The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-21
LITHUANIAN HAS
 STARTED FLIGHT

(Continued from Page 1.) gasoline. It Is powered by a new wasp motor and is capable of maintaining an average of ITO miles an hour.
 The flight is sponsored by the American-Lithuanian Transatlan- tic Flight Association. The plane is named "Lithuanica, IT."
 Waitkus, who is 27, was born in Chicago of Lithuanian ante cedents.
 Crowd Watched Start
 The flyers young wife accom- panied him to the airport and per- sonally slowed five ham and egg sandwiches, six oranges, a quart of coffee, two gallons of water, a box of chocolates, and three packages of chewing gum into the plane.
 A large delegation of Lithuan- ians watched the preparations and cheered when the plane left the runway and disappeared over Jamaica Bay.
 In Waterbury Last May
 Lieutenant Waitkus is a native of Chicago, but in recent years he has been a resident of Koeler Wis consin. He has been associated with a prominent aviation concern in the capacity of a test pilot and aireal photographer. He was se- lected to make the flight in pref erence to several hundred other volunteer applicants. He appeared in this city on May 18th and ad- dressed a large gathering at 48 Green street. His appearance in this city was made possible by the local Lithuanian-Ameri Flight Association of which Dr. John s. Staneslow is chairman. At the time he was kept busy signing au- tographs and in answering the showed signs of being of fine mannerism, fearlessness and of pleasant disposition. He became greatly admired through these characteristics.
 Planned for June
 The flight was originally in tended to take place early in June, but weather conditions were not favorable. Weather charts and steamship reports verified the fact that the rainy season in Flu rope was the worst in years and that any attempt to fly across the Atlantic would perhaps end in tragedy, especially for a lone flyer who would be subject to dozing after hearing the drone of the motor for so many hours previ- ous. During the elapse of time since the scheduled takeoff of the flight, Lieutenant Waitkus en- gagged himself in the perfection Of the motor in the Miss Lithuanica, II.
 The plane is equipped with ra- dio controlled compass, but has no receiving or sending apparatus. All space available in the cabin has been utilized for fuel storage. While in this city the youthful United States reserve officer in- formed friends that he would carry little food. He said that two or three sandwiches and container of coffee would be sufficient.
 The airman Is married to a girl of German decendants. He at- tended the public grammar and high schools of Chicago and later graduated from Chicago Univer- sity.
 In the event of his success in the flight, Lieutenant Waitkus will put his plane on the landing field at Kaunis about noon tomorrow. The plane will then become his per- sonal possession, but he intends to place 1t in a museum in Lithu- ania. He will then tour the Lith- uAnian capitals as good will ambassador.
 Had Reception Here
 While in this city the airman was pleased with his reception and promised the local committee that he certainly would return here in event that he completed the trip. Members of the committee said today that they will arrange for a monster parade upon this occas- ion and their guest will ride through the principal streets of the city in precisely the same man ner as did Colonel Charles Lind- bergh upon his return from Paris.