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MILLING, T. DEWITT, BRIG. GEN. USAF - BIOG FILE - FOLDER NO. 3 ITEM NO 9

THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON D. C.
SEPTEMBER 5th, 1911

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM

LIEUT. MILLING, IN WINNING AIR RACE, PROVES HIS ABILITY

Army Flyer Knocks Out Atwood's Charge of "Novice" by Beating Him. 

Lieut. T. DeWitt Milling, of the army aviation school at College Park, won the $7,500 purse offered by the Harvard-Boston aviation meet promoters to the aviator who finished first in a biplane in a competitive race yesterday, when he flew from Squantum Field, Boston, to Nashua, N.H., thence to Worcester, Mass, to Providence, R.I., and back to Boston, covering a distance of 160 miles. 

Earle L. Ovington, flying a Bleriot monoplane, won the $10,000 prize for monoplanes in the same race. He covered the 160 miles in 186 minutes. Lieutenant Milling flying in a Burgess-Wright biplane, covered the same distance in 322 minutes. 

Harry Atwood, the Boston aviator, was in the race with Lieutenant Milling, but because of engine trouble was forced to quit. Lieutenant Milling finished the race in great style, and received the $7,500 purse. Atwood attempted to carry his father, S.S. Atwood, with him on the flight. At Winchester, twelve miles from the start, Atwood was forced to come down. 

Lieutenant Milling in winning this event probably has changed Harry Atwood's mind about the army officer's class. When Atwood flew from Boston to Washington he heard many nice things here about Lieutenant Milling, and, it is said, remarked that the dashing young army aviator was

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"only a novice." Lieutenant Milling heard this remark, and quietly set his plans to show Atwood a few "stunts." Accordingly he asked for a ten-day leave from aviation school in order that he might go to Burgess-Wright factory and study the celebrated Gnome motor, and, incidentally, get in the 160-mile, or in any other event Atwood would take part in. Lieutenant Milling flew in the same machine as that used by Atwood, and under the same conditions, and finished winner of the race in which Atwood quit. 

Lieutenant Milling is classed as the third best aviator in America. Lincoln Beachey comes first; Ed Brookins, of the Wright flyers, second, and Lieutenant Milling, third. Many persons who follow aviation declare Lieutenant Milling is the best man in the business because he is careful and does not take the chances Beachey and Brookins do. 

Lieutenant Milling wound up his great flight at nine minutes of 7 o'clock. It was dark, and he had made the last twenty miles by moonlight. Huge bonfires were built on the aviation field, to guide him in making a landing, and as he swept over the field and made a perfect landing, a mighty cheer was given him by the great throng which had waited to see the return. He was 5 hours 22 minutes and 7 seconds in covering the 160 miles. 

Five minutes before he made his landing Lieutenant Milling  was made out high above the grandstand heading for the bonfires. When he got closer to the ground it was difficula for those who were near the fire to see him, but he soon shot into its rays and made a circle, which took him over the heads of the crowd.