Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14


drifted for i've days in little rub
Der life raft. harassed by sharks and
dolphin and endangered by a tropical
sun which threatened to melt the
rubber of his fran craft and sink it, will enter
Navy records as one of the most stirring epicS
Of the men who go down to sea in airplanes.
Fighting of sharks with q short oar, pouring
water over the rubber of his raft to cool it
and making a patch with rubber cement to
stop hole in one of the flotation cells which
was perforated by the sun, stand out in the
story of the pilots heartbreaking struggle.
For FIVE days he drifted helplesSly after his
plane had gone down, bearing up under the
blow of seeing one steamer pass him by, I'M
seeing, at close range and flying boat pass
ing him, before he finally was picked up by
q steamship During this time 135 naval
vessels and 200 planes were making an inten-
sive search for him.
For the five DAYS he was without food and
obtained water by catching it in silk scarf
and permitting the tiny trickle to run into
o canteen top.
The first full account of the adventure, which
occurred during the Spring maneuvers of the
battle feet, has just been received by the Navy
Department from the victim, Chief Aviation
Pilot Verne w. HarShman, then one OF the
pilots of Navy Curtiss Hawk fighter squad
ron. VT Squadron 2 u S. S. Langley Harsh
man has Just been sent to the u. S. S. Lexlng-
ton aircraft carrier, at San Diego, Calf for
0N1NNNN~AOA
Battle Force.
IN his report, a thrilling drama despite the
simplicity of its style and the evident lack
of any effort at heroics, Harshman says that
his squadron was carrying out the duty of
protecting observation planes which were spot
ting battleship gunfre on a cloudy Tuesday
morning when his epic adventure began. He
Was fvin0 in his nOSitiOn leader OF The
sixth section of the squadron and had been
in the air about two hours when the squadron
started through a cloud bank, which was
closing in all around.
when a man has to fly through a cloud"
Harshman reported, 1T is necessary that he
follow closely the planes ahead, in order to
keep them within sight. We had just got well
into cloud when my auxiliary tank supply or
gasoline ran out, with the result that the mo-
tor cut out and I lost some altitude and sight
of the rest of the squadron,
st got my motor to running again by switch-
ing to the main tank. Because Of the fact
that I had seen the squadron climbing, 1
climbed up through the clouds The ceiling OF
the clouds was about 1000 feet. When got up
there I looked around and made circle to
make sure that saw in all directions, but did
not see any one I then made fast spiral
down through the clouds into the clear below.
The ceiling was between 1000 and $500 feet
There follows a gripping account OF his
realization that he was lost, alone at sea, and OF
his search for his squadron or Of some boat or
plane which could help him to safety.
Coming out beneath the clouds, with only the
vacant sea below and gray sky around. Harsh
man circled, strairing his eyes for boats or
planes which were not there. He set about
making careful scouting circuits, trying to re-
turn each time to his starting point where he
had last seen the squadron, hoping they might
return to search for him.
His first circuit was q square In which he flew
ave minutes north, five minutes east, five min
utes south and then five minutes west by watch
and compass. He did not see anything on this
circuit and SO made larger square with legs
Of 10 minutes each.
The weather growing steadily thicker
when he started a third circuit By the time
this was done the weather was so bad he had
to drop to 1000 feet and was unable to see more
than miles. His gasoline supply was getting
low and he made up his mind to land in the
open sea while he had power enough to pre-
vent "dead-stick" landing He turned his
plane into the wind. blowing from about due
west. and after flying few minutes landed in
running sea. shortly before noon.
Despite his stress of mind, he made a good
landing and did not hurt the plane or himself
He set OF the t1otation gear, compressed air