The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-19
Big CROWD CREETS
SQUADRON LANDING
HERE AT noon HOUR
Head Eastward Early In After.
noon, to Spend Night at Far.
90 Before Continuing
'I3 AIRPLANES IN PATROL
Officers and Men Arc Guests
Of Association Of Com
merce at Luncheon
l3 AIRPLAMES IN PATROL


snowbird squadron ranging In size
from tiny pursuit models with big
engines, to bi-motored transport ships
with still bigger engines. stopped Oft
in Bismarck Tuesday long enough to
refuel and permit the Is officers and
10 men to have lunch as guests Of the
Association Of Commerce.
Early in the afternoon they headed
eastward to spend the night at Fargo
before continuing on to st. Paul and
then to their home base at Selfridee
Field, Mich.
A crowd Of more than 1000 persons
was at the municipal airport waiting
for the ;Snow-birds' to arrive from
Miles City, Mont, where they had
spent the night.
The first to arrive were two low
wing monoplane attack ships, piloted
by First Lieutenant Henry M. Bailey
and Second Lieutenant Harvey p.
Huglin. They made the 2S5 miles
from Miles City in an hour ana 40
minutes, explaining that they had not
pushed their motors hard because
they had q tail wind. The others
arrived In groups, all flying In for
nation.
The transport and COMMANDMENT
ships, large types Of planes, were
equipped with three-blade propellers.
The transport planes were similar In
design, though not 20 sleek-loolIing,
IS those employed In the commercial
transport service.
Crowd D Given Thrill
Tho crowd got . thrill from the
maneuvers Of the observation flight
ships, all Of which were small biplanss.
as they swooped low over the field,
then rose to 60 into vertical banks
as they circled preparatory to land
ing. A bitter wind whipped up clouds
Of dust and annoyed the spectators
but did not seem to bother the fliers.
Although scheduled to consist Of 10
ships, only Is arrived In Bismarck.
One was lost early on the tour, which
began February l, and four others
still are In Montana. They may pass
through Bismarck with the next day
or two. One attack ship and two
transports were left at Glasgow, Mont,
because Of motor trouble and one
bomber Is undergoing some repairs at
Great Falls, Mont.
At the luncheon in their honor,
given at the Prince hotel, j. A.
Larson presided as president Of the
Association Of Commerce and intro
duced Mayor A. p. Lenhart, who babe
the visitors welcome. Major Ralph
Royce. who also commanded the arc
tic patrol when it was through here in
1880, expressed his appreciation and
commented briefly on the results Of
the experiment thus far.
Comparatively mild weather Is no
disappointment to them, Major Royce
said, since the idea Is to test out var.
ious items Of equipment for both men
and machines under practical condi-
tions. For example, he said, It Is
necessary to know how oils viii re-.
act In the field under conditions
which may be bitter cold or relatively
mild. At the end Of the tour, he said,
detailed reports will be made on some
20 items Of equipment.
Heated Gloves Are Used
On this tour, Major Royce said. only
the gloves used by the pilots are cleo
trically heated. tests having shown
that aviators have more trouble In
keeping their hands warm than Is
true Of their bodies, protected by fur
lined flying suits.
Details Of troops from Fort Lincoln
guarded the ships while the aviators
were at luncheon and officers ct the
Fort also provided transportation to
and from the city.
Among those who greeted the squad
ron here was James Guthrie, son Of
]. w. Guthrie, Bismarck. who received
training in army aviation several years
ago at Brooks Field and Kelly Field,
Texas. A number Of the visitors were
in training with him, Guthrie said,
and for this group it was q real re-
union. Young Guthrie has been d.
rected to take an examination in
April for the purpose Of qualifying for
q regular commission in the flying
service.
The Is officers In the group were:
Pursuit flight-Major Royce. First
Lieutenants Earl r. Partridge, T. H.
Taylor and Paul M. Jacobs, and Second
Lteutenants Clark N. Piper and Joe
w. Kelly.
Bombardment Flight-Capt. Arthur
q. Hamilton and End Lieut.. Bifrell
Walsh.
Attack F1ight-1st Lieut.. Henry N.
Bailey and and Lieut.. Harvey p. Hug
lin.
Observation Flight-Captain Calvin
+. Giffin and First Lieutenants Isaac
w. OFT. Reuben Kyle, Jr, and =. D.
Klein.
Attached to the group Is . naval
observer was James r. Lee, lieutenant,
junior grade.