The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-01

Officials at the field said he
had apparently been caught in
a head wind as he took off
which caused his plane to side
slip.
A short time before Boardman's
crack-up, Russell Thaw, plotting
another Gee Bee sportster, dam
aged a wing while attempting to
land at the airport. He was not
hurt. Airport mechanics set to work
to repair his ship so that he might
continue the race to Los Angeles.
ThaW is a son of Harry K. Thaw.
defendant is celebrated murder
case several years ago.
Roscoe Turner, present holder OF
the east to west cross country speed
title, was the first race flier to
rive in Indianapolis today. Flyir
golden Gilmore special, he put
ship down at the Municipal ali
at Cos and took off at 6:I9.
Forced Down in Wheat FieIu
He told officials here that he
almost run out of gas near
lumbus, O., but managed to I
the field there. At Indianapoli
took on Isl gallons of gas
wired ahead TO st. Louis to
ready 70 fuel his plane again.
Lee Gehlbach of Patterson, La.
telephoned to the local airport from
New Bethel, Ind, that his plane
had been forced down in wheat
field a miles out of the town. and
the propeller and one wing were
damaged.
Gehlbach, flying at an altitude of
1000 feet, was forced down when he
tried to switch from an empty to a
ful gasoline tank. He is awaiting
word from the owner of the plane
as to whether it shall continue in
the race.
James Wedell of Patterson. La.
flying one of his own Wedell-
Williams speed planes, is believed 10
have passed south of Indianapolis
early today
Thaw Rushes Repairs
The remaining entrant, Amelia
Earhart Putnam in her red Lock-
heed Vega monoplane, was not
sighted here, but she is believed to
have flown south of indianapolis
too high to be recognized.
ThaW paced anxiously I'D and
down near the hangers as mechan-
les rushed to repair a damaged
wing on his plane He talked with
Boardman just before the latter
took of on his ill-fated dash from
Indianapolis. There was doubt at
the field as to the possibility Of
Thaw being able to continue in the
race.
Ruth Nichols Fails to Start
Seeking to fly from New York to
Los Angeles in twelve hours or less.
the six speed pilots, competitors in
the BendiX air race, toor of from
Floyd Bennett field, New York, early
this morning for the west coast.
Ruth Nichols was unable to start
today because her plane was not
ready. She expects to leave New
York Sunday morning.
While Amelia Earhart was fying
into the dawn above Manhattan the
five other starters we're on the line
warming their motors.
In rapid succession Turner Gel
bach, Thaw, Wedell and Boardman
took off in the order named.
The pilots all headed for South
Bend, where they were tagged as
they passed over the airport. Board
man and Turner announced that
they would land at Indianapolis,
Wichita, Kan, and Albuquerque, N.
NJ, to refuel.
Seek New Speed Mark
Miss Earhart announced only one
refueling stop-Wichita She will
decide there, she said, if a second
one is needed. Other pilots planned
to choose their refueling spots en-
route depending on the gasoline con-
sumption
The winner in the women's divi-
sion of the trans-continental race
will receive $500. The prizes in
the mems division are: First. S4050;
second, s2,250, and third, $3.50.
The fiiers will seek to best Major
Doolittle's land plane speed record
of 294 miles an hour.