Evening star., 1933-04-07
R. E. Deal Tells House Naval
Committee of Conversation
With Air Chief.
MClINTIC WOULD GIVE
PROBE TO ANOTHER GROUP
Oklahoman Says Impartial Inquiry
Would Not Be Possible Under
Vinson Body.
By the Associated Press.

Four hours before he went TO his
death In the Atlantic on the Akron,
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett said
the airship was much better than the
Shenandoah-the other air giant of the
Navy that went to disaster in Ohio.
Richard E. Deal one of three Navy
men who survived the crash of the
Akron last Monday night, told a House
Naval Committee today of a conversa-
ton he had with the Navy's chief of
aeronautics shortly before the fatal
plunge Of the ship.
His statement was given to the COM
mittee as Deal, Lieut.. Comdr. Herbert
v. Wiley and Moody E. Erwin testified
before the committee in its inquiry into
the causes of the disaster.
Wants Probe Transferred.
At about the same time, Representa-
tive McClintic, Democrat, Of Oklahoma.
former member of the Naval Com
mittee, was asking the House Rules
Committee to have some other COM
mittee investigate the crash. He
charged that if any committee inter-
ested In Naval legislation made the
inquiry, the matter would be whites
washed"
Chairman vinson of the Naval ceyn-
mittee denied this in a personal clash
with McClintic before the Rules Com
mittee.
Before the Naval Committee hearing
began, Chairman Vinson reiterated his
promise that I'VE are going into this
thing from top to bottom"
We intend not only To find out what
caused the accident If we can. but Ia
determine whether any more airshius
shah be built" Vinson told newspaper
men.
For the first time since he reached
the Capital Wednesday Deal had dis
caIueo ms civilian clothes and wore
Public Inquiry Asked.
The Naval COMMITTEES agreed unan-
imously to ask Secretary SWANSON To
open to the public the Nays court of
inquiry beginning at Lakehurst, Nom
day. into the crash Of the Akron.
AT the Navy Department 1t was ex-
planned to newspaper men that all
courts OF inquiry are open.
Reading slowly because he had only
poor carbon copy Of his report, Wiley
proceeded without any Interruptions,
the members listening closely to what
they already had read in the news
papers.
He emphasized the portion of his re-
port referring to the sudden gust that
struck the giant airship just before the
rudder controls went.
At the conclusion Of Wiley's state
ment, Andrew, Republican, of Massa-
chusetts, asked from what side the
strong gust of wind struck the ship.
II think from the starboard side. but
I cannot be positive" Wiley answered.
Have you any other statement you
wish to make?" he was asked.
mot now. but would like when
appear next time to give all the addi-
tional details I can remember"
Erwin testified that the ship was
badly heavy" and that working at CO..
trolls he had hard time keeping her
steady"
Blinded by Lightning.
Lightning flashes blinded me, but
I held her at 1000 feet until I was re-
neved at H." he continued. Then
I had some sandwiches and coffee and
laid down about 1915. think.
"A short time later discovered that
the engines were running wide open.
A strong wind hit us and twisted the
ship. ! saw a girder carried away and
came loose.
II ran toward the bow of the ship,
girder ITO about one-third Of
the way up. There was gang Of men
there. We stood there a minute. The
ship was falling fast. Its tail hit the
water and when it did the lights went
out. jumped out through the cup
"Was that an opening9" asked De-
laney. did you jump through an
opening in the side of the ship or
through the fabric?"
II jumped through the fabric" Err
the tail hit. The bow hadn't hit yet.
When hit the water the ship seemed
to fall on me. 1t kept me under the
water minute.
Holds to Gas Tank.
'"Then I pushed against it with my
feet and swan into the open. I saw
gas tank, but there wasn't anybody else
On 1t. ! must have been the first man
there. Then Deal came along, and 4
Copeland
las we hung on the gas tank 1t
started rolling. Every time it would
ret to rolling would swim away and
hen 60 back after a minute or two
md rest up. 1t had a spout on 1t and
was afraid that If I held on while
t rolled and made it roll more 1t would
i'll with water and sink.
II think the swimming kept me
warm, otherwise I would have frozen.
Just after the ship hit the water,
While we were hanging on the gas tank,
couple of flares went off, the flares
hat We drop on the water to measure
lrift and speed. The salt water hit
hem and set them off,
II think they were what the ship
aw that rescued us.
Becomes Unconscious.
"Just before we were picked UP, I saw
rain buoy on the water. swan to
hat and hung my arm through it and
assed out. When I came to, was
4 bed on the ship (the tanker Phoe-
us) and they had me wrapped I'D
nd covered with hot water bottles"
Details of how he got back to New
,ork concluded Erwin's statement. He
n