Northwest History. Alaska. Distance Flights.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1920
• Subjects: Nome; Alaska; airplane flight; aerial communication; Captain St. Clair Street; New York; the United States army; transcontinental flights; Mineola; L. I.; gold beach; aviator; Norton; Canada; Edmonton; Alberta; glaciers; Alaska air; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Norton Sound; Pacific
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/90215

Accomplished The "Impossible" In Airplane Flight To Alaska. ACCOMPLISHED THE "IMPOSSIBLE" IN AIRPLANE FLIGHT TO ALASKA NOME, Alaska, Aug. 24. -- (Delayed.) -- "We are enthusiastic over the success of our flight because it has accomplished what was believed to be the impossible, the establishement of aerial communication with Alaska. The entire trip was made with that original motors, and they are still running beautifully." Thus did Captain St. Clair Street, head of the New York to Nome airplane expedition of the United States army, sum up today the results of the long transcontinental flight which began at Mineola L. I., July 14. and ended with the arrival of the four planes on the Nome beach late yesterday. The machines are in perfect condition for the return flight, Captain Street said. Delayed by Fogs. Fogs and storms that had delayed the departure of the aviators from Ruby gave way yesterday to a warm sun and clear skies. There was something akin to the thrill of the old gold rush days as the crowds of prospectors, miners and natives that had gathered from every village for miles around and waited on the famous "gold beach" for the arrival of the aviators. Then, far out over Norton sound, they appeared, and the crowd waited breathless. Five minutes later, at 5:30 o'clock, the wheels of the planes touched the sandy field, and Nome's first aviators had arrived. "The middle west and Canada as far north as Edmonton, Alberta, proved the most ideal flying territory," Captain Street said, in describing the journey. "After we readed the Rocky mountains we found few landing fields, chiefly because of the rough nature of the country and the heavy forests. As we flew over southeastern Alaska, we sighted innumberable glaciers. In the interior of Alaska, the unexplored territory, we could land only on the bars of the rivers." The trip demonstrated the fensibility of establishing mail, express and passenger communication iwth Alaska by air. Captain Street assserted. "I expect to see such routes established in the nor far distant future," he said.