The Washington times., 1937-06-10
BERMUDA TRIP
BY AIR TREAT
TO SCRIBE
BY CARROLL PEEKE


in washington. Doesn't sound Jos
sible, does it? But it is. I did 1t
yesterday.
The big SikorSky amphibian
plane Bermuda Clipper" dropped
in to the Pan American Always
landing base at Port Washington,
Long Island. at 1907 p. m. yester..
day. ending the return flight OF
773 miles from Hamilton. Bermu-.
da, in 5 hours and 40 minutes and
Is of us stepped ashore, the tlrst
passengers to make the round
trip flight to the tabled isles.
And we, who had winged over
the Atlantic at a speed averaging
lao miles an hour, then were
forced to follow the procedure al
tendant on mere mortals VINO
travel on old fashioned ships.
30 Aboard Air Liner
The Public Health Service doc
tor boarded our ship and "ex-
amined' the passengers and crew,
although the examination seemed
to consist of asking how we had
enjoyed the flight. And then we
went through the customs before
we were cleared. .ou+s
The flight to Bermuda started
on Tuesday morning when tne
% invited to be the first aerial
Messengers boarded the huge plane
at the new Pan American base
on Long Island, the base winch
it is hoped will soon become the
terminus of a transatlantic SER
vice to Europe.
A crew of seven and twenty
five passengers were on board as
we took to the air at 9:15 AM.
At the controls was Captain Il.
o, D, Sullivan, veteran ocean flier
who has piloted the clippers over
the Atlantic to South America
and across the Pacific.
Greeted by Mayor
We left in heavy rain and fog,
flying blind for two hours at
10000 feet. We came to good
weather as we entered the area
warmed by the Gulf Stream, and
the weather held good until we
dropped into the beautiful bay
at Hamilton just five hours and
% minutes after taking off.
There we were met by Sir Henry
Warrington, mayor Of Hamilton,
and q group of other government
officials. That night we were the
guests of the Bermuda govern
ment at a banquet.
Bermuda is a most beautiful
spot, and with this new service
it has been made as accessible as
many a weekend resort. A chain
of coral islands in the North At
lantic, it is warmed by the Gulf
Stream and has the luxurious
vegetation of the tropics.
Seasoned Ocean Filters
A crowd assembled to see us off,
and wave to us as we circled the
islands on a sightseeing flight be-
fore starting on our homeward
course.
Then we, seasoned ocean fliers
by this time, settled down to the
relaxation of the trip. Bridge and
poker games started. The Smok-
ing cabin was filled.
When an obServant person
sighted something in the ocean
a mile below uS-as once when we
saw two whales playing, and again
when we sighted a big freighter
many miles anywhere was a
rush to the windows.
Luncheon in the Skies
The tables were set for lunch
con. No more of the days of paper
napkins and box lunches while fly
ing. Now there is linen and sill
yer and glass and china.
We had aiced melon, a hot soup,
delicious filet mignon, vege-
tables, salad and dessert, perfectly
prepared and deity served.
And then a nap after luncheon.
and finally the thrill of the cry
Land Ho," and then down, down,
down, until we were back on Long
Island Sound. Our pioneer flight
was over. We were the first aerial
passengers to Bermuda and re-
turn.
And all of us are perfectly will
ing to take that flight as often as
possible, so delightful is the serv.
ice in every way.