Evening star., 1961-12-31
Spy in the Sky
By PEARL C.. MARTUFI
Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer
stretch ahead of your three abreast barely
moving wonder there's roadblock farther Dusk is
creeping down. the delay is frustrating
Then, radio comes voice from the sky:
Memorial Bridge traffic heavy but moving Key Bridge is
moving slowly Shirley Highway moving about Is miles
hour Badensburg road into Maryland is not too heavy
Sixth in Southwest closed permanently Fourth
Independence avenue from Fourteenth
moving along we'll No major tieups Constitution
street SW is quite congesed you're going to use South
Capitol Bridge is better approach, moving
freely Please turn your headlights and be safe :.
You pull the light switch turn at the intersec
tion and follow the suggested route All is well again
Every day. Monday through Friday, from to and
from AIS 545 Serg Clinton Humphes radios traf
fc conditions hecoper poted by Raymond Chaisson
the Washington Baltimore Helicoper Arways AS they
cruise through the sky Serg Humphres observes the moving
below reports congesed and highways
tieup trouble spots and advises safety His
ports are heard over WMAL, The Stars station
September of last after of United States
cities using helicopter service for ground traffic surveillance
the Metropolitan Police Department decided launch the
service in Washington After additions at WMAL Seret Hum
phes selected the regular brOadcaster and Serg
Aubrey Yowaish and Pvt Harold Gipe chosen
alternates.
As member of the police force ls41 sergt
phries had worked d. C. Traffic School, training of
ing guards radio dispatcher and with the harbor police
He had ridden police motorcycle for 20 years.
Recently while flying the Northeast section of the
city, the sergeant noticed smoke rising from the highway be-
tween Kenworth and Bladensburg road The hell
copter dipped closer the ground threecar collision had
drawn crowd; victim lay the ground, but no aid
seemed in progress.
Sergt Humphries hesated but moment, then directed
Pilot Chasson to in the middle of New York ave
He radoed for ambulance cleared the congestion
and in matter of minutes airbOrne again.
Many people write in with criticisms, suggestions and
inequenty appreciation for the service An amusing
note from Speedy Gonzales who managed bit of all
three He bored with the of the word T the
copter broadcass suggested finding to eliminate but
thought the service fine thing Now if only the English
language like Spanish could the first singular
in verbs the sergeant could eliminate the and find
favor with Speedy
One tardy husband abed his impatient wife that he
delayed because of traffic congestion his usual route Oh
weren't she said Il listened to Sergt Humphres
the radio and he said traffic that street moving freely
Then there the rate motors who wrote to the Police
Department: " don't mind traffic at crossings don't
mind rada check hiding in the bushes by the
highway to catch somebody speeding But putting cop in
hecoper to from overhead going just too far I'm turn
ing in my drivers permit"
Serg Humphries is native Washingtonian living in
Annandae Va. He has wife and three children, and his
hobbies woodworking and fishing
Coincidentaly Pilot ChassOn lives within five blocks of