U. S. Aviators Who Flew Across Continent Without a Stop -- May 3, 2023

Omaha Bee, 04-May-1923

In October, 2022 we noted the 100th anniversary of United States Army Air Service Lieutenants John A Macready and Oakley G Kelly setting an endurance record, keeping their single engine Fokker T-2 monoplane in the air for 36 hours, 4 minutes, and 32 seconds. They had initially set out to fly from San Diego to New York, but turned back because of bad weather. They decided to use their load of fuel and oil to set an endurance record, by flying in great circles over San Diego. They received the Mackay Trophy in acknowledgment of their achievement:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2022/10/record-endurance-flight-35-hours

On 17-April-1923 Macready and Kelly set a new endurance record:

http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2023/04/air-records-are-shattered-by-army.html

Major Henry (Hap) Arnold commanded the United States Army Air Forces during World War Two. Rockwell Field is now part of the Naval Air Station North Island.

All Records

Smashed by

U.S. Airmen

Army Aviators Complete

Transcontinental Trip From

New York to San Diego in

26 Hours 50 Minutes.

Land Shortly After Noon

By Associated Press.

San Diego, Cal., May 3 -- All distance records for nonstop airplane flight were smashed today by Lieuts. Oakley G. Kelly and John A. Macready, who flew here from Hempstead. N. Y . in 26 hours. 30 minutes, 48 2/5 seconds' official time. The distance covered was approximately 2,625 miles, but the flyers' average speed was more than 100 miles an hour, because they did not follow an exact air line.

It was their second attempt at transcontinental flight without a stop, they having been forced down at Indianapolis on their way east from San Diego last year. This flight was made in the same plane that was used today, though a different engine had been installed.

"You have written a new chapter in the triumph of American aviation." said a telegram from President Harding and scores of other congratulatory messages expressed a similar enthusiasm over the achievement.

Given Warm Reception.

The great monoplane T-2 landed at Rockwell field, according to the official timers, at 26 minutes. 56 1/10 second past 12 noon, Pacific coast time. The start was at 12:36:18 p. m. eastern standard time.

There was wild enthusiasm at Rockwell field when Lleut. Macready nosed the T-2 down and landed the huge ship with consummate ease on almost the exact spot where he and Kelly took off in their attempt to fly to New York November 4.

The crowd, thrilled by the sight of the beautiful ship and sensing deeply what its feat meant for America’s prestige in the air, swept the guards aside like so much chaff and born down on Kelly and Macready, madly cheering the makers of the country’s first transcontinental flight.

"Marvelous Flight."

The two air navigators, their faces splotched with oil and grease but wreathed in wide grins, were fairly forced up against the fusilage. Here they were lifted on the shoulders of admirers, presented with huge bouquets and not let down until the throng had yelled itself hoarse. Maj Henry Arnold, commandant of Rockwell field, and the officials of the Nationnal Aeronatical association were caught in the mad rush of the spectators Major Arnold finally fought his way to MacReady and Kelly’s side.

"Congratulations," said the major to both men. "It was a marvelous flight and we are surely proud of you."

Held Previous Record.

The best previous record for distance covered in a nonstop flight was that set by MacReady and Kelly in their former attempt to cross the continent without a stop, approximately 2,200 miles. This distance they covered in 27 hours 52 seconds November 3 and 4, 1922. They were forced down by failure of their engine. Its cylinder jackets cracking and the water leaking out of its circulation system.

On October 5. last year, the same pair of aviators in the same plane took the air from Rockwell field for what they had intended to be a transcontinental flight. But fog obscured the passes in the mountains east of San Diego and unwilling to attempt the eastward passage under such conditions, they turned back and spent ihe ensuing hours in a flight above Rockwell field and San Diego, not landing until they had established a world record of 35 hours 18 minutes 30 seconds. This was more than nine hours longer than the previous record holders Edward Stinson and Lloyd Bertaud, had been able to remain up at Roosevelt field the preceding December.

Flyers Tell Story.

After Kelly and MacReady had refreshed themselves with a quick wash and some food they told their story. It was a composite story, first one putting in a sentence or two and then the other breaking in.

"When we left New York," said Kelly, "we could not seem to get the full horsepower out of the Liberty engine. We flew for more than 20 miles at an altitude of less than 400 feet.

"Over New Jersey the voltage regulator went out. This was heartbreaking, for, unless we could repair it in flight, we would be forced to turn back. While I handled the control wheel, MacReady set desperately to work taking off the switch and installing a new one.

"He succeeded and a load was lifted from our hearts when the regulator again begun to function properly."

Had No Further Trouble.

Macready took up the story: "From that moment the flight became a pleasant prospect for us and we encountered no further mechanical trouble. The Liberty motor we kept operating at 90 per cent of its full horsepower after we had cleared the New Jersey air lanes.

"Reachig Dayton, O., 580 miles air line from New York, we headed for St. Louis, thence steered for Tucumacari. N. M. We were flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet when darkness caught us near Indianapolis.

"Approximately 50 miles from Belleville, Ill., we were thrilled by the sight of a huge beam of iight projecting up through the clouds. It was a veritable beacon along a rocky and dangerous shore for us, for otherwise intense darkness prevailed and we were trusting solely to our compass to keep on a straight course.

Aided by Light.

"Aided by this beam of light, which we knew came from Belleville, we continued straight as an arrow for the Missouri river. A light rain began to fall when we crossed the Missouri line, a condition we were prepared for on account of the cloudy weather in Indiana and Illinois. At the Missouri-Kansas line, while traveling better than 110 miles an hour and at an altitude of 5,000 feet, we sighted moonlight filtering through cloud holes. It gave us a feeling of security.

"These faint streaks of moonlight were all that we sighted of the heavens until daybreak over Tucumcari. Kelly was at the wheel. Dawn was just breaking. Kelly gave a shout of joy when, on looking over the side of the cockpit. he spied the cemetery on the outskirts of Tucumcari. It was a landmark we knew."

Cross Mountains Easily.

From that time on the aviators had not the slightest difficulty. They were flying in daylight over a section they knew well from their previous flight and the plane, lightened by much of its early burden of fuel, did all that was asked of it in climbing over the mountain ranges. They considered that part of the trip so easy that they barely commented on it.

Macready and Kelly said that they exchanged positions at the wheel every six hours except while crossing over the Arizona forests. Then they changed freriuently. partly to rest and partly to arrange their schedule so that Macready would handle the controls in making the landing here.

The aviators said they would remain here in the hope of establishing a new world duration record of at least 48 hours.

Flight Marks Epoch in Air Travel

in America, Says Colonel Halstead

Col. Frank Halstead, Omaha air officer, expressed gratification at the success of the flight, when informed by The Omaha Bee that the giant monoplane had been sighted over San Diego.

He is personally acquainted with Lieutenants Macready and Kelly, who made the flight, and was at Fort Benjamin Harrison when they were forced down on their previous attempt to make a nonstop transcontinental flight. Previous to that flight, he said, their engine was put through an endurance test of 36 hours.

Endurance test which preceded the present flight lasted 38 hours.

"The achievement of Iieutenants MacReady and Kelly marks an epoch in the development of air travel in America," he declared.

"The engine in their plane is the same type of Liberty motor which propels the familiar DH-4. Both men are to be congratulated on their feat."

According to Colonel Halstead's reckoning, their actual flying time was approximately 25 hours and 50 minutes, at an average of 98 miles an hour. He computes the distance covered as close to 3,000 miles.

After being told by The Omaha Bee of their landing, Colonel Halstead sent the two lieutenants a message of congratulation.

"Having witnessed your first feat, and your forced landing at Fort Benjamin Harrison, my interest in aviation compels me to congratulate you on your marvelous achievement," the message said.

He also asked them when they plan to circle the globe.

Army Blimp Completes

800-Mile Nonstop Trip

St. Louis, Mo,, May 3 -- The airship AC-1 arrived at Scott field, near here for permanent station at 6:40 a. m. today after a non-stop flight of 800 miles from Langley field. Va. The ship will he used for training. The entire duration of the voyage was 16 hours.

The ship is 169 feet long, 58 feet high and has a total of 180,000 cubic feet. It is motored by two aeromarine L-6 motors of 125 horsepower each, and has a cruising speed of 60 miles an hour.

The flight from Langley field was without special incident, Captain W. McIntyre, commanding, said. The ship left Langley field at 2:30 p. m. yesterday and traveled at an approximate speed of 50 miles an hour.