Show ATTEND AS MAIL PLANE IS CHRISTENED Army Craft launched on Fir First First- Flight With Ceremonies Cere- Cere I monies Approximately Salt L thronged the airport Thursday afternoon after after- noon when Governor Henry H. H Blood christened the army's latest test mail plane State o of Utah and launched th the ship on its inaugural mail flight to Cheyenne and New York City CarryIng several hundred pounds of mail stamped with a special cachet chet commemorating fIrst use of Martin as mail planes in the the- western zone the ship left immediately after the christening ceremonies for th the east It is fitting said Governor Blood that this new newt newest t of army planes the first of its type in use In the western airmail zone of Utah should be named State o of Utah This modern sk sky traveler sym the ability ot of the army to 10 cope with any situation which aris arises People Pea Peo- pie have I believe been misinformed as to the cause of deaths of array anny pilots in crashes o occurring since th the army took over the mail routes Poor equipment and not poor fliers caused crashes There are no better fliers flier than army pilots Distinguished visitors at the ceremonies ceremonies cere- cere monies included Brigadier General Pegram Whitworth commander ot of oto o of Fort Douglas Governor Governor- Blood and Lieutenant Colonel H H. H H. H Arnold commander corn com mander of the western airmail zone Governor Blood Introduced Paul F. F Keyser president ot of the chamber of commerce introduced Governor Blood Following the governors governor's governors governor's gov- gov dedicatory address a silk canopy over the nose ot of the giant plane was removed exposing the name State of Utah Mrs Joseph Smith wife of FIrst Lieutenant Joseph Jo Jo- seph eph Smith of Fort Crockett Texas Texa one of the local mail pilots then for for- or- or mally christened the plane by break tag ing over its nose a bottle of water from Great Salt lake Jakc Preceding the governors governor's address Lieutenant Colonel II H. H. H Arnold commander of oC the western airmail zone explained operation of the army airmail system spoke briefly of the advantages derived through use of the new larger type planes and complimented corn com pilots of the zone on their maintenance of schedules Bouquet Presented Pilot Mrs Winston Ellerbeck representing represent ing the chamber ot of commerce pre pi presented Lieutenant L IL J J. Smiths Smith chief chiet army pilot who flew the plane on its maiden trip with a bouquet of flowers flowers flow flow- ers from Irom the chamber of commerce and with a letter from Mr Keyser to Secretary of War Ge George H. H Dern and in Washington D. D C C. complimenting the air corps on its efficient carrying of the ma mail J. J The letter also suggested tion of Salt Lake City as a concentration concen concen- point for western army airmail airmail air air- mail activities because of the city's central location between various west west- em ern cities While the Fort Douglas baid played martial music the mail all stamped with a special cachet commemorating corn com the flight was loaded Ship Oft on Maiden Hop Lieutenant Smith climbed into the cockpit waved once to the crowd below below be- be low and then zoomed the plane gracefUlly grace grace- fUlly into the blue sky toward Chey- Chey enne tie ne was accompanied over the Wasatch Wa Wa- satch mountains by three speedy pursuit pur pur- suit ships piloted by LIeutenants Joe Robert S. S Israel and O. O R. R Deering After crossing the range the three returned to the airport airport air air- port where they gave a minute 30 demonstration of oC aerial acrobatics and nd formation flying The new Martin bombers have been placed in use on all army aIrmail aIr aIr- mail routes They have a capacity of 2000 pounds and are t the c fastest born born- ships in use by br any coun coun- tr try They have a top s speed eed of miles an hour and a cruising speed ot of miles an hour Prior to the dedication ceremonies visitors at the airport were conducted conduct conduct- ed by army officials on an inspection tour of hangars and various types ot of army planes now in use on airmail routes |