Evening star., 1938-01-25
Plane
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listened in with short-Wave receivers
while the pilots of the lost plane talked
with persons seeking to aid them from
the ground was Mrs. Bane, who had
been informed at the airport that the
liner had been unable to land because
Of fog.
The gasoline tanks were all but dry
when Capt Jones finally picked up
a radio beam from Coast Guard
station. 1t was said that radio re-
ception was poor. due possibly to the
activity OF the northern lights.
The airliner was scheduled to ar
rive in Washington at $50 o'clock.
Capt Jones said. however the ship
ran into 90-mie headwind lust out
Of Newark and the fog closed down
I'VE tried to fight our way back to
Newark Airport" the flyer said. land
were in constant touch with officials
there"
The passengers apparently were I'M
aware that their lives were in danger
while the pilots sought desperately
for an opening above field. The
plane circled Newark several times.
few over Philadelphia and parts Of
Delaware before turning up the At
lantic Coast about 2:30 am.
Throughout the entire vicinity air.
port lights were turned on and anxious
watchers on the ground strained their
eyes for a glimpse of the big ship.
Flares Released.
The drone of the big ships motors
was heard in Philadelphia, Camden
and Newark as it circled in the fog.
At Camden the pilots released flares,
but could not locate the airport or see
the ground.
Capt. Jones, a veteran Of 10000
hours flying experience. calmly told
the listeners on the ground he was not
worried. His voice grew tense with
anxiety, however, as the hours passed,
the gasoline ran low and static inter-
fered with radio reception from the
ground.
Harassed radio men kept sending
orders to "trip 85." For example, at
2:3o am, the pilot told Newark: MY
compass course is 185. I am down to
2,300."
Mountain Peak Nearby.
Newark replied: Watch out for
mountain peak. Peekskill is about 20
miles to your right" A few minutes
later Newark told the airmen:
I'VE believe you are in vicinity Of
Bridgeport, Conn. Long Island Sound
Is just east Of the city. Fly over the
edge of the sound and see if you can
spot the city"
At 2:52 the pilot said Were fly
Ing to beacon . 1t says dot dash
dash" Newark identified the beacon
Tor the pilots as being at New Britain,
Conn.
Shortly afterward Newark wire
lessed you have been definitely
identified at New Britain. In or 6
miles you pick up Hartford" The
men on the ground informed the pilots
Of the nature OF the terrain which lay
In the fog below.
Land at Hartford.
At 3:02 the pilots reported they were
over Hartford.
Call us when you get down." New
ark replied.
whats the wind?" the pilots asked
wind Is south 18 miles"
Were over the field at Hartford,
the airrnen said at 3:04, and then:
"We're on the ground"
Radio men throughout the Eastern
seaboard leaned back from their in.
struments with sighs of relief. Ir
her home here. Mrs. Bane heard thu
good news joyously.
She wondered if her son, Jacl
Bane, flying cadet at Randolph
Field, San Antonio. Tex, had beer
listening in on the dramatic story
being flashed over the air waves.
Both Mr.. Bane and Mr.. King hac
the highest praise for the pilots and
:, the steward, Edward Lemieux oi
Newark. Mr.. King declared, Il cant
say enough that's good about the
plane and crew"
Although 1t was Mr.. Bane's frst
experience aloft, he said he expected
- ~ again.