Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-17

iTdue DOdlQ OF fngnl
In Cubs Around World
More than 900 members of the
Washington Board Of Trade last
night heard Pilots Clifford v. Evans
and George Truman answer ques-
lions about the round the-world
flight which they completed here
yesterday afternoon in two 100
horsepower Piper Cubs.
The former Washington flying in
structors were praised by John A.
Reilly, president Of the trade board,
for their pioneering effort which,
he said, proved beyond question the
reliability and utility of the mod
ern personal aircraft.
The pilots were guests of honor
ut . general membership meeting
Of the Board OF Trade in the Hotel
Statler. The event wound up a
busy day for the flyers, which be-
gan yesterday morning when they
took OH from Teterboro, N. j., in
. brisk headwind to receive an off,
cial welcome home" reception here.
In response to questions, the
flyers said last night it was difficult
to say whether they got their big
gest thrill" out Of meeting glamour
girls in Hollywood or from taking
OF from Northeastern Japan on a
l, 400-mile hop across the Pacific to
Shemya Island in the Aleutians.
Hazardous Flight.
Both agreed, however, the flight
over the North Pacific in their tiny
planes was more hazardous than
anything they encountered in the
film capital. They took this occa-
sion to pay tribute to their wives
back home In Washington who
"sweated us out and gave us en-
ccuragement when we were far
from home"
Another feature Of the member
ship meeting was a message on the
spirit of Christmas from the Rev.
Peter Marshall, pastor of the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church
and chaplain Of the United States
Senate. A Christmas musical pro-
gram was presented by the New
York Presbyterian Church choir.
William E. Leahy, chairman of
the Citizens Committee for the
washington chest X-ray survey, out
lined the campaign which will get
under way here January IL, while
Byron McCandless, director of
health education for the District
tuberculosis Association, supervised
. demonstration on how portable
X-ray machines will be used when
set up in local business houses.
Bounced Around by Wind.
The pilots said the toughest leg
OF their entire flight over the At
lantic and the Pacific and the con-
tinents between was the 200-mile
trip to Washington yesterday from
Teterboro, N. j. The sky was clear,
but q clustering northwest wind
bounced the light airplanes around
like kites.
The Cubs were still bouncing in
the wind when they came in under
an escort Of District National Guard
and Air Reserve planes to land
in tandem formation on a long
runway at National Airport.
The flyers were greeted on the
apron in front Of the terminal build
ing by Mr.. Reilly, Jesse M. Hadley,
chairman of the trade boards Avia-
ton Committee; Maj. Joseph Berg
ling, Washington group commander
Of the Civil Air Patrol, and repre-
sentatives of the Navy and Air
Force.
In the crowd Of several hundred
were the wives of the two pilots
and many relatives and friends.
Present to greet Mr.. Evans, a fourth
generation Washingtonian, were his
two daughters, Diane, 4, and Gail,
not quite a year old; his father
and mother, Mr.. and Mrs. Clifford
Evans, ST., and his grandfather and
grandmother, Mr.. and Mrs. Lee D.
Latimer of 5000 Connecticut avenue
NV. Mr.. Truman is the father of
twin daughters less than a year
old.
Helped Little in Flight.
The two Washington flying in
structors made the first voyage
around the Northern Hemisphere in
light planes with comparatively lit
tie outside help. The Piper Cub
manufacturers let them have two
stock planes on condition they pay
for them later, should they fail to
complete the trip around the world.
Mr.. Evans, who is ~, learned to
fly some five years ago, and won
the Distinguished Flying Cross and
Air Medals while flying DC-3s in
the China-Burma-India theater and
B-25's out Of Greenland.
Mr.. Truman, 80, a native of Los
Angeles, learned to fly in 1928, and
was an Army flight instructor and
Air Transport Command pilot dur
ing the war. He named his plane
the "City Of Angels" after his home
town, while Mr.. Evans painted city
Of Washington" on his Cub.
The two were escorted to the
District Building yesterday after
noon for an official reception. Com
missioner John Russell Young con-
graduated them on their feat and
declared the City Of Washington is
proud Of you b9th."
Get Achievement Certificates.
The pilots were presented with
scrolls COMMUNICATING their flight
by Mr.. Reilly, and Col. Robert L.
Scott, author of God Is My Co.
Pilot" and an official Of the Civil
Air Patrol, presented them with
wings as majors in the CAP.
L. Welsh Pogue, chairman of the
board Of the National Aeronautics
Association, awarded the flyers GER