Evening Star Newspaper, September 14, 1930, Page 23

¥ _ B-7 Kindergarten Opens Monday. LYON PARK, Va, September 18 ane| (Speeigl).—The Teresa Home Kinder- | garten, 212 _Walnut street. will open | Monday 'under the supervision of Mrs. Teresa Clark. Such a large class has been enrolled that Mrs. Elizabeth Tall- SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., SEPTEMBER 14 1930—PART ONE. v daily cable to the War Department. ’ “Partly for these reaséns, and per- | the Order of Caterpillars initiated two “But our most important job was to | haps others, Woolsey and Benton neg- | candidates and lost two. |keep on our course. The rear cockpit |lected to wear chutes. And atter all, = |was a sort of office where we studied |they may have reasoned, it's only 10 | maps and charts. Because of high miles to the airport. We've crossed | winds it was difficult to do this work | the Andes and flown across a continent in our regular positions, and so, turn- | without having a jump. Surely we THE |wen flying_was our only time for re-‘ laxation. On the ground we had to wear smiles, hold our dignity and shake thousands of hands. “In the alr we felt free to throw strain off our minds. Even so, this time was not wasted. While Lieut. Whitehead would take his turn pilot- Tales From the Caterpillar Club (Next: “X.,” the mysterious which initiated Lieut. Hutchinson into the Caterpillar Club.) (Copyright, 1930.) No. 10—~The Pan-American Caterpillars. them between Buenos New York and Detroit Lock Wings Over Buenos Aires| and Crash. Dargue and Saved by Chutes. but Woolsey and Benton Per-| ish. BY DON GLASSMAN. Brass-lunged sirens and fog horns proclaimed the day. For Buenos Alres, as well as New York, welcomes and fetes hero airmen. When the pan-American fyers hove | into harbor, on February 26, 1927, loud | tooting and clanging, fervor and revelry rent the air. watercraft, from cross trees, ri and funnels, fluttered the colors o(’ many nations. In diamond formation the fleet cir- eled the port. First, the New York glided low, Jeveled out, skimmed ripples and grooved 8 foaming furrow in the bay. The Detroit, the S8t. Prancisco droned overhead, while the fagship cleared the fairway. Singly, they nosed down and scratched the watery mirror. & The acclamation swelled as the ships were moored to buoys. Natives milled around the fiyers | Viva! los aviadores norteamericanos! Heroes del aire! Whitehead | From the mastheads of | Louls and the San | | | | | | The Flight Personnel. | Civil and military officers escorted | the Americans to an Argentine battle | cruiser anchored hard by; and seated | &% a banquet in the saloon, stories of | Yenqui valor governed the table talk. | They told how the American men o' war had flown down the rainless coast, | where for 34 years not one drop had | fallen out of heaven; and through the | rain.ridden belt where for nine solid | years the clouds had precipitated every day: and how they had crossed the Andes. Pence, its furtherance and assurance, was the avowed mission of the amphi- bian fleet. The motive was extolled and discussed with Latin verbosity at every | eorner; this gesture of warmth from | the United States stirred pan-America. One minister said the flight had done | more good than 10 years of diplomatic eorrespondence. Aside from its desire to weld friendly relations with 20 South American re- | publics, the expedition sought to en- | courage commercial aviation and dem- | onstrate the feasibility of commercial routes; to give training to Air Corps | nnel, and to test the amphiblan | of airplane and inverted Liberty motor. ‘The 22,085-mile flight began with five Loening amphibians. Pilots of the New York, the San Antonio, the San Francisco, the Detroit and the St.| Louis were respectively: Maj. Herbert e, commandant; Capt. A. B. 1, Capt. 1. C. Eaker, Capt. C. F. Upper: Capt. C. F. Woolsey and Lieut. John Benton of the Detroit, who perished in the crash with the New York at Buenos Aires. Lower: Maj. H. A. Dargue (left) and Lieut. C. Whitehead snapped in the New York shortly before the collision with the Detroit. | —United States Army Air Cqrps Photos. | away from me, hence I had little reason to expect danger. Of course I was ig- norant of her subsequent maneuvers. I expected her to join the San Francisco and St. Louis in a Lufbery circle and watch my landing from that ition. That was our custom. I would drop first and try the most likely runway. If I found a more suitable one after landing, I would signal them to try it instead. Meantime, they would fly nose- and-tail in a Lufbery circle. Locked Wings in Midair. “Well, when I raised my head to . | glance over the left, & streak of ‘black While at @orian border, the San Antonio was dis- abled by motor trouble. The rest of the flight continued; the' San Antonio’s crew awaited a new power plant. from ma. The amphibians were the first flying ships to visit all pan-American repub- Hes on a single tour. ‘Along the route, $heir visit excited reverence and dcrment, In many ‘places the natives had never seen a plane, at least a “frog” type, which finds its- land or in aftr. > Swimming toward shore by. their own power and toddling up on the beach, all adrip, the underslung, broad-bellied phn:s bore an’ e d’fid’y likeness to geese. Innovations ‘in the design' and con- struction of the pan-American ships merit this description - from. Maj. DR e Loening GOA-1.wsed on this flight operates equally well on land or a “The hull itself is made of duralumin Five watertight compartments are connected to a bilge ump in the rear cockpit. e is built on top of hull. Wings are about as big as an ordinary obser- | vation plane's. Pontoons at the end of | each wing keep the ship balanced on . Navigation lights may be used ht. Fully loaded, the Loening weighs nds, yet her fiying char- ood. Our average speed was ve 85 to 90 miles per hour. While with a favorable wind we have averaged more than a 100 miles an hour.” ‘The performance of the amphibians and gallantry of their crews would have held all attention but for an event which overshadowed other considera- tions and added a fragment to Cater- history. “What happened at Buenos Aires,” . e told me when I met him at the American War College, Washing- ton, “did more to cement our pan- American relations than any event on the whole flight. “Following the harbor reception, we returned to our ships and prepared to take off for Palomar, official port of the Argentine Army Air Service, on the outs| of Buenos Aires. “The Detroit was allowed to take.off first, since it was necessary for one of her crew to climb out while in flight and lash a loose she t ground safely. g mrm had broken the day before &t Mar del Plata. “Soon after the Detroit skidded off, the New York, Ban Francisco and St. Leuis followed. The fleet reassembled into a perfect diamond element while flying over the city, escorted by three Argentine planes. | “Arriving over the fleld, I flew in my | usual position at the forward point of the diamond. The San Francisco fol- lowed at the right point, the Detroit at the left nt and the St. Louls brought up the rear. The escort flew behind, to the left. The port also was to our left. Last View of the Detroit. “I rocked the New York's wi as signal to my men to prepare for land- Following prearranged plans they fell out of position. The San Francisco swung into a sharp circle to the right. Opposite her the Detroit swung out on the left. To the rear the St. Louls| continued straight ahead, climbing | slightly to get over our heads. “When breaking formation, it was my | custom to . Jose altitude rapidly. I| withheld this time, because, glancing down, I saw an Argentine passing diag- onally beneath me. I waited until T could see it emerge under my ngt . But tly it swerved be- ook me and went off o the left 3 Fidden bty.my lane. where it remained .4, k u!wommn;-m: tance to the New York rapidly; we were undoubtedly hidden underlthelr :u{:hge tres moment I was peering ove) -‘1& o.t my plane for the Argentine that had umdldung-r me. My ship lost altitude E' ually. “The last I saw of the Detroll was broke she -n“d yellow flashed in my eyes. ‘Crash! “T recall an attempt to move the stick and turn a Lieut. Whitehead was in the’ Néw York's rear cockpit and I occupled the front pilot's seat. ith the surprising suddenness of that fiash it was impossible for me to swing quickly and sharply. “I heard nothing from Whitehead in the rear as the Detroit's propeller and blunt hull plowed into the New York's left wing. “A rasping roar stung my ears. Im agine . two 400 - horsepower Libertys churning at close quarters. And the cracking of struts, tearing wing fi ric and splintering of fuselages. Tha some idea of the noise. It came upon element, on water, | us like thunde T. “No sooner had I seen that streak ol} black and yellow than I knew my time had come—to jump or sink in a ship- "l'he')l':: York ;xngnmtmumlocm \wings crash. ew positively & Pplane struck us, but didn’t know . The was not so se- Both “The paths of the planes .were not greater than at right angles to each other, and it's probable they struck at an angle of about 60 degrees. I remem- “All motion seemed retarded. I might have been watching a slow-moving pic- | ture film. The dam: wings folded | up as if creased. y covered our cockpits. “I can hardly describe how sluggish this collapsing seemed. Certainly the wings must have given way quite rap- idly. But by this time my mind was so aroused and alert that it transcended all physical actions. The situation dawns upon one like a flash. Immedi- ately the senses are alive to everything. “All during this time not a word passed between Whitehead and me. In fact, events made it unnecessary to talk. Each of us knew what he had to do. But I did find time for a momentary reflection that a calamity was marring ‘what had hitherto been a delightful and successful undertaking. I dwelt, then, on its immediate effect on our good-will flight. The question remained unan- swered in my mind, suppressed by the emotion of self-preservation. “I found myself reaching for the safety belt. My body strained inst it. Por by now the locked shi fell in & violent spin. I never got a glimpse of ‘Woolsey or Benton in the Detroit. Tied to the Death Ship. “I raised my hand on the cowling. Had no recollection of ever having reached the cockpit side. Caught in this act, I was hurled out of my seat like shot from a cannon’s mouth. “Nor do I recall ever having pulled the rip cord. I remember that I didn't have time even to clear the whirling wreck before I saw a white sheet sprawling all over me. The shrouds and dome had become entangled with something and I was suspended, with- out the least hope I l‘ourd ever be re- leased alive. “The chute ripped and great holes were torn in her skirt. Many of the shroud lines were sliced, and my slash umbrella blew over Lieut. Whitehead's cockpit and covered him. “He had caught his foot on some pro- jection and was working desperately to get loose. PFinally he managed it and skinned his shin climbing out of the cockpit. Whitehead cleared the ships nd pulled the cord, while I was dragged alongside—chained to the fall- ing ‘wreck. “I had been catapulted from the pit at 1,200 feet. For 900 feet, while the wrecks spun madly, I was knocked and battered back and forth, I knew not ‘wirither or how. “The whole business looked blue and ‘hopeless. - * For me there wasn't slightest chance, I was dangling from some projection in the tail group and couldn't make out bo':t. particular part. A Cabbage-Patch Landing. “A giant silken hand broke loose at 300 feet. Ten or 20 feet more, it would have been futile. Suddenly I felt lifted, poised. The wrecks parted and spun to destruction. “Looking up, I got my first glimpse | of the open chute. I saw the umbrella | had been ripped from skirt to crown. Through the open cracks I could see . Whitehead ‘were 80 office desk %mxn!numu the shroud lines | sald after hearing him discourse. | to wear chutes on all flights. But this | were cut; they dangled about, silken strands. A veritable refuse pile rained down. Pieces of wing, fabric and loose parts halled everywhere, “After separation, the ships lost grips | and crashed a hundred feet apart. The | impacts came one upon the other. The | Detroit burst into flames, the New York | not. [ “Some moments later I landed in & cabbage patch. The field was nice and | soft, else I might have sustained severe | injuries. Much of my chute's buoy- | ancy was lost when the dome ripped | and air poured through the gaps. It speaks a great deal for.the reliability | and effickency of this invention, espe- | cially when one considers how the fab- | ric had been mutilated in the wreck. | Fourteen shroud lines performed the | work of 24, | “Whitehead grounded shortly after, making an easy landing. “We rushed to the burning Detroit, too late, Flames buried her. Whitehead's Diary. “Woolsey had piloted the Detroit. As fis ship deadlocked: with mine specta- tors saw biack puffs burst from her en~\ gine. Evidently, he was trying to dis- entangle his ship by using the throttle. Lieut. Benton fell clear of the Detroit at about 300 feet, but hit the ground Louis landed almost immediately. Doctors and officers of the Argentine Air Corps | med us. A guard was posted and | t. Pairchild appointed Bccident in- | officer. Vflfilun wrecks and Bieut. r adventures were written lnw‘ Both pisnes fell as ons,” he recalled, | “snd then the New York spun very fast to left. Tools, parts and papers were flying out of the rear pit. | “The Detroit seemed to have blocked | the rear cockpit of the New York—— | “I unfastened my_ belt and wmelhk&fl which I took to be Maj. Dargue went out of the front cockpit. I thought the | tail of the New York him. I climbed up & bit and had difficulty stay- ing still until set for the dive. I pushed off with my right foot, which was hit | very hard at the ankle by the New | York's tail. Located plane as she | turned toward me in & spin and when I seemed clear, puiled rip cord— | “Parachute opened quickly. prln sound of the shroud lines out of th pack surely sounded welcome. Caught Without Chutes. | “Sew Detroit hit and burst into flames and an instant later New York hit a few yards away. ed around for other parachutes and could locate but one. It seemed to have several large holes in panels and descending faster than I was. “A nice plowed field was under me, Pulled off shoes to keep from turning | my ankles. Watched first parachute land all right. Dropped my shoes when | about 50 feet in air and landed Wl!hl but little shock.” 1 ‘The next day the accident investigat- ing officer completed his work and the chief of the Alr Corps was advised by cable. Experts concluded that the ac- cident was unavoldable, since neither pllot saw the other plane in time to swerve out of the way. Capt. Woolsey and Lieut. Benton were killed honor- ably in line of duty. Officers of the Argentine Army took charge, doing everything in their power to ease strain on the survivors. The natives could not have offered warmer sympathy if the victims had been avia- tors in their own flying corps, “We thought,” continued Maj. Dargue, “that a great blight had de- scended upon us. For me it was a most trying situation, because the fiight's responsibility was on my hands. | Woolsey and Benton had endeared | themseives to us by their geniality and warm friendship, “In_response to a cablegram, Gen. Patrick, chief of the Air Corps, replied that the flight would surely go on to completion and I could use my own Judgment as to planes and personnel. “Lieuts. Whitehead and Weddington traveled by rail to France PField for the spare amphibian, with orders to rejoin us at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela.” “It's an amazing story, how were Woolsey and Benton eaught without chutes?” “Of course, Army fiyers are required was just a 10-minute hop. Presumably | Benton had gotten on the wing to| make the temporary repair. To wear his chute while working would have been cumbersome. True to sea tra- dition, Woolsey did not wear a life 8. “Both were in their seats during the flight. The tem| Te- pair had been made. The ity to slip on chutes had passed. Little would any of us have thought of har- nessing up only a few minutes before landing. “Gen. Patrick asked me that when we landed at Miami on our return to the States” he rep “Technically, rigidly and in the fac D]?l! it can hardly be answered. ‘In those countries -we were often above | ally the heat confronted by strange conditions. Usu- was lflflln{ and the hu- midity close, too. To sit harnessed in s heavy parachute was no joke, I can assure you. Remember that whils we of strict disei- | ing I would keep our daily records in order, make entries in accounts, at- tend to correspondence and write the 'my papers and work. |ing up the seat and sliding into the shan't mneed bottom of the cockpit, I would spread lAlrea and Palomar.” ‘Ten miles! assist Mrs. Clark as teacher. ¥ RIGHT NOW~= THIS MONTH~ R~ Buy The Furhiture YOUR HOME NEEDS Our displays are now complete, with all the new Fall furniture styles and with prices at rock bottom levels now is certainly the advantageous time to buy. Whether you need the complete furnishings for a home or only a small footstool, you will find the most wanted styles here to ccme to the store early. Our terms must suit your convenience. - SEERRL Complete Day-Bed | § - s \ [\ A Day-bed of the better type. ¥ a ] One motion and the bed is open. 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