Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1918 — FINDS HIS FIRST FLIGHT ENOUGH [ARTICLE]

FINDS HIS FIRST FLIGHT ENOUGH

HOOSIER OFFICER IS AERIAL GUEST OF BRITISH FLIER, BUT WILL STAY ON GROUND Washington, Feb. 22.—Lieut. C. E. Johnson, of Rensselaer, Ind., an officer of the Medical Reserve Corps, who is in Washington for a few days before starting overseas, strolled out to Potomac Park this afternoon to watch Col. C. F. Lee, British aviator extraordinary, begin on one of his sensational airplane flights over the city. He became one of the big crowd of onlookers. The Indiana lieutenant, however, had scarcely reached the aviation field until Col. Lee espied him, quickly walked to his side and inquired: “Are you the signal officer who is to make the flight with me this afternoon?”

“No, I’m not the one, but I’ll take his place,” said the surprised Lieut. Johnson, volunteering on the impulse of the moment. The colonel apologized for his mistake, but said he would gladly take his volunteer for a*spin. Lieut Johnson never dreamed that that Britisher would do other than straight, ordinary flying, but jefore the machine returned from its light to the clouds, it had been put through every kind of stunt known to a war-seasqned aviator. The machine was made to loop the loop when 3,000 feet above ground. It Was driven at great sped, then turned sharply at right angles and finally it made the spinning nose dive toward mother earth.

“Well, how did you like it?” inquired Col. Lee when he had returned his Hoosier passenger safely to the ground and received the plaudits of the crowd. “I’ve had enough, thank you, colonel,” replied Johnson. The colonel, regarding it as a good joke to have given his volunteer passenger so many thrills, laughed heartily. A bevy of pretty girls from Fairmount Seminary gathered about Lieut. Johnson with a plea that he tell them all about his visit to the clouds. “My heart almost stopped, Lieutenant, when you looped the loop and then dived straight down toward the ground,” said one of the prettiest students. After risking his neck today, the Indiana medical officer declared' most emphatically that he has no intention sekeing a transfer to the aviation section. “Col. Lee took me so by suprise when' he suggested the trip that I was in the air before I had time to think,” said Lieut Johnson to friends tonight. “I take off my hat to Senator New if he makes a flight tomorrow, after having had two or three days to think it over. I am glad I had the experience, but once is enough.”—lndianapolis Star.