Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-26
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN FLYERS
VIE AT NATIONAL AIR RACES
Combat Maneuvers and Stunt" Thrill
Great Crowds as Annual Classic of
Aviation World Starts.

+ There were speeches by such aero
nautical leaders as L. W. Greene, presi-
dent Of the national air races; Capt
Frank CD. Hunter, famous Army pur-
suit pilot; Assistant Secretary OF the
Navy for Aeronautics David s. ingalls,,
who is a native Clevelander: Rear ,Ad-
miral William A. Moffett, chief OF the
NAVY Bureau of Aeronautics; Capt
Eddie Rickenbacker, leading American
war ace: Cliff Henderson, who Is rum
ming this show, and Floyd Logan, chair
man of the contest committee. All OF
the pilots. parachute jumpers and
other celebrities who could be gotten
to the microphone were introduced.
The opening flying event was an
Ohio derby, six planes getting away at
two-minute intervals on tWo-day
flight around the State. They were all
of the light plane type flown by civilian
pilots delegated by air craft firms.
Obsolete Types Race.
A race for planes powered with the
now obsolete wartime OX-5 motor
resulted in no contest when the judges
discovered that some of the ships had
been flown around the lO-mlle course
rather than the S: The race Will De
flown again later in the week. There
was only forced landing in the middle
Of the airport when one OF the vener-
able engines sat down to rest.
Interest In the race tagged abruptly
when a formation of six Marine Corps
fighting planes from Quantico, Va,
dove across the field and warmed up
the aviation fans to their first real
burst of applause of the afternoon.
Returning to the field, Capt. Arthur
Page. in command of the formation,
led his two sections into tight loop,
repeated 1t over the stands and swung
away again. Returning in section col
umns, the planes tipped into success
sion of squirrel cage" loops which set
the crowd wild
AS the Marines landed in a cloud Of
dust, every spine tingled and every
head snapped in unison. There was a
shrek from the sky as II bowling
Wasp motors saluted two -9-plane
divisions of Navy pursuit planes in a
long dive. The Navy planes were
Squadron No. /. from the U. S. s.
Saratoga and had just completed the
long fight across country from San
Diego, Calf, where their mother car
rier Is stationed.
Guard Flyers Race.
A s-plane formation Of keystone
1dLltIlCL bOiiibuA AAAACht
planes from the second bombardment
group Langley Field. Va, came in
next, followed by Is attack planes from
Fort Crockett, Tex. and ID pursuit
planes from Selfridge Field, Mich.
Aerial fighting maneuvers were gone
through by both Army and Navy
planes. The demonstration concluding
with the latest type three-way attack
developed for straffng of battleships or
ground targets, with the planes split in
three directions and diving in rapid sue
cession from three points Of the COM
pass upon the target. The maneuver Is
supposed to split up opposing anti
aircraft fire.
Three civilian pilots in sport Wacos,
led by Freddy Lund. few in formation
upside down and otherwise disported
themselves in giddy fashion.
The National Guard Flying Service
held the aerial stage with race over
q 70-mile course in which IL planes
were entered. It was won by Mai.
John Owen, Newton Center. Mass, with
q speed Of just q fraction below $50
miles per hour. - g.