July 30th
July 30th
Daily Flight Information:
Departed: Brough, England
Arrived: Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Miles Flown: 450
Flight Time: 5 hrs. 30 mins.
(10:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.)
Total Miles Flown: 16,815
Total Flight Time: 232 hrs. 8 min.
World Flight Hops to Kirkwall, Orkney Islands
Daily Report
by Lt. L. P. Arnold, "Chicago", Mechanic
Up at 4 & after breakfast launched the planes & all three were given a short test hop before going to the moorings where they were fueled for today's hop.
At 10:30 we got away & for awhile were annoyed by a low hanging fog. After an hour, we flew into good weather which lasted about two hours. This part of the trip was very interesting -- many beach resorts, cliffs, beautiful estates, & ancient crumbling ruins.
About 30 miles south of Firth, we cut off on a water jump so missed seeing Edinburgh. North of Montrose, Scotland, clouds which had been forcing us down grew thicker so climbed over them & for an hour, failed to see the ground at all. Smith [Lt., pilot of Chicago] with carrier pigeon instinct came out at exactly the right position & we headed off on an 80 mile water hop across North Lea to Duncansberry Point. From there to anchorage at Scapa Flow about 10 minutes & was good to see cruiser Richmond waiting for us.
Lots of people ashore, but all remained aboard until planes refueled & then came aboard ship after 10 minutes ashore. Good dinner & comfortable beds & hospitable crew. Water at anchorage bay remarkably clear.
Daily Report
by Lt. L. H. Smith, Commanding
It having been considered unsafe to moor the planes in the river at Brough because of strong currents and the shipping in the river, the launching of the planes was delayed until the day of the take-off. This morning, the three planes were launched and given a short flight test. They then took off from the Humber River at 10:15 for Kirkwall, flying from Spurn Point up the coast, through fog and rain, to Fraser Burgh where a compass course was taken over water directly to a small harbor off Scapa Flow near Kirkwall, the planes landing at 3:45. They were met by the U.S.S. Richmond which had prepared moorings according to instructions given them. These moorings were much more suitable than those arranged by the advance officer. This type of mooring is explained in the Engineering Report and was used throughout the remainder of the flight. The system of cooperation between the Navy and the flight was carefully gone over with Admiral Magruder and all details arranged. Plans were then made to leave tomorrow morning.