Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1918 — DR. JOHNSON UP IN THE AIR [ARTICLE]

DR. JOHNSON UP IN THE AIR

Rensselaer Man Takes Aerial Trip While in Washington. According to a Washington dispatch in last Friday’s Indianapolis Star, Dr. C. E. Johnson of this city, who’ is in Washington before leaving for France, was one of a number of Indiana men to enjoy an aerial flight over the capital city with Col. C. F. Lee, British aviator. The dispatch reads as follows: Lieut. C. E. Johnson of Rensselaer, Indiana, 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 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 before the machine returned from itg flight to the clouds It had been put through every kind of stunt known to a war-seasoned aviator. The machine was made to loop the loop when 3,000 feet above ground. It was driven at great speed, then turned sharply nt 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 at 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 iprettiest students. After risking his neck today t'h» Indiana medical officer declared most emphatically that he has no intention of geeking a transfer to the aviation section. “Col. Lee took me so by surprise 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.”