PREPARING FOR THE ROCKFORD FLYERS 



ditions. On July 26th, the day we now expected 

 Hassell to take off, our balloon showed light east- 

 erly surface winds holding up to 1000 meters, or 

 about a half mile, above which the wind was blow- 

 ing from the southwest and south southwest at a 

 rate of 30 miles per hour. This was most favor- 

 able for the flight to Iceland. The field is now 

 marked and the cans of gasoline are arranged in 

 the form of an arrow easily seen from the sky. 



Etes has fixed up a small radio set and this has 

 been taken to the Dory Landing where Schneider, 

 who is fairly competent with radio, will communi- 

 cate with Mount Evans and announce the arrival 

 of the "Greater Rockford". A mast about 25 

 feet high made from two spliced bamboo poles was 

 set up and this improvised field radio station was 

 soon in operation. It was later transferred to the 

 landing field itself, where a secondary balloon sta- 

 tion was also established. 



Since it was expected that the plane would ar- 

 rive by the way of the fjord, and as Baer of all 

 our company would be the only one on duty at 

 Mount Evans and be engaged with the radio, 

 Marius was to be stationed outside with binoculars 

 to report the first appearance of the flyers. 



On the evening of the 26th I arrived at the ob- 

 servatory and an hour later Marius came in from 



235 



