Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-07


The airline knew nothing of the change
of plans until Is minutes before the
scheduled departure OF the plane.
Bingham GriIIs Post.
Posts speech at last nights banquet.
given Jointly by the Washington Board
of Trade and the National! Ae:Cnautic
Association, was due TO the Skiliful
questioning Of Senator Hiram Bing-
ham of Connecticut, toaStmaSter, who
adopted the methods oi Senate In
vestigating Committee to make the re-
luctant flyer talk.
Post, who has made two radio ad-
dresses, using just one word for each.
evidently expected to do something OF
the sort last night. Senator Bingham,
presenting diploma OF honorary mem
bership in the National Aeronaut;c As
ISOLATION. made long presentation
speech, explaining how jealousiy guarded
the honorary membership list has been,
so that it might be real mark OF dis
tinction. He then called upon Post to
respond.
Post rose reluctantly embarrassed be-
fore the battery of microphones.
Laconic Pilot Describes Flight.
ut is an honor which l appreciate a
great deal" he drawled, and then turned
to sit down But Senator Bingham
would have none OF H. Catching Post
leading questions to him. Post at first
answered in mere monoSyllables, but,
after about dozen questions, suddenly
launched into the first real description
of the world flight he ever has made in
public.
His account given without any effort
10 be dramatic, proved intensely inter
esting to the large gathering OF the
Capitals most distinguished citizens,
headed by Vice President Curtis.
Ireland Looked Every Good"
After telling of the long battle with
bad weather over the North Atlantic,
Post said. When We sighted Ireland II
looked very good: l decided to land.
The flight from Berlin to Moscow was
made through exceedingly thick
weather. which forced them to hedge
hop" among the tree-tops, he said.
Landing at Moscow, they wanted To re-
fuel and push on without delay put
the Muscovtss had other plans ior
them.
we were told there were no night
dvinR facilities the country was rougn,
the fields were bad 1t would be haZaru
Gus to push on at night, Post Salo'
Then they told us they had planned
banquet at IL o'clock and We could eat
while they were fueling the alrplaIle.
SO we went to the banquet
Generosity DlSruptS ElduS'
"We asked for Just half load OF
gas because the field was rough. But
we found the Russians expressed thelf
generosity by putting in $40 gallons. Az
O'Clock in the morning the same
people who had told US Wou4o We
dangerous to fly at II O'Clock SAID IL
was all right to go. We couldn't get
off with the airplane full OF gas ana
had to siphon out lot Of 1T. TINS TOOK
three hours ,,n.;,
Arriving at Blagovestchensk. Siberia
Post said, the plane begged cow
helplessly in landing. Il promptly
went to sleep in the airplane, he Salu'
An Alaskan mudhole resulted III
bent propeller which might have haIteu
the flight Post wasted no words oe
scribing their way out OF that pre-
dictment
"The propeller curled up and We
Strengthened that up with hammer
and a wrench" he said simply.
Pals Speech AstOunds Gatty.
Recounting the arrival in New YORK
he said, Il didn't realize 1t was pos
sible for any other aviator apparently
he was speaking with Lindbergn III
mindl to get such a warm reception.
Abruptly he realized that he had
finished the account OF the night. ne
ran out of words instantly and stooo
De1Ore CEe III a 'S'S
silence for a minute. Then, Abruptly,
he said, Il don't know what ITS All
about vet: it's all like dream, ana
he sat down. -,
Gatty. who had been looking at the
suddenly loQuaciouS Post III aSlonLAh-
ment then was presented ms oipiolha
by Senator Bingham, who SAID lnaC
Gatty is recognized today as ule
greatest navigator of the air.
I'm so astounded by Wiley POST
speech l scarcely know What TO say
Gatty began. He praised Post Warmly.
saving. Il don't know VI any other
pilot in the world l would care 10 10
through such trip Win.
Plane Several Years Old.
Carl B. Squire. builder of the Winnie
Mae. Post and Gatty's plane, Preselltteu
them silver trophy which. ne Satu,
was started from California on the Gay
they left New York on the world night
Mr.. Hall, who financed the flight Elk
plained that the plane Is one ne mas
used in his oil business LOT SSVeLai
years, with Post as pilot. II Is the saiie
plane Post used in winning the non
ston DERBY from Los Angeles to chicago
in connection with the NaIloLal M
Races a year ago. Hall SAID. .,.
Sneakers at the banquet lncluoeo
George w. Offutt, president OF the
Washington Board of Trade: wee pies-
ident Curtis, F. Trubee Dawson, ASSIST
ant Secretary Of War for AVIATION. ana
William P MacCracken, Jr., former AS-
sistant Secretary Of Commerce Tor Aero
nauticS.
Reception at Press Club.
The embarrassed modeSty WIN which
Post and Gatty have received the multi
tude of praise heaped upon Them ny
the greatest national leaders was eHeh
plified at the reception by the National
Press Club yesterday AFTERNOON III VI"
Washington Auditorium.
Following fulsome praise by Senator
Bingham and Secretary OF Commerce
Lamont, the flyers were introduced ny
Eugene S. Leggett president oil the
club Post, introduced f1rSt. sat sun III
his seat on the platform untll The sp-
plause grew to stormy proportions, ana
then reluctantly and at the inSistent
requests of Leggett stood up and bowed
and then resumed his seat preclpltateIy.
Gatty was INTRODUCED, and he. TOO
had to be coaxed to get up. He finally
Welded to entreatieS Of Leggett and the
continuing applause of the audience
and advanced TO the microphones at
the front of the platform. When the
applause died down he thanked those
present in about 10 words for their
hearty reception, and then Launched
into his speech. as follows:
Il think that the flight has proved
the superiority OF the American plane
and the American motor. We carried
no spare parts and had no repairs Oh |
the flight. except to change few spark
plugs"
With this he walked back TO his chair
and sat down while the crowd cheered.
Amid the din could be heard inslstent
cries for Post! Post We WANT Post!'