Polonia

Glistening like huge soap bubbles in the sunshine, 13 gas bags from seven nations drifted up from Warsaw one afternoon last week in the 23rd annual International Gordon Bennett Balloon Race. Last away was Polonia of Poland, winning nation in 1933 and 1934. Wise in the ways of local air currents, the Polish pilots shot far higher than the visiting contestants, soon found a strong easterly breeze. Next day, over the Russian border, a squadron of Soviet airplanes swooped down upon them, fired warning salvos for 40 minutes. Stanchly, the Poles refused to land. Onward, for two days more, they floated unreported toward the Caspian Sea, as all the other balloons jolted one by one to earth. Finally. Polonia came down, 1,000 miles from Warsaw and winner by nearly 100 miles. Thus Poland got permanent possession of the fourth Bennett trophy.

To make the victory even more emphatic, another Polish entry won second place. Far in the ruck was the lone U. S. balloon which met adverse winds, staggered to a stop only 520 miles from the start.

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