Evening star., 1934-07-29
Log of Flight
Course Kept Southeast
During Ten-Hour
Journey.
BY the Associated Press.
Time is central standard)

BY the ASSOClhbeQ EESSSa
Time is central standard)
6:45 a.m.-The worlds largest bal
loon. with Maj. w. E. Kepner and
Capts. A. w. Stevens and o. A. An
derson aboard, scared aloft from
Moonlight Valley, In the Black Hills,
near Rapid City. S. Oak. They hoped
to sail into the stratosphere to a
height of is miles.
$3.50 a.m.-The aerial voyaguers ra-
diced, Everything o. K.," from an
altitude of 7,400 feet.
8 a.m.-The National Geographic
Society headquarters at Washington
reported receipts Of a radio message
giving the balloons position at the
l4,O0O-foot stage. This was a drop
from the 10000 feet reported few
moments before, when one OF the crew
messaged, I'VE had hell of list. :"
$40 a.ms-Maj. Kepner. the pilot,
advised Brig. Gen. Oscar WeStover,
assistant chief of the Army Air Corps
at washington, that the balloon was
at height Of $4,000 feet and over
the Cheyenne River, 80 miles SOUTH
east of Rapid City, and that condi-
tions were 'all right"
S:58 a.m.-Maj. Kepner reported to
Chicago contacts that the bag had
reached an altitude of between 10000
and l5,460 feet. He said 77,000 feet
was the ultimate goal. He stated they
were having a hard pull" and added:
Everything hasn't gone perfectly. "
The direction then was given as "al-
most due SOUTH"
9:40 a.m.-Maj. Kepner reported,
I'VE are closing up" indicating prep
arations were starting to seal the gon-
dola for the second lap of the ascent.
10 a.m.-Weather reports were
broadcast from Chicago and Rapid
City. Information that q moderate
gale ESQ to 55 miles an hour) was
blowing at an altitude of 10000 feet
drew a whistle of concern from Maj
Kepner. He was advised the weather
was clear over the Middle West and
that the direction of the wind was
north to northwest at heights Of TO-
600 and 10000 feet.
1888 a.m.-The ballooniSts report
ed they were practically stalled" at
14,0OO-foot stage about IL miles
southeast of Manderson, S. D., and
approximately 100 miles southeast OF
Rapid City.
1850 a.m.-Capt Stevens an
nounced the craft had lifted to a IT,
00O- foot mark. Although this was a
new high for the flight up to that
point, he said they were not getting
all the lift" they had anticipated.
1904 p.m.-Altitude 40,200 feet and
leveled off. We're awfully busy,
radioed the crew, 'cal you back"
1918 pm.-Balloon gave position
as 90 miles south of Ainsworth, Neor.
with the temperature So degrees below
zero.
1913 p.m.-Located about 10 miles
east of North Platte, Nebr.
2:I3 p.m.-Altitude 81, 200 feet, said
expected start down about 8 pm
Central standard time.
2:25 p.m.-Radio engineers over
heard Mai. Kepner tell his crew that
the bag was torn and they would have
to start down.
$3.50 p.m.-Maj. Kepner announced
they were descending from 5000 feet
To requests that he broadcast from
the bag, Maj. Kepner replied: What
for2 We're in trouble up here"
p.m.-Descending at the rate Of
400 feet a minute from $4,000 feet
About 20 miles east of North Platte
Nebr. Omaha ground crew racing fol
the scene.
3:14 p.m.-Capt. Stevens reported
by radio that the crew was trying te
bring it down easy"
1881 p.m.-Down to $4,000 feet now
and Mai. Kepner joking with the radio
operator at Rapid City. s. Oak.
400 p.m.-Maj. Kepner reported
that the bottom of the balloon looked
like a sieve" The altitude was 10000
feet. Radio communication was in
terrupted as the crew labored with
their stricken craft. The approximate
location was near Lexington, Nebr.
4:28 p.m.-Maj. Kepner reported
they had reached the 11,000-foot stage
from where we can jump"
4:47 p.m.-Radio communication
with the stricken balloon was shut
off.
p.m.-The balloon landed on q
farm near Elm Greek, about 20 miles
west of Kearney, Nebr., and II miles
northwest of Holdrege. The three occu-
pants took to their parachutes. AL
fell safely.