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1923

[[Newspaper article 1]]

Local Pilots Fly to St. Louis for Air Races
Special to The Chicago Daily News.

St. Louis, MO., Oct. 1. - George E. Weaver of Ashburn field, Chicago, safely landed his Brequet airplane with three passengers on the muddy field here with skill, causing special commendation by high officials of the international air races. His time from Chicago was two hours and fifty minutes.

Nelson Kelly, with an Ariole and two passengers, landed west of here in a field that he selected - one in better condition than the official flying field. Billy Burke landed with a Swallow and two passengers, also in the suburbs, due to low visibility.

Passengers in the Brequet cabin were Charles Dickinson, Henry Teacotter and Mrs. Bert Metzger. Henry Allen and Burt Hurley flew here in the Ariole. In the Swallow were Mrs. George E. Weaver and son, Bud, 4 years old.

Among the Chicagoans at the races are Second Assistant Postmaster-General Paul Henderson, Charles Dickinson, James Curran, William P. McCracken, Allen Jackson, George E. Weaver, Bert Metzger, Mrs. George E. Weaver, Terence Vincent, William E. Schweitzer, Henry Teacotter, Nelson Kelly, Harry Wells, Paul Schiffler Smith, Elmer Partridge and M. Rynearson. 

[[/Newspaper article 1]]


[[Newspaper article 2]]

10,000 Watch Army Stunt Flying Sunday Till Rainfall Halts Show, Causing Management $20,000 Loss

Great Searchlight Sweeps Clouds to Help Homing Airmen in - Many Planes Arrive Bearing Passengers, Including Women.

Approximately 10,000 aviation fans turned out at the St. Louis Flying Field yesterday and, slipping and sliding in the mud, viewed an extraordinary exhibition of stunt flying by army pilots. The people began to arrive as early as 8 a.m. and when rain began to fall at 11 a.m. a good sized crowd already was inspecting the army and navy ships and going through the hangars where mechanics were grooming the mounts. 

The rain put a serious crimp in the attendance and it is estimated that the air board suffered a loss in excess of $20,000 because of the unfavorable weather. But the fans who braved the rain and mud were amply rewarded by the exhibition.
 
The flyer who attracted most attention was Lieut. Joseph K. Cannon, who took off in a whirl of mud and water about 4 p.m. in a DH-4, which is to be piloted in the meet by Lieut. Delmar Dunton.

Does Immelman Turn
Roaring across the field at an altitude of about 50 feet, with his Liberty engine bellowing at full throttle. Cannon pulled his ship up on its tail in a monumental Immelman turn and swung back toward the crowd. The spectators ran for cover when he came tearing along so low that his features and those of a sergeant in the rear cockpit were plainly visible.

Over the hangar Cannon pulled his ship up again and climbed, apparently straight up, until his engine sputtered and seemed about to die. Again he swung the ship back and again the crowd shivered, but this time with less foreboding.

Cannon continued his exhibition for fifteen minutes, his superb flying drawing enthusiastic comments from flyers and mechanics, as well as from the less learned spectators.

Meanwhile, Lieut. W. T. Larson had taken off in an ZB-1-A and was swinging over the field in wide circles.
 
Meeting over the pylon Larson and Cannon pulled their ships side by side and came over the field seemingly but a few feet apart. When Cannon alighted his placed was taken by Dunton.

Pursuit Ship Flying.
The sergeant with Cannon, who had spent much of his time in the air upside down, furnished a laugh when he alighted from the plane and drawing a bunch of wrenches from his packet painstakingly counted them to see if they were all there. 

While Dunton and Larson were swinging over the field or whirling past the field pylon with their wings pointed skyward, Lieut. F. O. Hunter took the air in a Thomas-Morse MB-3 and gave the crowd an exhibition of pursuit ship flying. He ended with a spinning nose dive which brought him to within a few feet of the ground.
 
The rain yesterday fell when the army men were rolling their ships out on the line for the morning flying. A huge cloud darkened the west just as the ships began to take off and the planes already in the air quickly alighted.

Searchlight in Action.
Visiting flyers were expected at the field and as darkness fell the big searchlight on the hangar was lighted and began to sweep the dark cloud above as a signal to oncoming airmen. Beacon lights about the field began to blink invitingly and a crew was kept standing by to assist any flyer who might come in during the downpour.
 
The rain quit about 1 p.m. and the crowd began to come out of the hanger and tents, where refuge had been found. The fans found ample entertainment in viewing the trim racing ships and the massive bombers.

Within a few minutes after the rain had ceased a plane was seen in the east winging its way toward the field. Within an hour ten planes from other cities had alighted and their pilots had been directed to the line where they left their ships for the night. Others arrived in the late afternoon.

Planes Bring Passengers.
One of the first of these ships was a big Breguet piloted by George E. (Buck) Weaver of Chicago, who brought three passengers with him. They were Mrs. J. C. Metzger, Henry Tiekotter, and Charles Dickenson, president of the Illinois Aero Cub. Weaver's dog came along as super-cargo. Dickenson is 65 years old and a capable flyer.

A half hour later W. W. Burke of Okmulgee came in a Laird Swallow with Weaver's 4-year-old son, Bill, and Mrs. Weaver. Another arrival was W. W. Meyer from Chicago in a Heath Favorite. He brought with him John and Louis Czop. Michael F. Drabik and David Wong, a Chinese flying student.

Fred Parker came in from St. Anne, [Ill.], in a Curtiss training plane, followed by G. C. Plummer in a ship built by Parker. As Plummer taxied across the field to the line his wheels stuck in a deep hole and the ship nosed over. No damage was done, however, and Plummer had the ship in the air two hours later.

'Crazy John' From Tulsa.
Some difficulty was experienced in dragging the visiting ships over the muddy field and the crew of mechanics sweated and swore as they struggled in the heavy muck. The Flying Club of St. Louis furnished lines and stakes to make the ships fast for the night.
 
Some of the other arrivals during the afternoon were Beeler Blevins with two passengers from Kansas City in a Lincoln Standard; H. G. Long from Kansas City with two passengers in a Lincoln; Art Chester with one passenger from North Judson, Ind; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Brown from Mount Vernon, Ill., in a JN-4 and D. A. McIntyre and V. N. Johns from Tulsa. Johns told reporters that he had flown his ship in klan demonstrations in Tulsa where he is known as "Crazy John".

Another arrival was E. C. Partridge, who flew from Chicago in a Packard Special with C. A. Rynearson and Ye Han, a Chinese.

Came Long Distances.
The last ship came in at nightfall and with its arrival a group of aero tourists gathered on the line, much like after the manner of automobile tourists who stand about the campfire after a long day's drive and recount their experiences.

Virtually every ship at the field had come a long distance, and all of them had averaged speeds in excess of 70 miles an hour. 

[[/Newspaper article 2]]

[[Newspaper article 3]]

Entrants to St. Louis Flying Meet Announced
[By The Associated Press.]

Washington, D. C., Aug. 21. - Names of army air-service officers and their alternates selected to participate in the international air races to be held in St. Louis, Oct. 1 to 3, were announced yesterday by the war department.

Maj. Roy S. Brown of Maxwell field heads the list of general entries with Maj. C. L. Tinker of Fort Riley, as alternate. Others are Lieut. J. J. O'Connell, El Paso; alternate, Lieut. E. M. Powers, San Antonio. Lieut. W. H. Bleakley, Aberdeen, Md.; alternate, Lieut. W. A. Maxwell, Crissy field. Lieut. L. M. Outcalt, reserve corps, Cincinnati; alternate, Maj. Robertson, reserve corps, St. Louis. Lieut. H. K. Ramey, Bolling field; alternate, Lieut. H. W. Beaton, Boiling field. Lieut. W. T. Larson, Kelly field; alternate, Lieut. P. T. Wagner, Kelly field. Lieut. B. J. Meloy, Nashville; alternate, Lieut. A. S. Albro, office chief of air service. Lieut. W. H. Brookley, McCook field, alternate, Lieut. C. McMullen, Brooks field. Capt. R. Oldys, office chief of air service; alternate, H. N. Heisen, Langley field. Lieut. L. H. Smith, Rockwell, alternate. E. B. Bobsein, Chanute. Lieut. S. M. Connell, Mitchel field; alternate, Lieut. V. E. Bertrandias, Mitchel field. 

Chicagoans Fly to St. Louis.
[By The Associated Press.]

St. Louis, MO., Aug. 21. - Five contestants in the international air races to be held here Oct. 1, 2 and 3 yesterday flew from Chicago to St. Louis in an airplane with an inclosed cabin to make their entries. The party, which left Chicago at 9 o'clock in the morning and arrived here shortly after noon, was composed of George E. Weaver, pilot; Edward Lange; Paul Shifler-Smith; Bertram Pond and Henry Tiekotter.
 
[[/Newspaper article 3]]

[[Newspaper article 4]]

AIRPLANE GIRL AT HAWTHORNE RACES.

LILLIAN BOYER, WHO WILL DO SOME OF HER SENSATIONAL STUNTS AT THE SOUTHWEST SIDE TRACK SUNDAY, AMONG THEM BEING A CHANGE FROM AN AIRPLANE TRAVELING AT THE RATE OF SIXTY MILES AN HOUR TO AN AUTOMOBILE GOING AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEED.

[[/Newspaper article 4]]

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