New Britain herald., 1929-08-23
LOUISE THADEN IS
 LEADER AT TULSA
(Continued From First Page)
time for her to overtake her con- petitors.

Fort Worth, Tex, Aug. 23 LP}- Heading into a southeast wind be- fore changing their courses for Tulsa, Okla, first stop today, women air derbysts in the flight from the Pacific coast to Cleveland began taking off from Mecham field here at d. m.
 Mary Elizabeth Von Mack Of Detroit, was the first fiier to leave and all were off at 9:20 a. m.
 Miss Earhart, supposed to follow Miss O'Donnell, started out of turu forcing Miss O'Donnell to take off three minutes after the Pittsburgh ftier.
 AS they started northward Of fcials told the women they could stop either at Tulsa or Wewoka Okla, to refuel, continuing to Wichita, Kans., for the night stop.
 Pecos, Tex, Aug. 2S P-Mrs Blanche Moves of Cleveland, hoped off at 7:02 a. m. today for Midland, and Abilene in continuation of her interrupted flight in the women's aerial derby.
 Her plane was damaged yesterday in landing 10 miles west of here. A lighted cigarette in an unusued fly ing suit started fire which brought her to earth.
 Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 23 P)- Margaret Perry of Los Angeles women's air derby entrant, reached here from Abilene at 7:34 a. m. to- day. Miss Perry. III, was forced 10 halt her flight at Abilene yesterday. Her plane was prepared for a take off for Tulsa at a. m. with the other derbyists.
 Cleveland O., Aug. 23 PDAn event in aviations development pro- viding the most trying tests of its safety and dependability, attracting the most famous of the country's pilots and assembling the latest in airplane design and manufacture, opens here tomorrow in the national air races and aeronautical exposition,
 Participating are a number of racing pilots, both men and women. flying in nine long distance derbies and 35 closed course races, virtually all manufa cturers of airplanes and aeronautical supplies with their en- gineers and group called the Flying Public" by exposition offi- cials brought here by the display of the latest in airplane construction. take part, including pursuit detach- ments of the army. navy and marine corps as well as the navy dirgible, Los Angeles. The air congress was being assembled today.
 The women's derby from Califor- nia approached from the south and one of the major derbies of the races has Portland. Ore, as it's starting place with nine pilots entered. Twenty pursuit ships from Rockwell Field, Calf. IS detailed by the navy and two by the army, stopped over night at Wright Field, Dayton, o.. on the way to Cleveland last night. and other government squadrons were en route from various parts Of the country. The races and the ex- position close after ten days of air carnival September ?.
 Tomorrow's official opening cere- mony will be a parade featured by relics for former modes of travel. Entered are a yoke of oxen, prairie schooner. western stage coach, tandem bicycles and a side crank ing auto.
 Portland. Ore, Aug. 23 P-Their motors tuned up and gas tanks filled, nine contestants in the Portland Cleveland air derby were ready to- day to speed to the finish of the cross-country race with the expecta- ton of winning $6,000 in prizes, plus lap money and field meet awards.
 Nine starters drew for take off po- sitions. Dick Rankin, Portland pilot, won the first and starts at 10 a. m., from Swan Island field. T. A. Wells of Wichita Kas., drew second place and w. H. Emery, Bradford, Pa, third.
 .I.,