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Bucking Heavy Winds

Bucking a strong, gusty headwind that made them almost stand still before they could attain momentum, the two tiny Aeronca planes were sent into the choppy air from Calexico airport this morning an hour ahead of the field of 53 other contestants. It was a thrilling start, for it re-required more runway for the small two-cylinder ships to get going than it did for many of the much larger but more powerful planes. 

Built for speed of around 81 miles per hour, the two moth like planes battled the wind for several minutes over the field and its immediate territory before getting into the upper air for the long, grilling fight toward Tucson. 

To Speed Up Scoring 

At 9:01 the other fliers lined up and took off in one-minute intervals as they did yesterday, but not precisely in the same order. For the officials of the derby learned from yesterday's experience that, with the large number of contestants-this is the largest air derby ever held-it is going to be difficult to compute time and percentage of fliers when so much time is taken in waiting for fliers, as was done yesterday at this, the first night control of the derby. 

Speeds will be slower today than they were yesterday owing to the heavy wind against which they are flying. There will be no tailwinds such as the one which boosted several of the fliers through San Gergonio pass yesterday. And it is almost certain that some of the contestants will be forced out today unless the wind goes down. 

Edwards Down Twice 

Accidents occurred yesterday which marred the record of a few

Air Derby Entrants Smack Up Against Stiff Wind on Takeoffs Here Today (Continued from Page 1)

of the planes. A. J. Edwards, flying Aeronca No. 89, was forced down near Whitewater and remained on the ground 15 minutes repairing his motor. He had battled choppy currents and dropped down again at Imperial airport. He arrived here soon after seven o'clock last night. Edwards is the man who sold Lindbergh his "Spirit of St. Louis" Ryan plane. He is an experienced flier. 

Jerry Nettleton in Monocoupe No. 31 landed at Murietta Hot Springs with some engine trouble, but later came to Imperial airport where he ran out of gas. He continued to Calexico when refueled. 

One at Buckman Springs

Claron Beauchamp, in a Bird plane, No. 12, landed at Buckman Springs due to minor trouble. He came to Calexico in an automobile, while Milo Burcham, owner of the plane, brought it into Calexico. This was because of the short runway at Buckman Springs necessitating a light load. 

Dr. J. E. Owen of Ashville, N.C., known on the trip as "Doc" claims to have made a record skiing mark with his Monocoupe yesterday. When 7,000 feet high over the mountains and just at the edge of the desert, an exhaust valve broke, dropped into a cylinder and broke some of the interior furniture. With his elevation, Owen, a seasoned flier, coasted down to the valley and across New River where he set down nicely in a field six miles west of the Imperial.

He Will Continue 

Owen wired the Wanner Scarab factory for a new engine which is being sent here and he will either continue over the course to Cleveland or return to Santa Monica to enter the cross-country hop which will take place late this week. He will compete in the closed course events at Cleveland after arriving there. 

Servicing Is Big Job 

Yesterday was a very busy day for Calexico. And some of the committees of the chamber of commerce handling details of the derby went foodless after the planes began coming in until long after dark when gasoline supplies were exhausted and the remainder of the ships were delayed in refueling until this morning. 

Joe Lizarraras, chairman of the servicing committee, was probably the busiest man in Calexico yesterday. From the time the first ship set down on the field he was busy with his committee getting the proper grades and kinds of gasoline, oil and electrical service applied to the ships. Assisting him were: the Pritchard Brothers, Osee, Dean and Clarence, who are looking after the local airport; Carl Sisson, and Bill Evans of El Centro, Keet Azcarate of Monterey and Jack Maloney of Calexico. 

Used 2500 Gallons of Gas 

Five gasoline companies had two trucks each at the airport and about 2,500 gallons of gasoline were consumed in filling up for today's run. Besides the gasoline trucks there were several trucks with specials oils for the ships. 

Pilots were complimenting the committee this morning on the manner in which they looked after the ships' needs and Joe Lizarraras who worked until eight o'clock last night and then went on the job again at 5:30 this morning to finish up the servicing and tabulating on cards the exact amount of service work done, are deserving of much credit for the success of Calexico's part of the derby. 

W. H. Lorenz, in charge of the timing assistance at the field from the local committee, placed S. H. Lockett at the disposal of Timer Earle Ovington and Mr. Lockett tabulated the arrivals and the departures. 

C. C. Thanks Car Owners 

The handling of pilots' transportation between the field and Calexico, was under the direction of a committee under Leo Watts as chairman. Mr. Watts stated this morning that the chamber is very appreciative of the kindness of the Calexicans who offered their cars for the use of the city's guests. 

In view of the fact that everyone seemed to want to be at the finish line when the ships came in, the policing of the grounds by the city police force and the state traffic officers was very effective. The natural curiosity of the public when an airship is concerned, makes it difficult to properly protect them, but the grounds were watched last night and no damage was reported. 

Gladys O'Donnell Is "Out"

The status of Gladys O'Donnell in this year's derby is of the unknown quantity. Winner of last year's event, the Long Beach woman was disappointed at the speed rating given her ship by army pilots at Santa Monica just before the start. She said it wouldn't travel as fast as they rated it. Another case of "Judge, my car don't even do 30, let alone 45."

And so the "Mary Garden" of the air derby withdrew from the race just before time for her to leave Santa Monica. But when her name was called she set sail for Calexico just the same. Interviewed here last night about the incident, she said she was an "un-official" contestant. If the ship does well and she has good luck with her flying she may want to make it official. 

NOTES OF AIR DERBY 

Fliers are rather fussy about their parachutes. Drivers of guest cars yesterday learned that the women fliers preferred to carry their own heavy parachute rather than some of the lighter of their packages. 

Blanche Noyes who was forced down in Arizona two years ago, was yesterday afternoon personally looking after her ship and its servicing and no amount of hurrying could get her to leave the job, dinner or no dinner. And, although her parachute was locked in her plane, she unlocked the compartment and brought the chute with her to her hotel room. "We're good friends, that parachute and I, and I like to have it near," was her explanation. 

Eddie Schneider, holder of the junior transcontinental flight record, can be thankful that the course doesn't parallel the International border all the way. If it did, he would probably not finish. As it was, he owes the local police department a rising vote of thanks for letting him off gently. He was a victim of too much Mexicali and spent a short time at the city jail until Judge Kiefer was reached, and released him in deference to the air derby officials