Viewing page 10 of 16

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

In January, 1912, they attended the Los Angeles meet at Dominguez Field, where, starting on January 20th, Atwater did some flying for the Curtiss Company. He was not a formal contestant but contributed to the flying entertainment of the event. The Atwaters remained in California and continued to fly actively both at Los Angeles and San Diego. On February 21st he obtained pilot license No. 98 at Los Angeles in a Curtiss hydro. February 26th he established a new American speed record of 73.08 mph flying a Curtiss biplane with a 75 h.p. engine, at San Diego over a measured course. On March 12th Atwater flew to the aid of Ensign V.D. Herbster who had crashed in the bay off North Island. He flew to the wreckage in his hydro and after taking Herbster aboard, returned him to the base.

     About this time the Atwaters decided to go on a trip to the Far East, making exhibitions and demonstration flights in the interest of the Curtiss Company. They left San Francisco on April 5th bound for the Orient with their Curtiss hydros. They were established in Japan about May 1st, and on the 11th Atwater gave his first exhibition before an immense crowd at Tokyo. He made three flights that day, the first hydro flying ever seen in the Orient. Prince Kwacho of the Imperial Family, Admiral Saito, Minister of the Imperial Navy. Vice-Admiral Vryu and many military officers witnessed the flights. On June 1st he carried a letter from the mayor of Tokyo to the mayor of Yokohama. Mr. and Mrs. Atwater remained in Japan through July and received great acclaim. While in Japan Atwater was decorated by the Emperor who bestowed the Silver Chrysanthemum upon him. As a result of his outstanding demonstrations the Japanese Government reportedly purchased some Curtiss planes. His farewell flight in Japan was made over Mississippi Bay where Admiral Perry had landed on his mission to open the ports of Japan to the commerce of the world. Following this he made flights in China. Straits Settlements and Manila. A feature of great interest everywhere they went was the fact that Mrs. Atwater often flew with her husband. 

2.