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Show AVIATORS OFF BN RETURN TRIP COASTTO COAST MINEOLA, N. V.. Oct. 15. -With Lieutenant Behin W Maynard, the '"flying parson" already off from San Francisco on his return trip to Mm-eola Mm-eola in the army air service transcontinental transcon-tinental air race, three of the fliers Who completed ihe first half of the journey here were read) to "hop off" for San Francisco today if weather permitted. Two of the three, Major Carl Spatz and Lieutenant (' B. Kiel, who flew nip and tuck across the continent from San Francisco, had expressed them selves as not anxious in m ike tho return re-turn trip When brother airmen observed ob-served the strenuous preparations the two were making for a getaway, however, how-ever, it was laughingly remarked ths their earlier statements probably had been "strategic" They appeared to be "jockeying" for the lead and a Inly In-ly race within a race is predicted. Captain Lowell H. Smith, whose unofficial un-official flying time was lowest of all the filers In the first half of the race, but who was penalized four hours for a forced landing near Cleveland, als was ready to start this morning on the homeward flight. A fourth flier, Lieutenant H. E. Queens, was eligible to start today, but expressed the opinion opin-ion he would not be able to get his , plane Into shape before tomorrow. SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 14 Lieutenant Lieuten-ant b. W. Maynard, winner of the fir-' half of the army nans-continental air .race, began his return trip to the Atlantic At-lantic coast from hero today. Leaving Leav-ing San Francisco at 1:22 53 p. m. he crossed the Sierra Nevada moua-talns moua-talns and landed at Reno, a distant of 1x7 miles, in 108 minuns. Lieut. Col T. S. Bowen. who si rived here at 1131 a m. today, was the eichth aviator to complete the west hound trip. Storm, fog and oth;" bad weather conditions held most of the others west of the Rockies ai the control stations, two planes which lelt Salt Lake City for Salduro. the next point west, being the only ones besides be-sides Maynard and Bowen to move today , k I Six ( ntrants rested here today, making mak-ing minor repairs on their machines and resting up preparatory to starting start-ing on their return journey eastward tomorrow Captain H. C. Drayton had a narrow escape from serious Injur here today when his machine nosed Into In-to the field and broke both blades of a propeller just as he was starting on a trip to Sacramento for supplies. The five besides Drayton here wer Lieul L s Webster, Lleifi. Alexander Pearson, Jr.. Captain J. O. Donaldson, Lieut. Earl Manselmah and Captain Harry smith |