The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-01-11
SIX NAVAL PLANES
ARE In HOME STRETCH
CONTINUED from page one.)

ant Commander McGinnis.
The rocky, precipitious Marin
cliffs which bound Paradise Cove
provided few observation ponss
for spectators. Approximately 5OO
persons were there as the planes
departed. Thousands watched
from the San Francisco side OF
the bay. 1
The navy fiers were engaged
in a race against low-pressure
storm area brewing over the "a
cific. The storm was moving east
ward from the north and west OF
Hawaii. -.
If the six planes beat out the
storm they should reach Honolulu
within "a hours. or after dayiigh'
today. e
"The sea is a fiat calm most OF
the way between here ana tne
Islands Lieut.. Comm. McGlnn's
said before the takc-off. I'VE can
make the hop in "a hours with !; =
favorable wind. If we have Val.
wind we will have no trouble In
landing in daylight and we par
ticularIv want to avoid reaching
there at night so that we Will not
have to cruise around seVerai
hours waiting for dawn, to land.
Naval vessels were stationed at
200 mile intervals along the route
of flight. The U.S.S. Tanager was
about midway. serving as weatE-
er observer. ,c -:
Each plane carried a chief pl-
LOT who is also the navigator, two
relief pilots. a radioman and
mechanic. Five DAYS supply OF
food and a collapsible rubber boat
are aboard each ship.
The fliers are experienced IN
mass flights and the planes have
beon tested in the same way.
Lieut.. Comm. McGinnis led the
same squadron on recent non
stop flight of 1888 miles from
Norfolk, Va. to the Canal Zone
and thence via Acapulco, Mexico
to San Diego. The fight from
San Diego to Paradise Cove Tues
day required six hours.
The only navy announcement
made Of the flight characterized 1t
as a "routine transfer" of the
planes to Hawaii. 1t was said IN
navy circles, however, that the
trans Pacific fight was a part OF
the naval expansion and training
program outlined by the late Adj
miral William A. Moffett, who
lost his life in the Akron disaster.
Unofficially. it was said the
flight will precede and prepare Tor
a naval round-the-world flight that
will complete the Moffett pro-
gram. ,.,
Navy officials were particular
Iy interested in the fight as DEM
onstrating. if successful, the Tea
sibility of sending planes to Ha-
wall on short notice for defense
of the islands from possible lnVa-
sion.
The flight likewise came at a
time when serious consideration Is
being given to diriglble passenger
and mail service between the ia
cific coast and Hawaii.
The seven officers and % men
of the present flight will set dis
lance record for a formation
fight if thev reach Honolulu safe
", Gen. Italo Balbo's 24-plane
squadron made no such lengthy
over-water flight.
The planes will follow the
route first charted successfully bV
Lieuts. Lester Maitland and AL
bert Hagenberger. who left San
Francisco on June %, 1927, in an
Army Fokker and fed to Homo
lulu in 25 hours so minutes.
Two navy seaplanes had falleC
in earlier attempts. Comm. John
Rodgers took off Aug. 81, 1925,
but his plane fell into the sea. He
drifted for 10 DAYS until the
wreckage touched the shores of
one of the smaller isles in the
Hawaiian group and he was res.
cued. Lieut.. A. P. Snody took off
with Rodgers. His plane fell and
he was rescued.
The Dole race to Honolulu on
August 16 1927, claimed seven
lives. Planes piloted by Jack
Frost. J. A. Pedlar and W. P. Err
win were lost. Art Goebel won the
race in 26 hours II minutes. Mar
tin Jensen completed the fight in
20 hours II minutes.
The historic flight of Captain c.
Kingsford-Smith and C. P. T. Ulm
to Honolulu required 27 hours II
minutes. They started on March
Of 1909 ood oont;puad from, Ha