Evening star., 1934-07-12
BALLOON LANDING
HANSELAbORATE
State and Local Officials
Over Wide Area Ready
to Cooperate.

Extensive plans are being made by
ofle.als Of the National Geographic
Society and the Army Air Corps for
handing the landing Of the giant bal
loon. Explorer" when II drifts TO
earth follow ing the National Geo.
graphic Society Army Air Corps stra-
toephere fight according 20 an an
nouncement made today by Or. John
Oliver La Gorce, vice president Of the
society.
The stratospheTe expedition is nov
ready TO take of from the Stratoeamp.
near Rapid City, S. OAK. on the first
day that wind and weather permit
State ana local officials In South
Dakota. Iowa. Wisconsin. Minnesota.
Illinois. Missouri and Nebraska-all Of
which are within the possible landing
area of the big gas bag-have willingly
offered the cooperation Of their po-
lice and conservation departments As
soon as the landing place Of the bal
loon is known. detachments OF motor
cycle police will be dispatched to the
spot 10 protect the gas envelope and
the precious cargo Of scientific ins.su-
ments in the gondola from souvenir
hunters and others.
Two Mobile Bases
Two mobile bases" are being estab
lished In the Middle West by the So
ciety and the National Broadcasting
Co. to meet the balloon when it lands.
One will start from Peoria, Ill, and
the other from Des Moines. Iowa
These will consist of a broadcastiTsg
truck and a car containing technicians
and representatives Of the society. AS
the balloon is expected 10 be in hourly
communication with the ground
throughout the fight the mobile
bases" can move IN its direction even
before a landing is made.
At the Peoria, H. base will be Dr.
La Gorce, F. G. Vosburgh Of the So
cietys editorial staff and w. Robert
Moore OF the Photographic division.
Calculations. based on the records OF
previous flights and the size of the
present balloon, indicate that the
Explorer" probably will come down
within 200 miles of Peoria-although
unforeseen factors. such as storms,
sudden shifts in the wind or a change
in plans on the part Of the balloonists
themselves. make it difficult to prop
hesy the landing area with any degree
Of certainty.
Second Des Moines Base.
For this reason a second base" is
being stationed IN Des Moines under
direction OF George w. Hutchison,
secretary of the National Geographic
Society. With him will be L. c. Roy
OF the society's editorial staff and
Edwin L. Wisherd of the Photographic
department. These men will accom-
pany second National Broadcasting
Co. truck which will broadcast details
of the landing in case the balloon
comes down near the Iowa capital.
Each of the mobile bases will be in
the field Immediately after the strato-
sphere balloon takes of in Rapid City.
II the balloonists are able to give
them an idea Of their whereabouts, or
possible landing place. the two units
will converge upon the place and CO.
operate in giving news reports and in
taking photographs,
Throughout the day of the flight
news dispatches from the society's
representatives in the field and radio
reports from Maj. Kepner and Capt.
Stevens, the balloonists, will be con-
stantly received at the headquarters
of the National Geographic Society.
These news flashes and reports will
be issued frequently as bulletins to
the press.