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ments and with the compliments of the Pan American Airways presented each one with a keyring in an exquisite case--this pleased the passengers very much--to be remembered on Christmas day even though away up in the air! We met with no mishap, and in schedule time we arrived at Cavette, the airport for Manila, where I had my Christmas dinner that night at the up-to-date Manila Hotel (air-conditioned and everything). This, indeed, was a very unusual Chistmas for me. The next morning we left for HongKong--a distance of 775 miles--and enroute stopped at Macao, which is supposed to be the wickedest place in the world, and is only 30 minutes flying time from HongKong. Planes do not stop there on the return trip--perhaps there is no desire to pick up anyone there to take into Manila. In HongKong I stopped at the Repulse Bay Hotel--a very fashionable one. In this city I had the pleasure of meeting The Honorable Harold McMillan Bixby, Vice President for China of the Pan Ameican Airways, Inc., and Director of the China National Aviation Corporation. Having gotten so far, I was most anxious to visit Shanghai--after considerable delay, I succeeded in getting on a freight boat and finally reached there. The Cathay is where I stopped there, and it is one of the nicest hotels--it was still intact. I prowled around--going into the Japanese "trenches" and visiting the North Station and the Champei shopping district, which had been totally demolished by the Japanese. When I was ready to return, another great difficulty loomed up--how to get back to HongKong? All service of the better ships had been discontinued, and the freight boats just couldn't hold any more freight or human "cargo"--so strategy had to be used. I made arrangements with the lerk in the hotel to secure the services of a chinaman and his wife (who lived in a a sampan) to row me to the freight ship--which happened to be leaving at that time--let me get on and then immediately row away, so that the Captain of the ship just had to let me stay because there was no one to row me back--and that's how I got back to HongKong. Enroute we made a short stop at Amoy. My return trip to the States was along the same route as my outward trip. It was a grand experience!

Now to get back to where I started this article--the first passenger flight of the "Dixie Clipper" across the mighty Atlantic!! For the successful operation and  handling of the Clipper much credit is due the Pilot Commander, R. O. D. Sullivan, and his crew--they were all most efficient, and the average time for lifting this huge plane, weighing 41 tons, was only 38 seconds, and going down into the water was just as smooth--in fact, so much so that one is hardly aware of it.

We left Port Washington, Long Island, about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of June 28th, and arrived at Horta, in the Azores, 15 hours and 42 minutes later-a distance of 2397 miles-over the ocean in so short a time! On this lap the plane used five tons of gasoline. Here we were entertained by the city officials-the Chief Executive expressed himself as being proud to have the honor to welcome those on this first flight and that Horta will be the great stopping place for planes in each direction, and complimented the Americans on being the first to inaugurate the passenger trans-Atlantic air flights. We were then taken on a tour of the city. Later, we proceeded to Lisbon, Portugal-a distance of 1050 miles, where we stopped for the night. This is a very lovely city. There is a great deal of building activity, and I understand that the reason for such haste is that structures built now will not be taxed for the next ten years-"always a colored gentleman in the lumber pile."

The following morning we left for Marseilles, France-a distance of 1203 miles. We stopped at the Spandide Hotel, where they did everything possible to make it pleasant for us-and they succeeded. Some of the passengers continued on to Paris, and some of us stayed in Marseilles, because we wanted to see this old, old city and seaport of France. It was very interesting, and we would have liked to stay longer, but time would not permit-and so we again boarded the Clipper for our return trip-again stopping at Lisbon over night at the Aviz Hotel. Here we were entertained by the city officials of the Pan American Airways with a wonderful dinner. There were present the officials of the Pan American Airways, their wives, and the Portugal officials and the passengers-all in all about 50-oh, yes, and the American Consul was present also. The huge table was beautifully decorated with flowers, and a large replica of the Clipper, made of flowers, was placed in the center. Speeches, commemorating the occasion, were made by Mr. Tripp, the President of the Pan American Airways, as well as by other officials of the company and the Portuguese officials. All turned in early in order to be ready to board the Clipper enroute to Horta, Azores. There we made a short stop of about one hour-and again we were greeted most cordially-then away we went sailing through the high heavens on our way back to Port Washington! We flew through one or two rain squalls, but those who went to bed early were not even aware of it, and we arrived in Port Washington at 7:49 A.M., July 4th. Mr. Tripp had made arrangements for a special plane to meet Mr. Cresap and me at Port Washington to take us to Newark to immediately connect at that point with a United Air Lines plane, which brought us into Chicago at 2 o'clock Daylight Savings Time-July 4th. The most wonderful thing is that I had breakfast Monday morning in Lisbon, and lunch in Chicago, Tuesday noon-all in all it was one of the outstanding trips.

The passengers were congenial and everybody was happy both going and coming back, and I am looking forward to making another trip over the same route -

[[image: Pan American Airways symbol/logo]]

if not this summer, then, perhaps, next. I might add that the sleeping quarters were very good - the food good, and during the day there was plenty of room to walk around from the bridal suite in the rear, to the front end of the clipper - some of the passengers played cards and some checkers - and before we knew it, we arrived at our destination. The passengers were given, as a souvenir - a silver cigarette case on which is engraved the ticket of this initial flight, and you can well imagine how  highly treasured this will be.

Since Chicago is the "hub" of transportation activity, I am looking forward to the day when our "front yard," Lake Michigan - will be used to bring Clipper ships to our very door, because they are as much at ease on the water as in the air - It took the Pan American Airways officials and engineers to work out the trans-Atlantic air flight 10 years - blazing the trail - and so perhaps some day the dream of a flying field on Chicago's Lake Front will come true.

I am still air-minded and still have my ticket for the LZ 130 - the new Dirigible - which has been remodeled to use helium bas, and whenever that's ready to make the first trans-Atlantic flight I am ready to be on it.

Truly a day of adventure and accomplishment. How the world is shrinking - close and closer do we get to our fellow human beings across the sea. Surely it can result in one thing - a better understanding of each other - and if we know each other - how can we hate each other.

For those who like statistics - I give below the log of this trip - and imagine - a distance of 4650 miles each way - or 9300 miles round trip - was traversed in practically 65 hours. And adding another 1000 miles from Port Washington to Chicago makes it 10,000 miles.