Evening star., 1935-04-05
FLIGHT TO BOLIVIA
BARRED T0FLYERS
Ten U. S. Aviators, Four
Well Known Here, Are
Grounded in Peru.
Continued From First page.)


had foreseen an unpleasant situation
should the planes touch the soil OF
Chile, which is eager to maintain
neutrality in the war between Bolivia
and Paraguay.
The men and airplanes have been
grounded through the revocation by
the Department of Commerce Of all
licenses held by the party on the
charge that they have violated inter-
national treaty by entering Peru with
out diplomatic permission.
Eugene L. Vidal, director Of Air
Commerce, at the request of the State
Department, last night cabled to the
10 men an official notice Of the revo-
cation of their licenses and notifica-
ton that they are subject to fine.
They were called upon to make full
explanation, which probably will be
handled through diplomatic channels.
The order automatically prohibits fly
ing by any of the members OF the
party or the operation of any OF the
airplanes.
The grounded airmen, according to
Commerce and State Department rec
ords are: Huestis "Hughey' Wells,
leader of the expedition; Earl Smith,
William Alexander, Robert Supplee
and Cornelius c. B Burmood, trans
port pilots; Hubert Huntington, navl-
gator; Wayne Cannon. assistant navt-
gator; John Johansen, airplane and
engine mechanic; F. E. Grady, radio
chief, and E. r. Salazar, mechanic
helper.
Flew Newspaper Route.
Wells. leader of the expedition, for
merly was engaged in flying news
papers from New York to Washing
ton and fiew between the cities
nightly for many months. His latest
address was given as New York.
Earl Smith. former Ludington Air
lines pilot flying between Washing
ton and New York, has operated an
airplane repair shop at washington
Airport for more than year. His
home is near Alexandria, Va. his ad-
dress being listed as r. F. D. No. 2,
Box 141. Smith was seriously injured
in an airplane crash at Baltimore
about three years ago.
William Alexander last year OBJ
tained permission for a projected
good will" flight from the United
States to Moscow, which has not yet
been made. Alexander, a former
Brunswick, Ga, man, now lives in
Brooklyn, N. Y. He visited here re-
Gently in connection with the pro-
posed trip.
Gray, radio man for the flight,
until three months ago was radio
chief for Eastern Air Lines, with
headquarters in Atlanta. He also
is well known here.
SalaZar until recently was en-
ployed in Washington by Eastern Air
Lines. He Is a former South Amer
ican and was to act as interpreter
on the trip.
Buyer Not Named.
The State Department was in
formed that after the shipment Of
the bombers to Bolivia had been
prohibited the planes were converted
into transport airplanes by the ad-
dition Of passenger seats and were
sold to an unnamed individual Wells
and his comrades then organized q
Tampa-New Orleans Tampico Airlines
Corp, with headquarters in New
York, took over the planes and nego-
tiated with the State and Commerce
Departments for permission to make
q survey trip for the purpose of estab-
fishing foreign airline.
Their company, which Immediately
became known as the 1T. N. T." Air
line, few weeks ago requested per-
mission to fly from New Orleans to
David, Panama, and thence, nom
stop across the Pacific to Africa on
the Pacific coast of Bolivia.
The State Department, it is said,
was reluctant to grant permission in
view of the delicate diplomatic stu
alton involved and the desire of this
Government to maintain strict neu-
trality. Assurances were required of
Wells that the planes would not be
sold to Bolivia and the Bolivian con-
sui general in New York, it was said,
gave this Government assurances that
the planes would not be seized, If they
entered Bolivia.
Given Specific Warning.
On March rs the Commerce De-
partment granted Wells and his
party permission to make the flight to
David and africa. 1t was said he was
given specific warning that If he de-
parted from this route he must OBJ
tain special permission to pass over
any other country and that he could
not land anywhere other than in
Panama or Bolivia.
When the planes landed at Lima on
Wednesday in violation of their per-
mission and of diplomatic regulations,
the American officials there, upon
complaint from Peruvian officials,
cabled notice of the violation to
Washington.