The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1937-06-21
VISIBILITY
FORCES AIRMEN
TO COME DOWN
Fail to Make Go al, But
Cover $500 Miles in
Sixty-three Hours
GREAT ACHIEVEMENT
in AVIATION MADE
Plane to Be Dismantled
Birdmen Are to Fly to
San Francisco

| CAA . AtyAASA0NO
I VANCOUVER, Washington June
21.-The three Soviet filters, in an
attempted nonstop flight from
Moscow to Oakland, landed here at
1920 O'Clock Sunday morning.
| Chief Pilot Chekaloff said the
landing was due to poor visibility.
The plane was in good condition
and had sufficient gasoline for 750
miles more flight.
The three filters were all feeling
fine after the flight of nearly S.
300 miles mflie in SO hours. They
failed to break the previous nom
stop flight record, 5.667 miles in SIS
hours and 20 minutes. made by
French fliers Codas and Rossi In
August, 1885. New York to Syria.
Aviation Immortality
The three men from Russia laid
upon the new worlds doorstep a
claim for aviation immortality and
a challenge for flying geniuses Of
the worlds greatest nations by pi-
loting the red winged monoplane
nearly $500 miles nonstop from
Moscow. across the top OF the world
to this American Army post on the
banks Of the Columbia River.
The conquerers of one of the
worlds most hazardous flights in
/ the history Of aviation, fell short
1902 miles Of the goal In Oakland,
California
7 Only Few Witnesses
Only few witnesses we're on
hand to see the end of their jour
ney other than themselves.
Some amazed soldiers and three
University ROTC students Witness
ed the end of the flight and saw
the big plane come down to safe
landing, but as soon as word was
flashed the filters had landed. hun
dreds, then thousands began COM
ing to Vancouver, by plane and by
autos and Sunday was a big day
here.
AT Controls Entire Trip
/! Swarthy pilot Chekaloff never
relinquished the controls for moro.
than two and one half days.
He. as well as his two companions
on the flight. we're astounded at the
acclaim quickly bestowed upon them.
The Birdmen went to sleep soon
after landing.
To Dismantle Plane
The plane is to be dismantled
and then they will late today fly
to San Francisco in the company
Of Russian Ambassador Troyan-
ovsky who flew here to greet them.
Chekaloff said the most trying
portions Of the flight came as re-
suit of stormy weather from Boring
Sea, Franz Josef Land and Patrick
Henry Island near the North Pole.
! The filters received congratula-
tons by wire from President Roose-
welt and they talked with Stain.
in Moscow, over the telephone.
Warm up to Flight
Alaska and the Pacific Coast be-
gan to warm up" to the flight of
the Soviet filters as they neared the
coast territory News flashes were
carried in extras by newspapers and
broadcast stations gave unlimited
time to the progress Of the flight.
several coast stations remaining OPP
en- after midnight and until the
Sunday morning regular hours to
tell of the flight.
AS The Empire went to press last
Saturday. the last information was
dated las O'Clock In the afternoon
from Edmonton. stating the plane
was passing over thu confluences OF
the Mackenzie and Flat rivers at
Fort Simpson.
Flashes from Plane
At regular intervals from then
until the plane finally landed at
Vancouver. Washington, flashes
were received from the plane. In
queries were constantly being ma le
Of The Empire on the latest news.
About 8 O'Clock there was lull
and then flash was received stat
ing the plane was changing its
course and was heading out toward
the Pacific over the Canadian Rock
les. Presumably the weather might
have been bad along the interior
route which was expected to be
!, followed. But the airmen made no
comment except to say "All is we'll"
| False Report
Suddenly out of the air came a