"Stunt Flight"

Ten years ago last week a slim unknown named Charles Augustus Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris and on into history. To publicize the Paris International Exposition this summer, French Air Minister Pierre Cot last year announced an air race for 3,000,000 francs ($135,000) from New York to Paris on the tenth anniversary of Lindbergh's flight no matter what the weather (TIME, Sept. 7).

Colonel Lindbergh had not been consulted. He was immediately distressed because he feared, along with many another, that the event might prove a parallel to the dismal Dole race across the Pacific from California to Hawaii ten years ago in which six planes were lost (TIME, Aug. 22, 1927). Upon Lindbergh's protest, Minister Cot limited the race to multi-motored planes with radios and extended the start to any time in August. But protests continued to fulminate in the U. S., not only from such transatlantic experts as Dr. James Henry Kimball of the Weather Bureau, but from such authoritative groups as the National Aeronautical Association. Meanwhile 22 flyers, including Amy Johnson Mollison and Dick Merrill, entered the race.

Fortnight ago, when Merrill flew the Atlantic both ways (TIME, May 17 & 24), Colonel John Monroe Johnson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce in charge of aeronautics, remarked that he disliked such "stunt flights." Last week, three days before the anniversary of Lindbergh's flight, Col. Johnson announced that the U. S. would not permit the anniversary race. Said he: "We are trying to encourage transatlantic flying, but we don't want to jeopardize it. ... The Commerce Department is charged with the duty of safety in the air and this race is a highly hazardous undertaking. There will be no race."

Amid the general chorus of approval there were several bitter notes. Snapped Amy Johnson Mollison, sailing from Manhattan where she had been training for the flight: "It is not a stunt flight, and I don't agree with your Commerce Department ruling. They are very far behind the times. . . . The ruling is as good as saying that flying is not safe." Minister Cot managed to remain gracious, denied that he would try to arrange a race to Paris from Buenos Aires or Canada.

Wrote Col. Lindbergh to his friend, Banker Thomas W. Lamont, who made the principal speech at a banquet in Manhattan on the anniversary: "I am embarrassed to think of you being asked to devote your time and energy to preparing a speech for the anniversary of my flight to Paris. I believe that the past should not be turned into an obligation for the future; and ceremonies for celebrating past events almost invariably become an obligation for those taking part in them.

"I am in the strange, although not unique, position of being thoroughly opposed to the holding of a celebration which I feel is an exceptionally great honor."

Shortly after the publication of this modest message, Miss Annie S. Cutter of Cleveland, Mrs. Lindbergh's aunt, confirmed a week-long report that a third son had been born to the Lindberghs on May 13, day after George VI's Coronation. Mrs. Lindbergh and her son were reported "doing well" at a London clinic, where an official snapped at newshawks: "Our orders are to give out no information." No further light was shed when the taciturn father telephoned from his Kent retreat, "Long Barn," to the U. S. Embassy in London and briefly announced the birth. He then went out for a long walk in the hills.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.