Imperial Valley Press

O'Brine And Jackson Get Endurance Mark' But Only Little Money.

ST. LOUIS. Aug. 18. (U.P.) Dale Jackson and Forrest O'Brine, were the world's champion refueling endurance flyers today, but both were chagrined that $200,000 hadn't materialized from their effort.

By making a safe landing in the monoplane "The Greater St. Louis" at 6:39:30 a. m. (C.S.T.) yesterday after a flight of 647 hours, the flyers were assured of the record laurels. They had surpassed by more than 93 hours the time of the Hunter brothers' flight.

Both blamed a crack in the motor crankcase for their descent. Oil splashed out over the cabin windows and motor and soaked into the magneto, short-circuiting it, Jackson said.

William Pickens, their prominent manager, said the flyers would have brought the plane down yesterday "anyway, even if the motor hadn't cracked,'' because of their feeling over the size of financial rewards.

Jackson and O'Brine denied, however, that the question of money entered into the matter.

But the rainbow the two saw when they went aloft July 21 had a bucket at the end with $200,000, they hoped. Still there were contracts, either signed or offered, totalling $39,000 for advertising, movie talks, and state fair appearances.

The orange and yellow monoplane which had been in the air 27 days, started faltering several hours before the landing, the flyers said. Finally at 6:15 a. m. they were forced to message that a landing was imminent.

Neither appeared tired from the long flight, and their deafness wore off in a few minutes. After speaking for a talking newsreel, they were driven to a downtown hotel.

"We had a nice time," O'Brine said in commenting on the flight. "Our greatest kick was when we passed the Hunter boys' mark. It sure seems funny to be walking on the ground again."

The official time of the flight was announced as 647 hours 28 minutes and 30 seconds. It was estimated the plane had flown 52,000 miles.

Contract has been signed for appearance of the flyers and their plane at the Missouri state fair. Other offers are being considered, including ones from officials of the Illinois, Iowa and Ohio fairs.