The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-05
AMERICAN filters SPAN
PACIFIC IN NONSTOP HOP.
JAPAN TO UNITED STATES
Pangborn, Herndon Land at
WenatChee, WASH; 41
Hours in Air.
FEAT is HAZARDOUS ONE
Intrepid Pair Successful in
One of Most PeriIouS
Flights Ever Made.


By United Press
WENATCHEE, Wash, Oct. s.
One of the greatest and most haz-
ardous airplane flights in history
was ended here today when Clyde
Pangborn and Hugh Herndon Jr.
landed their Bellanca monoplane
after a 41hour flight from Sabi-
shire Beach, Japan.
They had dropped their landing
gear while over the north Pacific,
to decrease wind resistance, and
when they landed their ship skid
ded along the ground about fifty
feet. tipped up on its nose. then
settled back again. Herndon in
Cured a SMALL cut over one eye.
The plane was not badly damaged.
Gimme a cigaret," said Herndon
when he climbed out of the plane.
Glad to Be Back
Gee, we're glad to be back in
America" Panghorn exulted, as he
greeted his mother. Mrs. Opal
Pangborn, who stood smiling and
crying with a small group that had
been the first to reach the plane.
The intrepid fiers came through
without much trouble. Having fair
weather most of the way, except for
some fog over the Aleutian Islands,
and more fog off the Pacific coast.
They passed over Seattle at 3:12
a. m but it was so stormy and
foggy that they continued eastward,
flying as far as Spokane before
turning back to Wenatchee.
Return and Land
They circled the field three times
at 7 a. m, then started east again.
Everybody thought they were going
toward Boise or Salt Lake City to
attempt a new long distance fight
record.
After a few minutes, however.
they returned, dropped about 100
gallons Of gasoline, which remained
in the monoplane's tanks. and
glided down to easy landing at
1:12 a. m.
Reports Sunday had indicated
they were proceeding we'll on their
ambitious and hazardous Journey.
and apparently had passed off
Alaska.
Heavy fog rolled over the course
the fiers planned to follow. Rain
beat down in torrents. Winds
howled about the icebergs which
they might have sighted. MANY
men had tried the same flight be-
fore and failed.
AT 11:55 a. m, G. S. T., Sunday
came word that a plane believed to
be theirs had passed over the far
eastern end Of the Aleutian islands.
the most important land on their
course.
The plane, said radio messages.
was not seen because of the heavy
fog and storms, but it was heard
and since no other airplane was
known to be in that vicinity it was
presumed Panghorn and Herndon
were the f1iers, that they were on
the right course, and that they we're
speeding steadily along the nonstop
trail that no man ever flew before
them.
Among the first to greet them
were R. Kimura and I. Okazaki
representatives of the japanese
newspapers which offered a S25 600
prize to the first aviators making
a nonstop flight between Japan
and the United States.
$4,000 Check Awaits Them
Kimura had the sos, 900 check in
his hand.
Well" said Pangborn, shaking
hands, we certainly are glad to
see you
why, you don't look tired" Mrs.
Pangborn remarked, in surprise.
The aviators did not show any ef-
fects of the long, gruelling flight.
They said they were tired. though.
and would welcome some sleep.
Before they had been on the field
ten minutes, Pangborn said they
would put some landing gear on
their plane and attempt a nonstop
flight to Dallas, Tex, to claim an
other reward of $4,000 offered bv
a Texas sportsman for the first
"one-stop' flight between Japan
and Dallas.
Only 500 people were at the air
port when the plane landed. many
having left when the fiers headed
eastward.
Thouands on Scene
Inside Of half an hour, nearly ten
thousand were thronging the roads
leading to the field. Traffic was
jammed hopelessly, and the aviators
were forced to wait until the road
was cleared, to permit passage to
the town.
Never had Wenatchee witnessed
such a spectacle. Thousands of au-
tomobiles we're damned for miles in
all directions leading to the field.
The n telephone wire connect
ing the airport with the rest Of the
world was in constant use, with
newspaper men and press CORE
spondents fighting to get 1t.
Details of the landing and conse-
quent rush of humanity on to the
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