty Mrs. Koehl. Then
a broad smile replaced the froWn
on his face and he ieaped down to
greet her in effusive German
phrases.
Last to dismount was the Baron,
with cotton in his ears and monocle
in his eye He is slight of stature
and dynamo of energy. He wore
a jau1lty naval type cap and blue
suit of rather militarycut. His first
attentions we're also devoted to the
plane. Later he bestowed aristo-
cratic bows and bent and kissed the
hands of the ladies.
Greeted by Jamerson
The three famous airmen were
ensconced in a Stutz Blackhaws,
with the Irishman at the wheel and
the baron parked on the rear. The
party then drove over to where the
crowd and the military band was
waiting
Brig. Gen. George H. Jarnerson
greeted them officially, and they
stood at attention while the ma
tional anthems of Germany, Ireland
and the United States we're played.