New Britain herald., 1929-08-29
Graf Returns to Start ing Point Setting New Globe-Girdling Rec ord of q Days-Cir- cles Over New York After Dawn.
Rudder Slightly Damaged by Striking Ground at Los Angeles, But Pas sengers Say Dirigible Avoided High Tension Wires in Take-Off.

Naval Air Station, Lakehurst. N. Jo Aug. 29 LP-Looping the loop around the world in one of the greatest exploits of flying history the German dirigibie Graf Zeppelin settled to earth at 7:13 o'clock, F, s. T. this morning just 21 days, sev- cn hours and S3 minutes after leav- ing on her 20,0OO mile journey.
 Actual flying time, deductins the time spent on the ground at Fried richshafen Tokyo and Los Angeles, the only three stops that were made, was II days, 23 hours and IA minutes, both flying and elapsed times breaking all previous records.
 The last leg of the flight from Los Angeles was completed in 5l hours and 50 minutes.
 The previous record for elapsed time around the world was made last year by John Henry Mears and .C. B. D. Collyer, who used planes over land and ships across the At lantic and Pacific. Their time was c5 days, 15 hours and 21 minutes.
 The only previous flight around the world in any sort of air craft was made in 1924 by the United States army fliers. They took 175 days to get around, of which Is days and six hours was spent ac- tually in the air.
 Ideal Weather for Landing The weather was perfect as the Graf reached the end of the first flight around the world of light er-than-air ship. X warm morning sun shone on the great bags silvery sides as it floated in from the north after a visit to Manhattan. Lazily 1t Circled over the field, a crowd of some 5000 persons racing along the ground to be close at the land , ing, and pointed its nose down. ward.
 The ship overshot the landing crew of 45O sailors and marines and they had to scamper across the field after the dragging ropes which were lowered to the ground at 7:O7. Once they had hold of them the operation of lowering the 1 dirigible to the ground was per- formed with expert precision.
 As the Graf was being hauled l down Commander Hugo Eckener, it's l veteran commander. waved from d cabin window and Lieutenant Con- mander Charles E. Rosendahl, U. S. N., who made the entire world trip, ! lAnnHI ! 1,S grey scarf to the crowd below
 The crowd was handled without any trouble by well drilled sailors and marines and ;he whole scene was one of complete lack of excite mcnt. Several dogs romped about i the field as the ship was coming down and there was an air of cas- ualness about the entire proc 2dure of landing.
 NcWShoy Eludes Marines
 As the ship touched the ground William E. Leeds, one of the Ameri- cans to make the world journey, ap- pearcd at the open cabin door and beckoned with bill to a newsboy. Alter several futile attempts the boy managed to duck through the marines, delivered his paper and came grinning back with the bill.
 The landing was made at 7:lS and at TAO it was safely berthed in the hangar, empty because of the navy Los Angeles absence at the air races at Cleveland put for two baby b}imps pushed over against the north wall of the great arched struc- turc.
 Luggage is Inspected The passengers were kept in the cabin of the ship until after it was taken into the hangar and were then removed for customs and immigra- ton inspection supplementary to that made at Los Angeles A spe- clal train was waiting on a siding to take them to New York as soon as this formahty had been com pleted
 The Graf left Lakehurst on it's great adventure at 11:40 p. m. August :, making the 42O0 miles to Friedr!chshafeu in 55 hours and 25
 Continued on Page Two)