The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-01-17
ARMY FLIGHT OVER W. P. MON.
WEATHER HINDERS PROGRESS
II PURSUIT PLANES PASS;
SQUADRON AT CIT. FALLS
AND KALiSPELL

The big thrill of the week for
Wolf Point people was the flight
of the army pursuit planes over
Wolf Point Monday. The appear
ance of these planes had been
awaited for several days as the
flight was originally scheduled to
start from Selfridge field, Michi-
gan, on January 7, and the trip
to Spokane was scheduled to take
four days, with night stops at
Duluth, Minot and Great Falls.
But weather conditions made a
mess of the schedule. 1t was not
until Friday, January 10, that the
expedition, commanded by Major
Ralph Royce, started. In the
squadron there were Is pursuit
planes and four transport ships.
Two of the transports were
forced down the first day, one at
Amasa, Michigan, and the other
at Wausau, Wis. These have not
caught up with the squadron and
will join their party somewhere
on the return trip.
Duluth was reached the first
night, with a few pursuit planes
left behind. The squadron reach
ed Minot Saturday night after
having encountered bad weather
in Minnesota, and having left one
plane with a broken ski at Grand
Forks until the ski could be re-
paired. Being unable to start
their engines Sunday morning
they laid over that day at Minot
and the pursuit planes that had
been behind caught up. Word was
received here Sunday morning
that the squadron had left Minot
at about $50 and John Cook and
Ed Camrud drove to Glasgow, a
fuel stop, to see the planes. They
made the trip again the follow
ing day with greater success.
Pass in Sections
When the word was spread
Monday forenoon that the planes
would pass over Wolf Point in a
short time, people were alert for
the first sound of the motors, ex-
to see the entire squad
ron pass over at one time. But
in this they were disappointed, /
no more than five flew over
the city at any one time. BY
12:45 the last of the II pursuit
planes that had left Minot that
morning had flown Owe the city.
big transport, piloted by Lieut..
P. E. Shanahan and carrying
nine enlisted men, flew over
here about $50 Tuesday morn
ng. The other transport that
-eached Minot was stalled there
With a broken axel, while the
18th pursuit plane was waiting ]
or a new engine to replace the {
burned out when it was be-
ng warmed up Sunday. |
Lunch at Glasgow
The pursuit planes stopped at |
glasgow for lunch and refueling.
reached Great Falls Mon 6
lay night, three decided to spend
he night at Havre and n had I
,een forced down at the Hosey
anch, 70 miles northeast of Great
Falls. 1t was expected that the
light from Great Falls to Kalis- ,
Yell would be made Tuesday fore Q
loon, but weather conditions and
Iifficulty in getting the engines .
warmed UP again forced postpone
nent. The three planes that had r
,pent the night at Havre went [
irectly to Kalispell. They found
he flight extremely cold as they
we're forced to fly at an altitude
f some $4,000 feet when going
the mountains. The big /,
transport spent Tuesday night at :
and went on to Kalispell =
Wednesday. Those in the trans =,
ort suffered less from cold than =
hose in the pursuit planes, as "
ne transport is heated and there =
; an individual heater under each :.