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PASSENGERS AND CREW • ALL SEASONED TRAVELERS OF THE WORLD'S AIR LANES!

THE LOG OF A CLIPPER SHIP AND HER FLYING MEN ACROSS THE ATLANTIC!

Less than 24 flying hours across the Big Pong
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COMMAIRDORE Russell Tabor's
Own Airlog of the Round Trip Atlantic Flight of the "DIXIE" Clipper
June 28th, 1939

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Wednesday 2 p.m.
Port Washington, Wednesday 2 P. M. -- Were met by a group of newsmen, photographers and several thousand well-wishers.  Here we were each presented with a sterling cigarette case bearing replica of our ticket. Boarded newly christened "Dixie" where I had a happy reunion with Captain Sullivan, my former China skipper. Left the water in 18 seconds...was hardly conscious of leaving water, so quite was the take-off. Passed Martha's Vineyard in an hour and then to open sea...altitude 10,000, Speed 160 M.P.H., weather clear.
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P O R T  W A S H I N G T O N, N. Y.
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Port Washington, Tuesday 7 A. M. -- Anothr night over the Atlantic with a full moon ... I know because I woke up about two o'clock and moongazed for over an hour ... sunk deep in a soft cushioned chair ... floating through a Heaven so starlit that one could almost reach out and touch one.

But now we are flying over Long Island ... down ... down... down ...that swishing sound of water, and ... all out ...we're back home ... it's the Fourth of July.
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Horta, Thursday 9 A. M. -- Awoke this morning from a refreshing sleep. Steward informed me first of Azores sighted ... have plenty of time for breakfast before we arrive at this beautiful blue-hydrangea draped volcanic island. We were agreeably surprised by the townspeople who, though a spokesman, informed us that they wished to show their hospitality and invited us for a trip around the Island. We were taken in groups to individual homes where we were entertained and feted. So much, in fact, that we arrived almost an hour late for the take-off, which Captain Sullivan accepted with grace. At 7 o'clock we arrived at Lisbon, capital on Portugal, on the Tagus River, Portugal the Old, built on and at the foot of a succession of hills in the form of a amphitheater; and the churches, convents, and houses of a dazzling whiteness, have an imposing effect when viewed from the river. Spent the evening promenading wide Plazas and in studying 15th Century Architecture of Churches and Governmental Buildings.
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HORTA, AZORES

EASTBOUND                                Hours
1939                                    Elapsed
6/28 Lv. Port Wash'gt'n ....|18:59 G.C.T.}
6/28 Ar. Horta, Azores .... |10:45 G.C.T.} 16:26
6/29 Lv. Horta, Azores .... |12:30 G.C.T.}
6/29 Ar. Lisbon, Port'g'l...|19:14 G.C.T.}  7:24
6/30 Lv. Lisbon, Port'g'l ..|06:40 G.C.T.}
6/30 Ar. Marseilles, Fr. .. |13:21 G.C.T.}  7:21 
                      Flying Hrs ......... 31:11

WESTBOUND
7/2 Lv. Marseilles, Fr. ...  |08:23 G.C.T.}
7/2 Ar. Lisbon, Portugal ... |15:37 G.C.T.}  7:14
7/3 Lv. Lisbon, Portugal ....|07:55 G.C.T.}
7/3 Ar. Horta, Azores .......|16:23 G.C.T.}  8:28
7/3 Lv. Horta, Azores........|17:49 G.C.T.}
7/4 Ar. Port Washington......|12:44 G.C.T.} 19:35
                       Flying Hours .......35:17
   *Greenwich Conservatory Time
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Monday... 3 p.m.
Horta, Monday 3 P.M. - Among the many things we have to be thankful for on this airjaunt is the perfect weather and this day is ot exception. After the usual smooth rise from the river tagus, we took to the open sea in Horta. Below us were billowy fleecy clouds reflecting the silver sheen of the sun, broken at intervals by open stretches that revealed the dark blue of the Atlantic. And again we sight the Azores. These Islands are of comparatively recent origin and are conical, lofty, and picturesque. The most remarkakle summit is the peak of Pico, about 7,600 feet high. The Islands, nine in number, are covered with luxurious vegetation and diversified with woods, vineyards, lemon and orange groves, and rich open pastures. The inhabitants are mainly of Portugese desent. Though we cannot stay long, they are there en masse to greet us again.
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Friday .... 7 a.m.
Lisbon, Friday 7 A.M. - After a refreshing night's rest, we left the city in the cool of morning to re-embark on our Clipper. We were off the water in 28 seconds, in contrast to yesterday's take-off as we need only a light load of gas. We skirted the coast of Portugal and war-torn Spain, then across the bottleneck of France to the Mediterranean Sea, a panorama at which even an artist would gasp with awe.
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LISBON, PORTUGAL
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Sunday ..... 3 p.m.
Lisbon, Sunday 3 P.M. -- We might have been strangers here a couple of days ago but now we're "natives". We are driven around the Promontory along the seacoast..through magnificent suburbs in which the populace are enjoying their Sunday holiday...A cool ride back to the city where  we entertained royalty at a state dinner given in our honor by Portugese officials at the Avis--an old Palace now transformed into a hotel.
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Marseilles, Friday 2:30 - We sighted Marseilles about twelve minutes before...then settled to a perfect landing on the Blue Mediterranean. Here was history in the making ... not only to Europe, but over France and Spain to Marseilles in less then twenty-four hours of flight... Voyage's end... the Atlantic is now but a "Stream to cross". France welcomed America in true style. Our reception was much like that in Port Washington and we accepted and returned the greeting.
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MARSEILLES, FRANCE
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Marseilles, Sunday 8 A.M - After two days in Southern France, we woke in a flood of sunshine. Breakfast in the Airport Restaurante, and we are back in our flying hotel, There are but fourteen of us returning, some remaining in Paris for a later plane, two continuing around the world by air. Over the varied-colored fertile fields of France... then along the Franco-Spanish border of the snow-capped Pyrenees and down the Coast until we hear the swishing water on our hulls.
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And slightly more that 28 to return
AN EPOCHAL FLIGHT THAT MADE NEWS FOR ALL THE WORLD TO READ!
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