The Washington times., 1938-04-19

Lieut.. Comdr. John Harvey
skipper of the squadron, nearly
swallowed his morning cigar as he
jumped up from his desk and
rushed over to the radio transmit
ter. A 30-foot sleeve target OF
heavy cloth wrapped around a
wing was a serious matter.
"All scouting one planes, from
squadron commander" he yelled
into the microphone. cease ma
chine-gun practice at once and
stand by to aid Plane No. 8! What
is your position?"
NO. 3 CAN'T LAND
There was a tense moment be.
fore the answer came back over
the radio: Base from No. 4 we
are now over Mission Beach, cir
cling eastward with No. 8, altitude
4,OO0!"
Plane No. 81" called the skip
per. DO you think you can
land?"
This time the wait was longer
and several pilots crowded around
the radio to hear the reply. Fl
nally a faint voice answered:
Negative. Am using both feet
on left rudder, and full throttle.
Target flapping around radio an
tenna. Don't think I can"
The message was suddenly cut
short.
His antenna's gone!" cried one
pilot.
"All Scouting One Planes!"
called the Skipper. Keep Base
informed of your POSITION"
"Rase from No. 4, Aye, aye!"
came the acknowledgment. I'VE
are now inland, over Camp Kear-
ney."
There was another short wait,
which seemed interminably long
to the pilots clustered around the
office radio, until another call
came from No. 4: mo. 3's me
chanic is climbing out on the
wing!"
The Skipper listened intently,
clutching the microphone with
one hand and mopping his brow
with the other. who's flying No
80" he whispered to the pilot
crouched next to him.
PILOTS CHUTE FAILS
Lieutenant Panel" was the an.
swer. Maybe hes"
"Quiet!" cautioned the Skipper
"Here's No. 4 again!"
THE mechanic has jumped" an
nounced Number -Four, and after a
short pause: His chute has open
ed and he is making a normal
descent! The pilot is now climb
ing out on the wing"
GraSping the shoulder of the
pilot next to him. the Skipper spoke
in a hoarse whisper: Get my
plane ready, call the station hos
pital, and" He was cut off by
a staccato voice over the radio:
''The pilot has jumped! His
Chute failed to open completely" )"
Without pausing for helmet or
goggles, the Skipper rushed for
the door. "Get a doctor and am
bulance out to Camp Kearney."
he shouted. lone of you stand
by the radio. and the rest follow
me on the search! Paine still may
have a chance"
Thirty seconds later he was in
the air, crouched behind the stub
by windshield with his hair flying
in the propeller blast. Ten minutes
later he spotted tattered patch Of
white cloth on the mesquite-cov,
cred mesa below him.
Marking the spot. he dived his
plane full gun for the emergency
landing field at Camp Kearney
sideslipped into a croSs-wind land
ing, Jumped out as soon as his
plane stopped rolling, and started
running towards the spot he hac
marked nearly a mile away, de
touring only for the larger boul
derS and cactus in his path.
MAKES SAFE LANDING
Meanwhile, back at the SQUAD
ron Base, gloom turned to disbe
lief, disbelief to amazement. anc
amazement to hilarious JOY a.
Plane Number Three came sailing
across the field with a small piec,
of white cloth steaming from it
right wing.
"All Scouting One planes!
doomed the radio. "Discontinu
~u f11o.