THE FIRST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19919, 15 August 1927, Page 7

THE FIRST

CLARKE SETS OUT Steals March on Other Dole Prize Contestants THE HONOLULU FLIGHT FURTHER WITHDRAWALS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Aug. 14, 5.5 p.m. (A. & N.Z.) SAN FRANVISCO, Aug. 13. Frank Clarke, with a relief pilot, Charles Babb, stole a march on the other Dole prize race contestants, when at 1.33 o’clock this afternoon they hopped off for Honolulu in their biplane. Clarke had not signed the voluntary agreement to postpone the flight, as had the other fliers, and without making any announcement he had a full load of petrol put into the machine, saying: “I’m only going for a ride.” Then he revealed his plans. z Lieutenant Giles states that he will fly to-day from Detroit to San Francisco, and still plans to enter for the flight to Honolulu, but in view of the fact that has several times announced that he will take off en route to the Pacific Coast, and as it is understood that his aeroplane has never yet been flown or tested, it is considered doubtful whether he will carry out his plans. Another accident among the contestants caused the withdrawal of Captain James Giffin, navigator for Theodore Lingdren, whose plane fell into San Francisco Bay during a test flight. The machine was destroyed, but the airmen swam ashore safely. At Los Angeles, Arthur Rogers, another (St. Louis) entrant, was killed when his machine crashed in the first trial flight.