811.2300/11
The Secretary of State to the British Chargé (Chilton)
Sir: I beg to inform you that the War Department is contemplating a flight around the world of five aeroplanes leaving the United States about April 1, 1924 and completing the circuit in the early autumn. It is proposed to divide the flight into five divisions, assigning one advance officer to each division of the route and a sixth advance officer to coordinate all the divisions by travelling over the entire route. The Embassy at London has been instructed to bring this project to the attention of His Majesty’s Government,90a at the same time requesting permission for the advance officers to cross British territory as outlined in the tentative route, requesting permission for the flight to cross British territory, and to land at such points on British territory as may be subsequently agreed upon. The Embassy was further directed to request the waiver of any special restrictions in regard to aerial photography except insofar as they related to fortifications or such other areas as might be specified.
The following is the tentative itinerary of the flight:
| Washington, D. C. | Aomori (Honshu) Japan | 245 miles | |
| Dayton, Ohio | 400 miles | Tokyo, Japan | 410 miles |
| St. Joseph, Missouri or Fort Cook, Nebraska | 560–675 miles | Nagasaki, Japan | 610 miles |
| Chemulpo (Jinsen) | 440 miles | ||
| Cheyenne, Wyoming | 500–455 miles | Tsingtau (Shantung) China | 350 miles |
| Salt Lake City, Utah | 400 miles | Shanghai (Woosung) China | 350 miles |
| Seattle, Washington | 770 miles | Amoy, China | 555 miles |
| Prince Rupert, British Columbia | 650 miles | Hongkong | 300 miles |
| Haipong, French Indo-China | 500 miles | ||
| Sitka, Alaska | 300 miles | Tourane, French Indo-China | 395 miles |
| Cordova, Alaska | 475 miles | Saigon, French Indo-China | 530 miles |
| Seward, Alaska | 135 miles | Bangkok, Siam | 675 miles |
| Chignik, Alaska | 450 miles | Rangoon, Burma | 450 miles |
| Akutan or Dutch Harbor, Unalaska | 380–400 miles | Akyab, Burma | 445 miles |
| Calcutta, India | 400 miles | ||
| Hazan, Island of Atka | 350 miles | Allahabad, India | 475 miles |
| Chicagoff, Island of Attu | 530 miles | Delhi, India | 380 miles |
| Paramushiru Island (Kuriles) | 878 miles | Multan, India | 425 miles |
| Karachi, India | 475 miles | ||
| Bettobu, Yetorofu (Kuriles) | 495 miles | Charbar, Persia | 395 miles |
| Akkeshie (Yezo) Japan | 250 miles | Bandar Abbas, Persia | 330 miles |
| Bushire, Persia | 400 miles | Thorshavn, Faroe Islands | 275 miles |
| Bagdad (Mesopotamia) | 475 miles | Baykjaviki, Iceland | 550 miles |
| Aleppo, Syria | 480 miles | Angmagsalik, Greenland | 500 miles |
| Konia, Turkey | 285 miles | Avigtut, Greenland | 500 miles |
| San Stefano, Turkey91 | 300 miles | Rigolet, Labrador (Indian Harbor) | 700 miles |
| Belgrade, Yugoslavia | 525 miles | ||
| Vienna, Austria | 340 miles | Mingan, Quebec | 525 miles |
| Strassbourg, France | 400 miles | Quebec, Quebec | 450 miles |
| Paris, France | 250 miles | Montreal, Quebec | 175 miles |
| London, England | 225 miles | Keyport, New Jersey | 400 miles |
| Hull, England | 155 miles | Washington, D. C. | 200 miles |
| Kirkwall, Orkney Islands | 370 miles |
The Chief of the Air Service is desirous of sending Lieutenant Clayton Bissell over the proposed route of the projected flight through British Columbia from Victoria to Prince Rupert as soon after January 1, 1924 as the weather will permit, the purpose of his trip being to make all necessary arrangements in connection with the flight relative to supplies, transportation facilities, et cetera.
I should greatly appreciate it if you would be so good as to inform me whether or not Lieutenant Bissell’s trip would be agreeable to the Dominion Authorities.
Accept [etc.]