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** FEBRUARY 20

MACON'S DAMAGED FIN DISCOUNTED BY WILEY
[Illustration on Page 16, Part 1]

SUNNYVALE, Feb. 19. (Exclusive)
Repair work to that portion of the Macon where a fin broke last spring and where disintegration seemingly began just prior to its crash off Point Sur a week ago was not "important enough to warrant priority" of attention, the naval court inquiring into the disaster was told today by the dirigible's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Commander Herbert V. Wiley.
  "Neither myself nor any of my officers held any concern," he testified, "because of the uncompleted alterations during the fifteen to eighteen flights the Macon made during the replacement period. Considering other work and operations being done, it (the repair work) was being completed as rapidly as possible."
  Lieut. George A. Campbell, officer of the deck, said a gust of wind struck the Macon before it crashed to its grave in the Pacific.
  Lieutenant-Commander R. G. Mayer, senior construction officer at Sunnyvale, testified the Macon was 25 per cent stronger at the time of its fatal accident "than when it was delivered to the Navy." 
  Taking of testimony was concluded today and the board of inquiry went into executive session. The formal report is expected when the fleet returns to Los Angeles Harbor