Another Jet Record

Rated as a top USAF Ace at the end of World War 11, Col. David C. Schil'39 has now made a new record, as one of two pilots to make the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight in jet planes. Taking Off from Manston, England, and in the air for ten hours and two minutes, Colonel Schilling landed his Republic F-84E Thunderjet at the Limestone Air Force Base in Maine at 7:02 P.M. September 22. He was ordered to land before reaching his objective, Mitchel Field, because of bad weather. His companion, Lt. Col. William D. Ritchie, had to parachute from his plane over Labrador when he ran out of fuel.

Both fliers planned to re-fuel three times during flight—a process made difficult by the speed of 225 to 250 miles an hour at which this must be accomplished and by unfavorable weather, which hampered the fuelling planes and interfered with radio communication.

It was said by Air Force officers of high rank that the things learned on the flight would be of extreme value to the flying service in the future. The careful planning of the flight was also praised.

In July 1948, Colonel Schilling led the first group of American jet fighters across the Atlantic, making five stops and requiring 15 days en route, for experimental studies of jets over water. This is his sixth crossing of the Atlantic in jet fighters.