Imperial Valley press., 1931-09-08
Flyers Speeding
Across Pacific
CONTINUED from page II


1 ---------
vessel to sight the City of Tacoma
when it passed the cape, less than
! an hour after a graceful takeoff
from Sabishiro beach, eight miles
| from here. The Tateya Maru re-
ported the plane was making good
time.
An hour later the Shinshiru
Maru reported fog and showers in
the region of Urup Island, one of
the Kuriles, but it was believed the
airmen had lodged below it and
were heading for the Aleutian
islands, which stretch westward
] from Alaska. The theory gained
weight when Otchiishi failed to
sight the plane by 8 a. m.
| The great circle route, often fog
ridden and storm bound seemed to
clear a path for the pilots. Skirting
the volcanic Kuriles, their course
is over the Boring Sea across the
Aleutians, then southwark across
the Alaskan gulf and off the Brit
ish coast to Seattle.
! Souiu uSC SOIut nam anu
eggs, buckwheat cakes and
plenty of syrup, MoyIe said
! laughingly as he climbed into
the plane this morning. Allen
also was in good spirits as he
slowed away five roast chickens
and a tankard of c0ffee-gifts
| of the mayor of Sabishiro-to
f0rtify them on the long Jour-
ney.
In moment the 525 horsepower
engine was warmed, Moyle gave a
signal and the old remodeled plane
sped down the sandy runway. It
gained speed quickly and at SPA
a. m. scared into the air.
The ascent was SO rapid that it
surprised the little group of vii
layers, who a few weeks ago saw
Thomas Ash Jr. fail in two attempts
to lift the same heavily loaded ship
from the beach.
Heavy Load
The City Of Tacoma II carried
HOO gallons of fuel, which Moyle
estimated was more than enough to
take them to Seattle in less than
48 hours. Under favorable condi-
lions 1t was estimated they would
reach their goal about noon We'd
nesday, Pacific Standard Time.
Besides a $25 900 prize offered by
the Ashahi newspaper of Japan for
the first nonstop flight between
Japan and the United States, the
flyers sought a $4,000 award re-
Gently posted by the Japanese avia-
! ton society for the same feat.
But Moyle's success probably
would land him behind the bars OF
Los Angeles county Jail. He was
sentenced several weeks ago to serve
80 days for driving while intoxicat-
ed, and was granted stay to per-
nit the flight.
/ There was a note of tragedy in
Aliens association with the venture
His aviatriX fiancee, Eileen Miller.
%, was killed in a crash last March
and his friends quoted him as saw
ing he doesn't care what happens
TO me-"
Moyle also took a fatalistic view.
If I make it, it means JAIL" he
| SNAN3' - oOii l, WtII, GIleIt Iilt
deep blue sea-"
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 8. Wp)-
Don Moyle and G. A. Allen in the
Seattle-bound City of Tacoma II, if
still in the air today, were flying
through partly cloudy weather along
the great circle route over the Aleu-
tan islands, according to calcula-
tons of the United States weather
bureau.
The bureau reported the weather
partly cloudy most of the way over
the Aleutians-practically over the
entire route of the tranS-Pacific
flyers.
Over the Gulf of Alaska, which
the aviators should cross tonight.
the ceiling was low today, and
northwest winds were blowing at 25
miles an hour. There were inter-
mittent showers.
The weather bureau reported
many ships in the course of the fly
erS.