The Washington times., 1929-05-29

under guard
They were wheeled down the beach
and the motors started. Then began
the long warmingup process More
than half an hour was assigned BY
pilots of both planes to the motor
warming process.
The tide was near ebb allowing
q broad run on the beach for both
planes. Because of her better speed
the Yellow Bird had given away to
the Green Flash and arrangements
were made for the Green Flash to
start Is minutes before the Yellow
Bird.
Coast Gnard Ready
A Coast Guard plane was tuned
up and planned to follow the two
nonstop transatlantic fliers for
three hours to sea. where q Coast
Guard patrol flee was prepared to
pick them up and follow them for
rs miles more.
The crew OF the Yellow Bird had
prOfited by the last.minute removal
of one long hidden peril A gas tank
leak. discovered just before day.
break, had been remedied by the In.
sertion OF new dump valve gas.
ket.
Final farewells were said, motors
roared and the American and French
fliers waited for a stretch OF beach
sufficient for the run needed to get
the heavily.fuel ships aloft.-
Roger Q. williams, pilot of the
Green Flash. arrived at the beach
in an automobile at S:15 a. m. He
emerged and stood. one foot on the
running board, watching mechanics
make a few remarks over the radio.
Williams shook hands with nuner-
GUS friends, among them Texas"
Guinan, famous night club hostess
Of New York city.
A few moments after Williams
arrival, a late weather report,
signed by James A. Kimball, New
York meteo. ogicIl expert, was re-
ceived by the fliers.
1t stated that general conditions
were favorable and that visibility,
probably the most important factor
in transatlantic flight, was good.
Sun Hot On Beac!.
The crowd was incr~ 1sing in mum.
bers. Men. women and children
were standing eight and ten deep
along the long stretch of beach.
A hot sun beat down upon the
beach. Visibility was splendid.
williams chanf his min1 6b- -,ut
talking over the radio, and made
a brief remark or two. He said.
Hello, everybody! We expect to
get away soon. Thank yOu.
Among the spectators were George
Haldeman, noted flier. who. with
Ruth Elder. made an Intellectual
but courageous attempt to fly the
Atlantic. Another spectator was
C. NJ. Bellanca. the airplane de-
signer.
At $50 a. m washington time)
the Yellow Bird stabiliZer on the
instrument board was giving trouble.
The American fliers left their plane
and went over to the Yellow Bird
to assist the Frenchmen in adjust.
ing the stabilizer.
At S:45 a. m.. Williams climbed
into the cockpit of his plane.
Pilot Jean Assolant had. been
coddling his big craft since dawn.
Comdr. Armento Lotti, ir., and
Navigator Rene Lefevre had ar
rived by train from New. York at
s p. m. and had Immediately
snatched bit of breakfast and
jumped into their flying togs.
Most of Old Orchards population,
augmented by hundreds of thrill
hunters from all over New England,
lined the ocean front to witness
the beginning of the double venture.
The American birdmen, Pilot
Roger Q. Williams and Navigator
Lewis A. Yancey, were early on
the beach.
AS the motors OF both planes
were finally groomed and the
warming up process went forward
the aviators listened intently be.
side them for any possible crack.
But they both seemed to be fit,