New Britain herald., 1929-05-29
GAS TANK LEAKS FORCE SHIP BACK;
 AMERICANS FAIL
tcontinucd from First Pase)

held up her start. When the Yellow Bird began to move forward crowds on the beach believed the 0r6An Flash had resumed her course. It was not until the French plane rolled past the hangar that 1t was realized it was not the American monoplane.
 The Green Flash was found to have broken | spoke in the left wheel and to have loosened other spokes. Williams, the pilot. immedt. ately ordered 1t replaced by a wheel from another Bellanca naoncplane now on the beach.
 Lieutenant L. M. Melka. pilot of the coast guard plane which ac" com panied the Yellow Bird, said the French fliers began to lose what lit. tle altitude they had gained after the takeok upon reaching Portland lishtship, $ miles beyond Cape Elia. abeth, and a dozen miles from Old Orchard.
 Asked for Aid
 He said he thought the Yellow Bird touched the water several times and 1t was then that Ne wired . call to coast guard veasels for assistance He quickly ccuntermanded the or. der when the plane dumped the fuel and gained altitude
 Armeno Lotti, packer of the flight in i abatement after his return. told of his expectation for another take of attempt as soon as the gasoline tank could be repaired. Later the plan was abandoned.
 "I was forced to come back he said, because of a leak in my gaso- line tank, the seam of which was parted, I believe by the tremendous vibration of the motor. had figured my take-off almost perfectly. l thought that I would just miss the water, but although struck 1t the ship leaped into the air as gracefully as expected it would. I had gained an altitude of 200 feet and my motor was functionins perfectly when ! noticed on my instrument board that the gasoline indicator was register ins a tremendous consumption, which felt certain was not being used by the motor. This turn back is a pity. None can realize how keenly it affects me, but after all of course should consider the safety of the two men, Jean Assolartt and Rene Lefevre who are accompany ing me. To have continued in the face of d leaking tank would have been folly. While I am disappoint- cd today I am hopeful for tomorrow. No time will be lost to repair the leak. I have already ordered another one thousand gallons of gasoline and 1t will be placed aboard IS soon as the leak is repaired. The Yellow Bird will fly to Paris and my two compan nions and myself will take it there"
 Supplies prepared for the Green Flash consisted of three tins of cof- fee, two cans of water, six apples, | dozen oranges, two chickens. 24 chocolate bars and quart ot whiskey. The French plano has only bananas and water..
 Mrs. Roger c. Williams, wife of the pilot of the American plane, planned to be listening on the radio when her husband bade goodbye to the American people. while Mrs. Lewis Lancey, the navisator's wife, was here to see them start.
 Armeno Lotti and Rene Le Fevre. members of the crew of the Paris bound Yellow bird. arrived aboar rd the S:15 train from Few York. At s:45 a. m. . heavier sea was run- ming than in the early morning but the conditions remained ordinarily calm. The Yellow Bird was pushed down the beach to the hard sand at s:2O q. m. shortly after the arrival of the Coast Guard plane which wal to accompany the fliers during the first hour.
 The Green Flash was run to the hard sand 10 minutes later. Two automobiles equipped with winchea were used for the purpose. The Yellow Bird weighed 1.,70O pounds under q full fuel load. the Green Flash 6.os0.
 The latter was said to carry the greatest load for ship of its size.