Evening star., 1933-07-15
HOP FOR uTHUAN|A
| IN NDEF|ANCE Of j. s.
Chicago Pilots Take Off De.
spite Federal Veto and
Without Passports.
Continued From First Page.)

were in 5-gallon cans, and IS gallons
Of oil. 1t bore the markings NR688E.
Most of the crowd which had seen
Post of gathered around the Lithunica
at the takeoff. The last to bid them
bood-by was Paul Zadeikis, consul
general Of Lithuania. He shook their
hands and wished them godspeed.
The flyers did not sign the register
at the field, and Maj. J. Nelson, man
ager Of the field, was not informed that
they were hopping the Atlantic.
The takeoff was loggy. They used
every foot Of the long runway and
were so slUk in getting away that the
crowd gasped.
Held to Gasoline.
1T was game takeoff," said the
flying experts assembled. They should
have dumped gas to play safe. But
they didn't. They didn't dump drop"
When the plane passed cut of sight,
headed east straight as a beeline, the
ship still had not attained more than
200 feet altitude.
Field officials say they are subject
to heavy fine and ! IS of license If
they do not return today to Floyd
Bennett and, furthermore, are subject
to arrest in any foreign country in
which they land, since they have no
passports.
Just before Darius and Girenas took
off, John v. p. Heinmuller, official timer
of the National Aeronautical AsSocia-
ton. went up to the plane, wished them
good luck, and clamped on to one wing
an ice indicator, designed to tell the
airmen at a glance If ice. the terror OF
Atlantic flyers. is forming on the wings.
1t was virtually the only newly de-
veloped scientific flying aid in the ship
The pair aren't even carrying para
chutes. They have no wireless appa-
ratus.
Natives Of Lithuania.
For food they took 18 oranges, IL
apples, two bottles of matted milk tab
lets, a quart of black coffee, roast
chicken, and a gallon Of water.
Capt Darius was born in Taurege
Lithuania. and was brought to the
United States when 10 wears old. His
mother is Mrs. Augustine Degutis OF
Chicago.
Darius was tutored in Lithuania, then
attended grade school in Elizabeth, N
j.: West Pullman Junior High School
Chicago, and later Harrison Tech and
Lane Junior College there.
He enlisted in the 1st Illinois Field
Artillery, later Federalized as the 149th
Field Artillery. April II, 1917. six days
after the United States declared war
He received a regimental citation FOL
"habitual bravery under fire" and was
wounded In the chest by fragment
of high explosive shell at the second
Battle of the Marne.
no veterans
compensation and further education at
the University of Chicago.
Entering the Air Corps Of Lithuania
in 1921 he rose to the rank of captain
Operated Aviation School.
Returning to the United States. he
opened in 1923 an aviation school a,
South Bend, Ind.
The Lithuanica is the plane he flew
!! during 1929. 1880 and 1881 for the
Chicago Daily News. Aided by sub
scriptions from many Lithuanian
Americans he bought 1t from the the
News and rechristened it.
Girenas, who, like his partner, is un-
married, is an orphan whose home Is
in Chicago He was born in Upina
Lithuania, came to the United States
when 7, and went to work in Chicago
when he finished grammar school. He
is a war veteran and operated an AVA
ton school in Chicago until 1881.