Northwest History. Will Rogers

WILEY AND WILL HEAD SOUTHWARD ON FINAL FLIGHT WILEY AND WILL HEAD SOUTHWARD ON FINAL FLIGHT, SEATTLE, Aug. 19. (AP)— Pilot William A. Winston, a soft-spoken Texas flyer, took up the task laid down by Pilot Joe Crosson, an Arctic flying hero, a few minutes before noon today—and the bodies of Will Rog...

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Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1935
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Online Access:http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/85498
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Summary:WILEY AND WILL HEAD SOUTHWARD ON FINAL FLIGHT WILEY AND WILL HEAD SOUTHWARD ON FINAL FLIGHT, SEATTLE, Aug. 19. (AP)— Pilot William A. Winston, a soft-spoken Texas flyer, took up the task laid down by Pilot Joe Crosson, an Arctic flying hero, a few minutes before noon today—and the bodies of Will Rogers and Wiley Post were speeding south to California. Winston and his flying companions left Boeing field in their Douglas Transport airliner at 11:53 a. m. Colonel Clarence Young, Pan-American Airways director for the west coast, and Amon Carter, of Fort Worth, Texas, were also aboard. Crosson Accompanies. In a gesture of appreciation for his great work in flying the bodies of the two men south from Barrow, Alaska, in the past two days and nights, Crosson was escorted aboard the plane at almost the last minute, after a previous announcement he would not make the journey. With the marine reservists lined up on parade and the crowd in silence, in respect and awe for the great comedian and the flyer who died in a crash in barren northern Alaska last Thursday evening, the big airliner was slowly drawn from the hangar. The airport's flag, at half mast since Crosson had arrived from Vancouver, B. C, at 9:15 a. m., rippled from the flagpole above. The drama of the situation deeply moved the crowd at the airport, among them high civic and state representatives. The motors were warmed up, still hardly cool from their flight north this morning from Alameda, Cal. The plane was taxied slowly to the runway, a siren sounded, a white flag dropped, and the big ship, like a great silver bullet, raced down the airway and lifted gracefully into the air. Previously Colonel Young had declared that Los Angeles was their destination, but he said that out of respect for the Rogers and Post families he could not reveal the landing field there. From a credible source, it was learned that the bodies would probably be taken to the Pearson funeral home in Los Angeles on arriving there. Two Services. At Chicago today, on the way west by train, Will Rogers Jr., spoke for his family, aboard a private car, saying that a public funeral would be held on Los Angeles for his father on Thursday, followed by a private funeral in the afternoon. The Rogers youth said that the body would then be placed in a vault in Los Angeles, with interment later at Claremore, Okla. The accident will not keep him from flying, he added. Post's widow has decided that his body will be buried in a memorial park near Oklahoma City.