 Earlier in his career , Streett served in France during the last stages of World War I. In 1920 , he was awarded the Mackay Trophy and the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading a squadron of U.S. airmen on a pioneering air voyage from New York City to Nome , Alaska and back . Streett wrote of his squadron 's difficulties in an article for National Geographic . Streett assisted Mitchell during the famous bombing demonstration against battleships . After participating in several air races , he made an exploratory flight to extreme altitude during which he experienced frozen flight controls , and then wrote a story about the adventure for Popular Science . 
