Monday, Jul. 27, 1931
Gasbags
Six balloons, filled with natural gas instead of thrice-more-buoyant hydrogen, floated sluggishly into a mushy sky over Akron one afternoon last week. They were to race for two of the three places on the U. S. Team in the James Gordon Bennett International Balloon Race in September.* Heavy rains beat two of the bags to earth within 20 mi. of the start. Storms that night brought down three more. Last to land was the Navy's entry, piloted by Lieuts. T. G. W. ("Tex") Settle and Wilfred Bushnell, at Marilla. N. Y., winning with the unimpressive distance of 215 mi. (unofficial).
*Ward Tunte Van Orman, 1930 International winner, is automatically a member of the 1931 team.
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