The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-17
AIR PATHS@ TGLORY 6l
By DEXTER FEED NEA 4cPYlcn Writer

farm. One roams restlessly with out even flying license. One died early. One is wealthy. several are poor. One files the mall. This one instructs flying recruits That one takes passengers for short hops, The other one runs aerial errands for whenever he can serve.
 These are the places to which air paths of glory have led the great flyers who blazed the sky trails.
 Many of the great aviator-heroes have retraced their steps to obliv- ion. The spotlight which once played on theim has shifted to other figures.
 Who first flew the Atlantic? It wasn't Lindbergh. Who first flew nonstop across the Atlantic? That wasn't Lindbergh either. Where are they now? Probably you do not know. Most of us have for gotten.
 The Cream Is Skinned.
 Even more recently: what has become of Wiley Post, pilot on perhaps the greatest flight in his- tory, the eight-day flight around the world? With the profits of that flight, about $500, he is back In Oklahoma trying to sell planes. And here's what he has to say : about his experience:
 s4 "The day of money-making flights is passed. Lindbergh was the only natural. The public has gradually lost interest and in the future flights will have to be back ed by plenty of money if aviation is to progress"
 So Wiley Post spends much of his time back at the old farm near Maysville, Oklahoma, 4 local hero who made good in aviation but did not get the big bank account many supposed he would.
 s Col. Lindbergh, although fame has brought with 1t more than it's share of heartaches, is a wealthy man. Capt Frank Hawks, now convalescing in hospital, has been prosperous and constantly in the limelight. Commander Byrd s fame has endured. Eddie Ricken- bacher., greatest American World War ace, is reasonably successful.
 Remember Them?
 But some of the great birdmen have been almost forgotten: It. Com. Albert c. Read. Captain John Alcock, Sir Arthur Whitten-B It. George Neville, Bert Acosta and Capt. von Gronau. Yet their names were in big type on news- paper front pages.
 Commander John Rodgers, It. William V. Davis. It. Erik H. Nell son, It Lowell H. Smith-all were International figures. Now their stirring achievements and even their names are little remembered.
 Others have been remembered only when they were involved In some escapade-and your real avi- ator is quite likely to be bold, sfashbuckling man who has the knack of getting into trouble. Char les Levine, who flew to Germany with Clarence Chamberlin, has been entapgled with the law. miss ing. and sometimes playing the lead in impromptu dramas of laughter and amazement.
 7 That's the story of aviator-he- roes. If the paths they have fol- lowed, or have been forced to fol- low, have taken them back where they started, they aren't worrying much. Like forgotten war heroes, they have had their day and they are still doing their jobs.
 At q Washington Desk.
 There Is Commander Albert c. Read. stern-faced, suggesting the indomitable will so characteristic of men who succeed. he sits at Il desk in the Bureau of Aeronauti- cal Engineering of the Navy in Washington now and plans the future of Naval aviation. He is just Commander Read, practically forgotten by the public. Yet
 Thirteen years ago in big, four-motored biplane he was talk ing off from Trepassy Boy, New foundland, on what was to be the first Transatlantic flight in his- tory. Four exhause pipes spurted flame, regularly. That was en- couraging. for there had been mos tor trouble before the start. The moon came up, the motors hum- med on, and dark sea lay below. The commander encouraged the crew of i've. Soon they flew blind through the fog--and knew not whether they would ever see land again.
 Wind shrieked through wire struts, the air became bunny. They ! tHuBns VI hN"N''6 as the big plane plunged on. To descend might mean death. But the plane scared along and 15 hours and 17 minutes after the start they reached the Azores.
 Next came a hop to Lisbon, Portugal, then a triumphant flight to Plymouth, England. and a stir ring welcome. Two sister ships of that plane. the NC-4, had failed. One went down off the Azores: the other was driven back to New foundland by fog.
 In the years since then. Com mander Read has been doing his lob in the Navy. He flies infre- anently but he will always be in the records as the man who blazed the trail that Lindbergh and the others followed.
 In n London electrical shop
 a pleasant. graying man Is
 doing his job, day by day. He
 Is auiet, and many do not re.
 member the day he flew non.
 stop across the Atlantic. one
 of the two first to accomplish
 this feat. Do you hcmember
 who nc was? Sec tomOrrOw's
 Democrat for "Air Paths Of
 Glory"
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