A newspaper photograph showing Col. Roscoe H. Turner, noted aviator, standing beside his coast-to-coast record plane which was forced down by bad flying conditions on the Erdman farm near Elizabethville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on a Saturday in August, 1933. His flying time, New York to Elizabethville, according to the Elizabethville Echo of 17 August 1933, was one hour and five minutes.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 12 August 1933:
COL. ROSCOE TURNER IS FORCED DOWN NEAR ELIZABETHVILLE
Elizabethville, August 12 [1933] – Colonel Roscoe Turner and Mrs. Eleanor C. Turner and a unidentified male passenger were forced down with their airplane early today on a farm near Elizabethville.
The plane, enroute from New York to Los Angeles, landed on the Aaron Erdman farm, a mile and a half east of Elizabethville, shortly after 6 a.m. because of low ceiling, without damage to the plane or injury to the passengers.
The flyers declined Erdman’s invitation to breakfast, but sat down to a box luncheon in a hay field, and accepted milk from the farmer. They continued their journey about 9:30 a.m., after flying conditions improved.
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An article from the Elizabethville Echo of 17 August 1933, described the incident in greater detail:
Famous Speed Flier Forced Down By Fog
Landed On Erdman Farm Saturday
When residents of this community awoke last Saturday morning, they found that low hanging clouds and fog had no less a famous aviation personage than Colonel Roscoe H. Turner, noted speed to land on the Aaron H. Erdman farm little more than a mile east of town.
Col. Turner had with him as passengers, Mrs. Eleanor Patterson, editor of the Washington D.C. Herald and Lieutenant “Chuck” Kerwood, associated with the Floyd Bennett Airport, NEw York City, They made a safe landing without damage to the plane.
Col. Turner and his passengers left New York about 5:00 o’clock with intentions to reach their goal, Los Angeles, California, shortly after seven o’clock the same evening. For the greater part of his route here, Col. Turner said he held his plane at 7,000 feet. Entering this section, the weather became “heavier” and he sought a lower altitude and when conditions were not bettered, climbed to 9,000 feet.
Still encountering heavy clouds, the famous pilot said he finally discovered a rift through which he spiraled earth-ward for a safe landing in the alfalfa field of the Erdman farm, just east of the house. The roar of the powerful motor was heard by many residents as the aviator circled over town in search of a field long enough to set his speedy Lockheed down, exactly an hour and five minutes after leaving New York.
Members of the Erdman family who left their morning farm chores were agreeably surprised to learn they were playing host to so distinguished a group of aviators, and to whom they offered the use of their home and an invitation to breakfast, The latter, the unexpected visitors declined but Col. Turner reported his location and asked the air field for further reports on weather conditions before resuming his flight at 9:15 o’clock. Officials of the Kansas City Airport were also advised of his intention to stop there that afternoon.
Col. Turner’s ship used for Saturday’s flight was a Lockheed Express which won for him the 1930 transcontinental record. It is powered by a 450 horsepower Wasp motor. The Colonel operated the craft from the open cockpit in the rear while his passengers occupied the four-seated cabin.
At the National Air Races in Los Angeles this summer, Col. Turner swept all competition for the 100-mile Thompson Trophy but was disqualified when judges contended that he failed to round a pylon. Turner admitted this infraction of the rules to avoid a collision with Jimmy Weddell, the other contestant. Turner’s claim that he purposely rounded the pylon twice on his next lap around was substantiated by witnesses. The judges remained adamant and the trophy which the Colonel received from the hands of Mary Pickford, the title and prize money, amounting to $3,375 were taken from him and awarded to Weddell. The Colonel’s record was 280 miles per hour. Little more than a week previous Col. Turner had won the transcontinental Bendix Trophy Race and a purse of $5,050.
His companion, Lt. Kerwood is a noted World War flier and served the French government most creditably as a member of the LaFayette Escadrille before America entered the great conflict. This unit comprised American fliers and Lt. Kerwood later served under colors of his own government.
Mrs. Patterson, third member of the group, is no less an interesting figure in national affairs. She is a sister of Publisher Joseph Medill Patterson and has been editor of the Herald three years. Her paper has given publication to a number of interesting “official” and social Washington incidents and at one time Mrs. Patterson herself walked into the Miami Beach home of Al Capone, unannounced to secure an interview with Chicago’s “public enemy.” At another time she slept in a Salvation Army lodging house and wrote of her experiences there. Mrs. Patterson some time ago purchased the Dower House near Rosaryville, once owned by Lord Baltimore, and is at present rebuilding it.
Local air enthusiasts noted the plane’s stream-line appearance and its construction for speed. It presented a very natty appearance with its buff-colored wings and fuselage bordered and trimmed in red. More than thirty cars had brought scores of visitors to the field by take-off time.
About nine o’clock Col. Turner received word of improved flying conditions and after warming up the engine, nosed his machine-bird into the wind for the take-off, Spectators at the field witnessed his circling plane seeking altitude while the sun cast its shadow on low, over-hanging clouds.
Gaining the desired height the drone of the plane grew inaudible as it streaked for Pittsburgh from which point it is believed the pilot intended to followed the air lines to the western coast.
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From the Lykens Standard, 18 August 1933:
COL. ROSCOE TURNER FORCED DOWN ON A. H. ERDMAN FARM
Colonel Roscoe Turner, carrying Mrs. Eleanor C. Patterson, Washington newspaper publisher, and another passenger, was forced down in his plane at 6:10 Saturday morning in a field on the farm of Aaron Erdman, near Elizabethville.
The news of the large plane being forced down because of a low ceiling, spread quickly through the valley and during their stay from the time of landing and 9:30, the time of takeoff, attracted several hundred people to the field.
The plane was bound from New York to Los Angeles and was carrying the newspaper publisher on a cross-country flight.
The fliers sat down to a box lunch in the field, accepted milk from Mr. Erdman, and continued their journey after flying conditions improved.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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