European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 10, 1959, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Boeing 247, it revolutionized aviation but was obsolete before it even flew. An underrated air Pioneer by Robert j. Serling up staff writer this is the Story of an american air liner that helped nazi Germany build its Bombe Fleet. Beat the famed Douglas pcs into com Mercial aviation As the first All Metal Multi engine Low Wing transport plane. Revolutionized aviation yet was obsolete before it even flew. Will go Down in history As the most Unsung underrated air Pioneer of them All. The plane the. Boeing 247, designed in 1932 and first used in scheduled airline operations in 1933. It cruised at 160 Miles per hour and provided what was then a new Standard of luxury for passengers used to the reliable but rattling Ford Tri motor. United air lines ordered 60 of them enough to tie up Boeing s production for at least a year. One of its designers proudly declared there la never be a bigger plane  on the surface it looked like a Brillian bit of strategy that would put United Miles ahead of its competitors. The 247, which carried 10 passengers Cut United s coast to coast schedule from 27 to 19% hours. Other airlines pressured Boeing to let themis on the new plane but the factory was committed to filling United s  s chief rivals Twa and american turned in self defense to a tiny factory Infanta Monica calif., which had a two engine transport in the mock up stage that company was Douglas and its plane was the dc2, predecessor to the pcs it carried 15 passengers to Boeing s 10 an was about 20 Miles an hour faster. United supremacy lasted Only until it competitors got the dc2 into operation. The sleek 247 was outmoded literally before it got off the ground. Boeing beefed it up with More powerful engines but Douglas countered with the even faster and roomier is. The 247 had the additional Handicap of a design that put the main Wing spar right through the Cabin passengers had to step Over the spar to get to the front seats. Unhappy United did the Best it could with its beings finally ordered Doss and started peddling the 247 s to smaller air lines. Boeing itself could t find any More customers with one exception the German airline Lufthansa which ordered two. Whether Lufthansa actually used them As transports is not Clear but it is definitely known that they were put to Good use. German engineers Tore the beings apart to study their design and construction. That was in 1934. It came As no Surprise when much of Hitler s world War i bomber Fleet bore a marked family resemblance to the 247. Military experts have since declared that the . Airliner gave the germans a five year head Start on medium bomber design. With All its limitations in Speed an Comfort the 247 still was quite an air plane. Some aviation officials regard it As the strongest Airliner Ever built Pound for Pound. The air Force once tried to Static test a 247 to destruction loading weight son the wings until they broke off from the fuselage. By the time destruction was achieved the wings were carrying approximately 25 per cent More Load than the were designed for. Pennsylvania Central airlines now capital had an sex United 247 which crash landed Between two Trees. The Trees  but the 247 s wings stayed intact. There still Are about 10 247s flying to Day either As executive transports or in Oil exploration work in Canada and Alaska the plane can take off and land using less than 800 feet of runway and it is rugged enough to land on a Field of spikes. The 247 was a True aviation Pioneer Unsung underrated and except to the men who flew it unremembered an old inferior shot of the Boeing 247. Up photos add a Oil Uhr id b Bao suitor th6 stars and Stutts Apo 175, . Porc6s, i Duel Nan and Addren name will a deleted and kept  on request. Uteri May a condensed Tot publication provided sch editing Doti not alter the meaning of the original. Jeff Fer old fac " would like to express my appreciation of the Uso show jest for gaffs now touring usar eur. Having had the Opportunity to see it at the Patch Barrack service club on july 23, i truly enjoyed every phase of the  of the performers gave their Best in an Effort to provide a enjoyable evening of entertain ment. I m sure All who saw the performance feel the same As i do. Are there More Uso show scheduled to eur this command since the 7th . Army Soldier show unit has been deactivated a great los the Uso seems Tobe our Only source of this Type of entertainment. Again thanks to the cast of jest for gaffs for a very enjoyable evening of entertainment. Name withheld by bequest editor s note Many v8& and gratuitous shows Are making extensive Tours of Germany France Drill Italy where they per cd Iii in service clubs and Heaters. Most of these touring units Are variety shows with a few College dramatic and choral groups another attractions of a specialized nature. Reminder readers Are a minded that All letters to the b bag must be signed in order to receive recognition. All correspondence to this department is confidential. Names will be deleted in publication i requested. Goren on Bridge answers to q. 1as South you hold 462 vq4 4 ak105 qj1093 the bidding has proceeded North East South West 1 pass 2 4� pass2 9 pass ? what do you bid now a three hearts. The alternate bid of three diamonds is not recommended for it will induce partner to contract for three no Trump with but a single Spade stopper on some hands which will better play at four hearts. Queen and one constitutes Ade quate Trump support for a rebid . 2as South you hold j6, 3 Ajio akq85 the bidding has proceeded South West North East 1 in pass pass a what do you bid now  is a Choice Between a.,reopening double and a jump in clubs. Our Choice favors the lat Ter Call. For the hand to play satisfactorily in Spades partner would have to be Able to bid the suit of his own volition. Q. 3-r-East-West vulnerable Andas South you hold 4kqj93 742 1063 jj.a7the bidding has proceeded North _. East. South West.1 "24, 2 pass 4 5 what do  now a.double.1 for your free bid of two Spades you had to dig deep into your resources and pass by you at this Point would be somewhat too aggressive. I your Ace had been found in one of the other suits a forcing pass might be acceptable but under the circumstances the sure profit should be taken q. 4as South you hold 4q62 96 a 4.kj109762 the bidding has proceeded South West North East pass pass 1 of i 4 ? what do you bid now  clubs. This is a Sliahtun Dervid for a passed hand but no other desirable Call is Avail Able. No Effort should be extended to push the bidding beyond the three no Trump level since that May easily prove Tobe the limit of the hand if part Ner has a Light opening with scattered values q. 5as South you hold4 763 10 f ak62 ku732 4 the bidding has proceeded Bridge quiz East South West north1 v pass 2 v Dale pass what do you bid now a. Three hearts. This is a mighty potent hand opposite a partner who was Able to. Make take out double at the level of two. Game is certain but in or Der to probe for the Best spot Acue bid is in order. This merely throw s partner s question Back asking him to name his Best suit. If he bids three Spades you cannot bid four clubs and await further developments. If his response is in a minor you will of course raise q. 6 As South you hold the bidding has proceeded North East South West 1 pass 1 4 pass1 it pass ? what do you bid now a. Three no Trump. No further probing is required. You have the equivalent of an opening bid fac ing a partner who has opened the bidding. Since he has announced a balanced hand and no Superior suit fit seems to be available a no Trump contract i indicated i to q. 7 As South you hold 4aq62 a92 q6 kj104 the bidding has proceeded North East South west1 pass 1 4k pass 2 pass 3 � pass5 4� pass ? what do you bid now a. Five hearts. With a goo fit established in clubs a Small slam becomes a sure thing and seven is a distinct  is marked with four clubs and since he rebid diamonds first at least six in that suit. If his hand is Spade a heart a Dia Mondak x x x x a club a x a your Cue bid of hearts should in Duce him to contract for All the tricks. Q. 8 As South you hold a4 k5 q982 qj932 the bidding has proceeded South West North East 1 4. Pass 1 pass ? what do you bid now a. One no Trump. No induce ment should be offered partner in the form of a Diamond raise this is a distinctly minimum opening bid and the most discouraging sounding rebid is indicate Dat this stage. Partner will not forget that you did open and will proceed further if game sin the offing. Copyright if Lott be cd Oslo and strjp65 monday August 10, 1959