THE AMERICA AS PHOTOGRAPHED THROUGH THE OPEN HATCH IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRIENDSHIP’S FUSELAGE
There was room between these tanks to squeeze through. Fortunately the physical architecture of all three members of the Friendship’s crew was distinctly Gothic. But even at that the two boys had to turn sidewise to get through, while I, most Gothic of all, could contrive a straight-away entrance. It was between these two tanks that I spent many hours of the voyage, because into this space there wafted back some of the warmth from the heater in the cockpit. The after part of the cabin was unheated and often reached uncomfortably low temperatures.
In addition to the gas carried in the wing and these supplementary tanks, we had on board a limited amount in five-gallon tins. This was not only a supplementary supply, but was carried in this form for quick dumping in case of emergency. It was advantageous, too, to have the weight distributed well astern. In taking off, all of us, except Bill, crowded as far aft as we could.
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Log Book:
Mr. Gower came back into the hold in order to force the nose up as far as possible. To no avail.
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Lou Gower is an expert pilot, with much big-ship experience, who had been retained as a sort of understudy for Stultz in case of sickness or accident. It was hoped he could go as far as Trepassey, there to share the work of the two men who actually would carry through on the Atlantic flight.
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