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[[newspaper clipping]] ARMY AVIATORS REACH STATION IN NIGHT FLIGHT One Machine Descends at Gaithersburg on Return BEACONS GUIDE FLYERS ^[[Aug 22 11]] By the light of a bonfire and an automobile searchlight, Lieut. [[underlined]]T. De Witt Milling,[[/underlined]] with Lieut. R. C. Kirtland as passenger, piloted his Burgess-Wright aeroplane to a safe landing at College Park aviation field last night at 7:40 o'clock, after a cross-country flight to the Chevy Chase Club. The landing was made in the dark, as the aviators were overtaken by night on the return trip. The thrilling trip was witnessed by only a few of the residents of College Park, and a score of soldiers at the aviation field, who watched the aviators with apprehension during their trip, and, finally, when Lieut. Milling brought his machine to the ground as smoothly as though had a sun to guide him, broke their silence by cheers of relief. Milling's Machine Halts. In the early morning Lieut. Milling and Lieut. Kirtland followed Capt. C. De F. Chandler and Lieut. H. H. Arnold in the Wright machine, as they made their record flight to Frederick. Owing to a defective oil gauge, Lieut. Milling descended at Kensington, Md. , and on attempting to ascend again, broke a wing tip and a skid on his aeroplane. The crippled bird was towed back to College Park, arriving at 12 o'clock. At 4:45 o'clock, the machine was ready for another flight, and after a fifteen-minute trial in the air, during which the aeroplane behaved perfectly, the aviators prepared for their trip. They started at 5:30 o'clock. Attaining without difficulty a height of 2,000 feet, the aviators flew directly for the Chevy Chase Club. Shortly before 6 o'clock the aviators landed on the tennis court at the club. A group of army officers, including Maj. Archibald Butt and Brig. Gen. Clarence R. Edwards, were awaiting them, and took them in charge. At 7 o'clock the aviators prepared to return. They ascended without difficulty, circled the club grounds five times to gain altitude, and then straightened out on the return trip. Flying in darkness, without the light of the moon, the officers were guided by instinct. Beacon Fired on Ground. In the meantime, the soldiers at College Park, the surgeon, Dr. Kelly, and Lieut. Kennedy, the Curtiss aviator, were awaiting them. The officers ordered a bonfire lighted and held a searchlight to guide the aeroplane. At last, when it had been decided that the aviators could not fly back, and orders to find their whereabouts were flying, a spectator saw the machine at an altitude of about 1,800 feet. A strong east wind drove the aeroplane north of the field, and in order to return to the course marked by the signals, Lieut. Milling turned his machine southward. He finally mastered the contrary air currents, and made for the field. Circling twice to get his bearings, he made for the ground in a spiral glide. Soon after word was received that Capt. Chandler and Lieut. Arnold had landed the Wright machine at Gaithersburg, Md., on account of darkness, after making a late start. They probably will return early this morning. FIFTY LIVES LOST. [[/newspaper clipping]]
