In 1924, four US Army Air Service biplanes were dispatched on an unprecedented trip around the world. Two made it—traveling over 26,000 miles, visiting 22 nations, and spending over 363 hours in the air. Making it clear that the expedition owed its success as much to careful preparation and heavy ground support as to brilliant piloting, the author of Barnstormers and Daredevils (1988) re-creates the thrill-a-minute excitement of aviation's early days, when aircraft were tossed like thistledown in rough weather and engine failure could force very sudden landings in the most inconvenient places. A fine account of a forgotten landmark in the history of flight. The b&w illustrations include both contemporary photos and a series of military paintings. Brief annotated bibliography; index. (Nonfiction. 10-13)