March 19th
March 19, 1924
Departed: Eugene, OR, 11:00 a.m. Arrived: Vancouver, WA, 12:05 p.m. Miles Flown: 105
Departed: Santa Monica , CA, 5:30 a.m. Arrived: Eugene, Oregon, 3:15 p.m. Miles: Flown: 825
World flight completed short hop today
By Major F.L. Martin, A.S. - Commander, Around the World Flight
The flight prepared to leave early this morning for Portland, Oregon, but the weather was extremely unfavorable. It was not until nearly 11:00 a.m. that there was a possibility of continuing the flight. All three airplanes left Eugene at 11:00 a.m. for Portland, No. 1 leading (Maj. Martin), followed by No. 2 (Lt. Smith) and No. 3 (Lt. Wade). The sky was overcast, ceiling 2300 feet and visibility was just fair.
The flight arrived at Vancouver, Washington, at 12:05 p.m., time of flight being 1 hour, 5 minutes. Vancouver, Washington, is directly across the Columbia River from Portland. We were met by the Mayor of Portland, the Mayor of Vancouver, General Kuhn, the Commanding General of Vancouver Barracks, and many others of prominence in addition to a large crowd from Portland Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.
We were escorted to the Hotel Benson by Mayor Baker of Portland, where a Chamber of Commerce luncheon was served. The personnel of the flight were given more of a thrill in the trip from the flying field to the Hotel than they usually experienced in airplane flights. The procession was headed by six motorcycle policemen followed at an interval of about one-half a block by the Chief of Police, flanked by other motorcycle policemen and then the automobiles containing the party with the Mayor's car leading. The way was cleared by all motorcycle policemen blowing their sirens constantly and the entire procession moved at the rate of 40 miles per hour through the streets of Portland to the Hotel Benson.
After luncheon and a few brief talks, the Mayor of the city presented us with the keys to the city and a bouquet of roses for each of the pilots and mechanics on the World Cruisers, as a reminder that we were in the "City of Roses."
Continuation of Flight Aborted because of Weather
An effort was made to leave for Seattle this afternoon, although the weather conditions were not very favorable. The flight left at 2:53, No. 1 leading, followed by Nos. 2 and 3, but after proceeding for 35 minutes, the clouds had forced the flight down to 500 feet from the ground, when directly ahead there was a bank of fog. The flight leader turned the formation and returned to the landing field at Vancouver, Washington, where we landed at 4:07, having been in the air 1 hour. It was then raining quite heavily. After securing the airplanes, the personnel left for the Benson Hotel we will spend the night.
This evening word was received from Eugene, Oregon, that Lieutenant Nelson, piloting No. 4, had made a non-stop flight from Santa Monica, California, to Eugene, Oregon, having been in continuous flight for 9 hours, 25 minutes.
Lt Nelson joins the flight
by Lt. Lowell Smith, A.S. - Pilot of aircraft No. 2, “Chicago”
Lieut. Nelson and Lieut. Harding, after leaving Santa Monica for Rockwell Field, March 17th, where they changed their motor and swung their compass, returned to Santa Monica yesterday.
Aircraft No. 4, piloted by Lt. Nelson left today for a non-stop flight to Eugene, Oregon of 9 hours, 45 minutes covering 825 miles.
[Note: Maj. Martin's report has this flight taking 9 hrs. 25 min., Lt Smith's report records 9 hrs. 45 min. and Lt. Nelson's engineering report has 595 min. (9 hours 55 min.) - ed.]
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