Balloons In National Race Passing Over North Carolina, May 1, 1926

Balloons Entered in National Race Located in State. . . One of the Balloons Landed Near Hickory Friday Night and One Landed at Petersburg, Va.. . . Another Passes over the State. . . Seen at Shelby This Morning and Was Sailing in Fine Shape—Three Landed Friday

May 1 (AP)—With the dawn of “May Day” the watchout for the balloons contesting in the Litchfield trophy and national elimination race shifted to the east of the Appalachian Mountain chain.

Definite assurance that some of the nine contestants who left the Little Rock airport late Thursday were approaching or had crossed the Appalachians were received here last night with word that the United States Army balloon S-21 had landed 12 miles north of Hickory, N.C., and that the “Goodyear V,” piloted by Ward T. VanOrman, winner of last years’ race, was over the Blue Ridge in Virginia and still traveling east-northeast.

Three of the contestants in the event which will decide the custody of the trophy for the next year, and the makeup of the team of three balloons to be sent to Belgium for the Gordon Bennett cup race reported landing yesterday. The S-21 crossing the Appalachians slightly to the north of Mount Mitchell, the highest of the peaks east of the Rockies, landed at 6 o’clock last night in good condition, but lacking ballast in the face of high winds. Lieutenant James F. Powell, the pilot, and Lieutenant James Early, his aide, spent last night at Hickory awaiting orders.

VanOrman May be Winner

May 1 (AP)—Ward T. VanOrman, twice winner of the Litchfield Trophy, who guided the Goodyear IV in the race that started from this city Thursday, was far in the lead today of all pilots known to have brought their mounts to the ground. When he landed just south of Petersburg, Va., at 2 o’clock this morning, he was approximately 780 miles on an airline from Little Rock.

One Reaches Petersburg

Richmond, Va., May 1 (AP)—The Goodyear IV, piloted by Ward T. VanOrman, landed 8 miles southeast of Petersburg Va., at 2:03 o’clock this morning.

Passes Over Gastonia

Gastonia, May 1 (AP)—One of the army balloons passed over here at 12 o’clock noon today. It was slowly drifting eastward.

Balloon Passes Over Shelby

Shelby, N.C., May 1 (AP)—One of the army balloons believed to have been the S-20, passed over here shortly after 10 a.m., headed in a south-east direction.

From The Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, May 1, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-05-01/ed-1/seq-1/