Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-20
BYRD FORCED Down
RETURNING TOCAMP
Lack of Fuel Makes Plane
Land in Dangerous
Ice Area.
BY RUSSELL OWEN.

By Radio TO The Star and New York Times
LITTLE AMERICA, Antarctica, No
vember 19.-Comdr. Byrd has made
successful base-laying flight to the
Queen Maud Range, 440 miles south
Of here on the edge of the Polar
plateau. although on the way home
he was forced down by lack of fuel
due to causes as yet unknown.
He landed about 95 miles south OF
Little America last night on the re-
turn trip and fuel was taken out In
the other plane.
1t was unusually cold last night, and
the crew of the big Ford which made
the base-laying flight is probably
waiting for the sun to get higher ana
make easier the task of warming and
cranking the motors.
< Both Landings Rough.
The trip was remarkable because Of
the two landings, both of which were
far from smooth.
On the way back the motors cut
out over one of the worst places on
the whole route, where saStrugi, or high
snow ridges, run east and west and
form a dangerous field.
But again the big plane was down
safely. The landing, however, caused
us some bitter moments last night be-
fore it was known that every one was
safe and the plane uninjured.
For two or three hours 1t was thought
that the plane must have crashed
somewhere, because of an accident IL
the air or In landing,
Message Is Broken.
A message from the plane had been
gbruken>ffF the middle, with no further
indication of what might have hap
pened. AS time went on and radio
communication from the ground was
not established, for at first every one
thought of forced landing. graver
fears began to be con1ured from un-
certainty.
The base-laying flight had been con-
templated for several days, but there
seemed little likelihood of its taking
place so soon, since there were many
tests to be made of the big plane.
The weather did the unexpected ana
behaved, and day after day the sun has
shone, with only now and then a brisk
breeze, which did not last long.
Gear Works Well.
The landing gear and skies worked
even better than had been expected.
Much to every ones surprise, the
weather still held after the plane Lad
been tested, and it seemed too good an
opportunity to let slip for putting down
the fuel base at the mountains for use
on the polar flight. The only draw
back was the absolute failure OF the
radio, due to some curious conoltlon,
IL. late alxy tcd mot
only from the world to the north, but
also from communication with the geo.
logical party on the trail, which could
give information about the weather IN
land.
Good weather Of several days in dura-
ton is SO strange here that we almost
suspect it.
However radio conditions improved
gradually and yesterday morning Comdr
Byrd decided to hop OF.
Take-OR Load at $4,000 Pounds.
The plane had been loaded and was
ready for the start. The floor OF the
cabin was covered with gasoline and
oil tins to be cached at the mountain
base. Food was placed on top OF the
! tins, sleeping bags and skis were tucked
in the wings and sledS and other gear
were slowed in the tail.
Inc Lake-OH lOdQ was q uCClS 1uOlc
than $4,000 pounds, a good load to lift
with skis from the barrier and a mighty
heavy load to set down on the rolling
snow near the mountains. Every one
knew that it would require careful hand
ling.
Dean Smith at Wheel.
The pilot for this trip was Dear
| Smith, who has flown mail runs fol
years in the States and was flying night
runs between New York and Cleveland
| just before joining the expedition. Har'
old June, Navy pilot and expert me-
chanic, as we'll as a radio operator
had charge of the radio. Capt. Ashley
Mckinley went along as aerial surveyor
to take photographs which he can make
into a strip map of the region between
Little America and the mountains.
On Comdr. Byrd, of course, .devolveC
the duty of navigating over the blinS
waste of the Barrier.
The big ship climbed slowly out owe
the bay in a perfect take-off. Smith
circled the camp once and then headed
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