The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-05-25
MIAMI FLIGHT
TRIUMPH FOR
MERRILL
Nv CARROLL PEEKE
Times staff Correspondent

Times stan Correspondents
MIAMI, Fla, May 25.-Dick
Merrill, the only man to pilot a
plane on two round trips over
over the Atlantic, is back today on
his routine job as pilot Of one OF
the big Eastern Air Line trans
ports on the New York-WaShing-
ton Miami run.
But yesterday, his inaugural
run after the recent flight to
England and return. to bring back
njctures of the coronation, was far
from routine.
Leaving Washington shortly be-
fore noon, with Jack Lamble, who
made the transatlantic flight with
him. as co-pilot, Merrill was &C
corded a series of ovationS at every
stop, and last night, on arrival
here. he was greeted at a civic
reception in Bayshore Park, with
close to 10000 persons attending.
Greeted by Amelia
There was a gathering Of noted
fliers here last night. One OF the
first to greet Merrill and Lambie
was Amelia Earhart, who dropped
in Yesterday with the plane IN
which she will start a worlo-glro-
ling flight in few days. she
extended her congratulations, ana
then entered into a technical olS-
cussion on the problmS OF trans
oceanic flights. ,s
Miss Earhart, her navigator ana
husband, George Palmer Putnam
are making a series OF test hops
over the ocean, in preparation ior
their international flight which
will start from California tnlS
week.
Another noted flier who Joined
in the welcome was Phoebe Omlle,
who is also doing some flying down
here.
Started at Raleigh
The series of receptions for Mer-
rill and Lambie started when the
big transport landed at Raleigh
N. c.. yesterday afternoon. scores
of persons were at the airport a
microphone was set up and they
made a broadcast.
A terrific thunderstorm was
raging at the next stop. Charles
ton 6, c. but even the deluge did
not keep back a crowd Of persons
who wished to see the transatlan-
There was another big crowd
and another broadcast at Jack
sonyille. Fla, and at Palm Beach
another crowd, including Q high
school band, with boys and girls
in snappy scarlet coats and white
flannel trousers footing away for
all they were worth.
Showed His Skill
On the flight down to Florida
Merrill had a chance to show the
passengers just what q great Tier
he is. There was stormy weather
all the way with bumpy air and
thunder storms. We skidded over
and around the storm, finally
climbing close to 10000 feet to
get out of it.
Flying high over Ormond Beach,
we had a view of the Rockefeller
estate, with hundreds Of cars
parked around, their occupants
waiting to see the body Of the
famed oil magnate depart.
A few minutes later we were
speeding along over DaytonA
Beach, where Sir Malcolm Camp
bell once set a worlds automobile
speed record.
Merrill Disappointed
The red tip of the sun was SET
ting in the west and great golden
moon rising over Miami as we
circled the airport and landed,
having made the 992-mile run in
just q few minutes over seven
hours.
Merrill is bitterly disappointed
at the ruling of the Department of
Commerce, forbidding American
fliers permission to participate
in an aerial race to France this
summer, in commemoration Of the
Lindbergh flight of 10 years ago.
Declaring he hopes the ban will
be lifted, he said:
"Such a ruling is . terrific