PREPARING FOR THE ROCKFORD FLYERS 



He was much impressed with these advantages 

 and was convinced that a practical commercial 

 route from America to Europe could be found 

 across Greenland. 



We had several other conferences on the sub- 

 ject. Photographs which I had brought from 

 Greenland showing the character of the great sand 

 flat east of Mount Evans revealed, so Hassell 

 thought, a possible landing place for a plane. I 

 was, of course, glad to promise every assistance 

 possible on the part of the Expedition personnel 

 in case he should attempt to put through his pro- 

 ject. 'Not having a technical knowledge of such 

 matters and further not having had the matter in 

 mind while still on the ground in Greenland, I 

 made clear to Hassell that I could not assume the 

 responsibility of saying that a proper landing field 

 existed now near our station. If, however, he 

 would select a flying man in whom he had confi- 

 dence and who was also a mechanic, I would take 

 this man on as mechanic of the Expedition and 

 we could then send by radio an expert opinion con- 

 cerning possible landing places before Hassell 

 should take off at Rockford. This plan was agreed 

 upon and Elmer G. Etes, an aviator and a close 

 friend of Hassell's, joined the Third Greenland 

 Expedition in this double capacity. 



221 



