Chapter 18 - 1929
9 Balloons Start From St. Louis In Bennett Race –
Moderate Winds Reduce the Chances of Breaking Records for Distance –
Adverse Weather in Path – Contestants Install Radios in Bags Before
Take-Off – By The AP – St Louis, September 28
Nine balloons ascended here this afternoon in the
eighteenth international race for the James Gordon Bennett Trophy. Flags
of six nations were represented by the bags that began their departure
at 4 pm.
The pilot balloon, carrying Captain H.E. Honeywell and
three passengers, sailed soon after 3 o’clock. Honeywell said he would
fly only a few hours and give the other balloonists an indication of the
air currents near by. He landed in three hours at Lambert-St Louis
Field, twenty miles distant. Captain Honeywell was accompanied by his
daughter, Mrs Carl F. Brown, of Evansville, Indiana, and H.E. Doerr and
Arthur Hoskins, both of St Louis.
List of Entrants
The order of the take-off was:
Radios Installed by All
All of the contestants decided this afternoon to have
radios installed in their baskets.
Lieutenant Hankins, of Scott Field, Illinois, in charge
of the station, said the balloons will be taken in the general direction
of Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio. The weather will be cooler tonight
with increasing cloudiness.
Lieutenant Hankins, said the chances for the balloons to
break distance records are few because of the moderate winds. The radio
will broadcast weather reports to the balloons as they soar to unknown
destinations.
U.S. Balloons In Lead as Last Racer Lands - Belgian Entry
Down in Indiana, 230 Miles From St Louis Starting Point - By The
Associated Press - ST LOUIS, September 30 –
Captain Ernest Demuyter, winner of four James Gordon
Bennett races and only balloonist personally to win permanent possession
of the trophy, failed in his quest for his fifth victory when he landed
at 8 o'clock last night at Corydon, Ind., 230 miles from this city,
where the eighteenth renewal of the international classic started
Saturday.
His balloon, The Belgica was the last of the nine
entrants to be reported down and left the three American entrants first,
second and third, with the winner to be decided between Ward T. Van
Orman, pilot of the Goodyear VIII, and twice winner of the race, and
Captain William E. Kepner, pilot of the United States Army balloon and
last year's victor. On unofficial measurement, Van Orman held a lead of
a few miles, as was the case last year when Kepner was reported second
to Dr. Hugo Keulen Jr, German balloonist and entrant again this year,
only to win on official distances.
The Denmark, piloted by Lieutenant George Schenstrom,
landed late yesterday five miles southeast of Bedford, Ind. Reports of
its landing were not received until today.
Captain H. E. Honeywell, veteran St. Louis balloonist,
left today for Terre Haute, Ind., as official representative of the St.
Louis Air Board to render any assistance possible to Eduardo Bradley,
pilot of the Argentine. Bradley's leg was broken in landing near there.
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