AERONAUTICS: Deaths

Low wings did not raise the curious Tremaine monoplane high enough. Trying to clear a cliff, it bumped into it. The fusilage split and the plane fell amid a flaming mass of sparks. When saviors came they found Flyers George W. D. Covell and Richard S. Waggener, Navy lieutenants, cremated.

Captain Arthur V. Rogers, British destroyer of 32 German planes, jumped. He felt the canvas mechanism of his parachute start functioning.* He hit the ground, was picked up dead. Captain Rogers was testing the Angel of Los Angeles. He circled, went into a nose dive, saw the ground coming up to meet him. . . .

Thus three entrants in the Dole Prize flight to Honolulu lost. Came criticism that greediness for the $25,000 prize and the $10,000 second prize was taking men into the air with inefficient planes. Airmen answered that all tests were under U. S. Department of Commerce supervision. Flyers in the race signed a last minute agreement to delay the start four days, to give opportunity for minuter mechanical overhauling, stricter sifting of entrants’ abilities to fly.

The none too cohesive flyers and officials in the Dole Flight were amazed last week when Flyer Frank L. Clarke wheeled out his biplane, Miss Holly dale, and started gorging her with gasoline. They inquired where he was going. “For a ride,” said he.

By the time 300 gallons had splashed into the tanks the inquiries became more pointed.

“Honolulu is tired of delay,” said Flyer Clarke. “I don’t much care if I am disqualified as a Dole entrant or not. I imagine if I get there first Dole will dig up $25,000 for me.”

Up spoke Charles H. Babb, Secretary of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Aeronautic Association: “Clarke never signed an agreement to postpone his start.” The gasoline gauge rose. Flyers and officials crowded around. The plane was wheeled to the runway. Mr. Clarke leaned out, called: “As long as I can’t see the start of this race I’ll be at the other end to see the finish!” Into the plane jumped Mr. Babb, hatless in business clothes. The motor hummed; the plane took off. A Dole official told the crowd Mr. Clarke had not qualified, had not a chance to win the prize if he made the flight. . , .

Four hours and a half later Flyer Clarke came down, undamaged, but still in California.

*Opinions vary on height above ground a jumper must be for his parachute to open safely. Some say he falls 150 feet before floating; soberest flyers prefer 1,000 feet to light safely.