Evening star., 1940-05-28
Blimp First Aircraft
10 Make Landing at
New Airport
'..
PIoque Dedicoting
Paving Contract Is
Placed at Site

The first landing on the Washing
ton National Airport was made at
1912 o'clock this morning In the
presence of Civil Aeronautics Au-
thority, National Aviation Forum
and Army engineer officials.
The Goodyear blimp Enterprise,
piloted by Comdr Karl Lang. took
of fro m the Washington Hoover Air
port and for 10 minutes circled over
the Potomac River, then landed at
the intersection Of the north-south
and northwest-southeast runways.
The first man to set foot on the
ground was Thomas Beck, chairman
of the forum, who brought a bronze
plaque which dedicated "the worlds
largest single paving contract" The
$212, 800 contract was let to the War
rem Bros Road Co., Boston, which
today began laying 900 square
yards Of asphalt-concrete paving.
This is the equivalent Of four-lane
highway between Washington and
Baltimore.
Greeted by Col. Smith.
Mr.. Beck was greeted by Col
Sumpter Smith, chairman of the
airport's engineering commission.
Also in the first landing party were
John M. Carmody, Federal Works
Agency administrator; Harllee
Branch, member of the c. A. A.
board; Gen. Julian Schley, chief of
Army engineers, and Undersecre-
tary of Commerce Edward J. Noble.
One anxious moment was expert
enced as the party was disembark-
ing when q quartering wind pushed
the blimp sideways. causing about
so spectators to run for safety.
Comdr. Lang commented that there
was an Smile wind blowing across
the 629-acre field. However, he said
this was no obstacle in making a
good landing.
Mr.. Carmody said the airport
looked fine from the air" and COM
mented on the smooth trip. He
added: THE airport will be finished
none too soon to meet the require
ments Of the increasing air traffic. "
The second landing was made by
the blimp Rainbow at 1880 o'clock.
This ship carried G. Grant Mason,
G. A. A. official, and a group of
photographers, who made pictures
of the dedication ceremony.
Plaque Put in Place.
The plaque was put in place by
Mr.. Branch and Mr.. Beck at the
intersection of the two longest run
ways on the field. These are 6,855
feet and 5,210 feet long, respectively
The runways on which the cere-
mony took place have 9-inch sta
bilized base. tar prime coat. a q
inch base of asphalt and concrete
and top layer of IL inches of the
asphalt mixture. The runways are
expected to be usable for plane
landings by Labor Day.
Among those on the field with Col
Smith as a Reception Committee
were Col r. S. Thomas, District en-
gineer; H. H. Houk. resident en-
gineer; Capt. w. N. Leaf, corps en-
gineer; F. E. Schnepfe, member OF
the Engineer Commission, and
Thomas Early, administrative as
sistant to Col. Smith.
The plaque was designed by Mr.
Early last week. 1t was placed in q
concrete base 18 inches square and
3h inches deep.
Parade Of Navy Blimps.
Shortly after II o'clock the two
commercial blimps took OF from the
National Airport with Federal OH
cials and photographers to join a
parade of four Navy blimps flying
to Washington from Lakehurst, N. ],
Plans call for an hour of forma-
ton flight above the city by the
Navy Goodyear formation, the route
being around the outskirts of the
downtown restricted area in a clock
wise direction. This area extends
roughly, from the Lincoln Memorial
to Stanton square NE, and from
the Tidal Basin and Capitol heating
plant to P street.
Formations of Army pursuit
and medium bombardment air
planes from the General Headquar-
ters Air Force, Langley Field, Va,
are due at Boiling Field at 3 o'clock