Viewing page 24 of 47

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Soaring (not WAR...ing) in 1940's  Hattie Meyers Junkin
Page 17

John Robinson, one of California's ace pilots, took off at Wichita Falls, Texas.  To get his Golden "C" he would have to soar 9,820 ft. above point of take-off, fly a distance of at least 186.4 mi.  He soared 9,600 ft. flew 205 miles to Buffalo, Oklahoma.  At Elmira he attained 11,000 ft altitude.  Caught in a cloud unable to see came down.

Chester Decker won the American distance record last year 1938 soaring 233 miles to Atlantaic [[Atlantic]] City, N.J. from Elmira, N.Y.  With all this blond, lovable fellow achieves, the quality I like best is his bond of feeling with his crew.  A glider pilot flies alone but he doesn't start or stay up ther without realizing a good crew is as necessary to him as the air he breathes and flies in.

Lewin Barringer won the altitude record for a two-seater glider of altitude 6,560 ft.  Two-seaters are increasing along with the wish for rides (like biplane days) and a certain glamour is thermaling in.

Harvey Stephens, Hollywood movie star was in a local picture during this Meet, where he is the dying soldier.  Harvey also was actually soaring from Harris Hill.  Three WACO biplanes were the tow planes. Yeah!  (Biplanes on a mpuntian top..how life..aviation changes.)  The soaring gang at the Harvey movies keot cheering Harvey on the screen..wonder we were not thrown out!  On the Harri Hill grounds there were now many girls who might not like Soaring but the lads who did it.  To keep these subtle sittings on glider wings showing pretty legs but spoiling wings, Harvey Stephens offered to kiss each girl who prevented this.  That's absolutely true.

Gals and glamour brings me to Lucretia Buxton.  She should be in movies.  Daughter of Jay Buxton called the "dean" of Southern California Soaring Association.  The Buxton two seater set a record for two place