Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1919 — U.S. FLYERS START ON OCEAN FLIGHT [ARTICLE]

U.S. FLYERS START ON OCEAN FLIGHT

Three Hydro-Airplanes on First Leg of Transatlantic Trip. TWO ARRIVE AT HAUFAX N. C.-4 Experienced Motor Trouble Off Maine Coast and Is Missing—Destroyers Are Searching for It— N. C-1 and N. C.-3 Reach Goal. New York, May 9. —The naval communications service announced that the last direct word of the navy seaplane N. C.-4 was received at 2:33 p. m. while it was limping along on three motors off Otter Cliffs, Me., headed for Halifax. Two destroyers are searching along the coast. Two Arrive at Halifax. Halifax, May 9.—Two of the American navy seaplanes, the N. 0.-l and the N. C.-3, arrived here at eight o'clock (seven o’clock New York time), thus finishing successfully the first leg of their transatlantic flight. The two planes were sighted first at 7:44 p. m. The N. C.-3 took the water at Eastern Passage at 7:55 and the N. C.-l ten minutes later. No reports have been received here regarding the N. C.-4, which developed trouble with one of its engines not long after leaving Rockaway Point. (Halifax is 540 miles from Rockaway Beach, the starting point.) One Plane Missing.

Washington, May 9.—The N. C.-4, one of the three navy planes which started on the first leg of the Atlantic flight, was reported missing. Commander Albert C. Read of the N. C.-4 reported to the navy department by radio at two o’clock through the fchantam (Mass.) station, that his plane was experiencing engine trouble and might be forced to land. The message, as transmitted to the navy department, said: “We are running on three motors, oil trouble In one, and may have to land. READ, N. C.-4.” A later message reported the oil pump had been repaired, but at 6:80 o’clock no word had been received to indicate the position of the N. 0.-4, and it was believed It had wandered from the direct course while making repairs. Start at 10.02 A. M. The following official account of the start of the flight was Issued by the navy department: “The three navy seaplanes. Iff C.-l, N. C.-3 and N. C.-4, started from the naval air station aU Rockaway Beach at 10:02 a. m. on their flight to Halifax, the first leg of the transatlantic flight, which will start officially when the planes take the air from Trepassey bay for Lisbon, Portugal, via the Azores. “At 10:02 the N. C.-3 started. A minute later the N. C.-4 was off; and two minutes later the N. C.-l took the air. “Soon after the start ’each destroyer along the first leg of the route and the station ship at Halifax had been notified. A radio dispatch also was sent to Admiral Knapp in London and Admiral Benson in Paris.”