Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14

away from me, hence hau little reason
to expect danger. OF course I was ig-
norant of her subsequent maneuvers.
expected her to join the San Francisco
and st. Louis in Lufbery circle and
watch my landing from that position
That was our custom. I would drop
first and try the most likely runway.
II / found O more suitable one after
landing, I would signal them TO try It
instead. Meantime, they would ny nose
and-tail in Lufbery circle.
Locked Wings IN Midair.
well, when I raised my head to
glance over the left, Q streak Of black
and yellow flashed In my eyes.
"I recall an attempt to move the stick
and turn away. Lieut. Whitehead was
in the New York's rear cockpit and
occupied the front pilots seat. With
the surprising suddenness of that flash
1t was impossible for me to swing
quickly and sharply.
II heard nothing from Whitehead in
the rear as the Detroit's propeller and
blunt huh plowed into the New York's
left wing.
"A rssping roar stung my ears. I'm
agine two 400 horsepower Lbertys
churning at close quarters And the
cracking Of struts, tearing Of wing fab
rio and splintering of fuselageS. That's
some idea of the noise. It came upon
us like thunder.
mo sooner had seen that streak of
black and yellow than I knew my time
had come--to jump or sink in ship
wreck
""T7ne New York and Detroit locked
wings n the crash. knew positively a
plane had struck US, but didn't know
which one. The shock was not so Sc
we're as to knock US unconscious. Both
Whitehead and were alive to what
was going on. And we felt, too, that
neither OF the other pilots was injured
In the initial impact.
A Violent Spin.
THE paths Of the planes were not
greater than at right angles to each
other, and It's probable they struck at
an angle Of about 60 degrees. ! remem-
Der noting how long It took them to
lock and the wings to break
IAN motion seemed retarded I might
have been watching a slow-moving pic
ture film. The damaged wings folded
up as II creased. They covered our
cockpits.
IT can hardly describe how sluggish
this collapSing seemed. Certainly the
wings must have given way quite rap
Idly. But by this time my mind was so
aroused and alert that 1t transcribed
all physical actions. The situation
dawns upon one like q flash. Immedi-
ately the senses are alive to everything.
"All during this time not q word
passed between Whitehead and me. In
fact, events made IL unnecessary to talk.
Each of us knew what he had to do.
But I did find time for a momentary
reflection that calamity was marring
what had hitherto been a delightful and
successful undertaking. I dwelt, then,
on It's immediate effect on our good will
flight. The question remained unan-
swered in my mind, suppressed by the
emotion Of representation.
IT found myself reaching for the
safety belt. My body strained against
It, For by now the locked ships fell in
q violent spin. / never got glimpse Of
Woolsey or Benton in the Detroit.
Tied to the Death Ship.
Il raised my hand on the cowling.
Had no recollection of ever having
reached the cockpit side. Caught in
this act, l was hurled out of my seat
like shot from a lannon's mouth.
Nor do I recall ever having pulled
the rip cord. I remember that didn't
have time even to clear the whirling
~
SPRAYING all over me. The shrouds
and dome had become entangled with
something and / was suspended with
out the least hope I would ever be re-
| leased alive.
The chute ripped and great holes
were torn in her skirt Many of the
shroud lines were sliced. and my sla8hed
umbrella blew over Lieut. Whitehead'S
cockpit and covered him.
He had caught his foot on some pro-
| lection and was working desperately to
get loose. Finally he managed it and
skinned his shin climbing out of the
cockpit Whitehead cleared the ships
| and pulled the cord, while I was
dragged longside-chained to the fall
ing wreck.
II had been catapulted from the pit
at 1920 feet. For 900 feet while the
wrecks spun madly, was knocked and
battered back and forth. knew not
WHITTIER or how.
THE whole business looked blue and
hopeless. For me there wasn't the
slightest chance. was dangling from
some projection In the tail group anc
couldn't make out the particular part
Then an unseen boot whacked me or
the left side. Il was painful. Th'
earth Jumped up suddenly. We dived
planes and I. This was the finish. ;
A Cabbage Patch Landing.
"A giant silken hand broke loose .
! 800 feet Ten or 20 feet more, 1t woult
have been futile. Suddenly felt lifted
. poised. The wrecks parted and Spul
TO destruction.
. Looking up, I got my first glimps
! Of the open chute. saw the umbrelli
! had been ripped from skirt to crown
Through the open cracks ! could Sc
] Lieut. Whitehead coming. down abov
] me. Two holes In my dAute were .
lnrwa yNts rnaIi6 Ta&R an OfI1ce deA