Four weary "air Magellans," burnt by the wind, lined by the sun, reached Seattle, their round-the-earth goal. There they endured their final ovation, with sirens shrieking, crowds cheering, orators expanding. Among the first to greet them was Major Martin, who commanded the flight at the start, 175 days before. Major General Charles G. Morton was there, representing President Coolidge and Secretary of War Weeks. He summarized in a few well-chosen words:
"The conquering by air for the first time in history of the hitherto uncharted air route over the Pacific Ocean by the...