TASMAN AIRMEN LEAVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1928, Page 9

TASMAN AIRMEN LEAVE.

SEND-OFF BY LARGE CROWD.

SMITH’S AEROBATICS.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC FAREWELL.

The three Bristol Fighters carryinfi Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, Flight-Lieut. Ulni, Messrs T. H. McWilliain and H. A. Litchfield, and Capts. J. L. Findlay and M. Buckley, left the Auckland Aero Club’s aerodrome at Ihumatao yesterday afternoon for Wanganui, to the cheers of nearly 15,000 people who thronged the ground. At an early hour yesterday motor cars, motor cycles, push cycles and horse vehicles began to arrive at the aerodrome, and by 10 o’clock a huge crowd had collected. The Tasman airmen left the Grand Hotel at 11.30, being accorded a hearty farewell from a big crowd outside their hotel. Led by a traffic inspector on a motor cycle s the official cars made quick time to Ihumatao, although over the last three miles they had to proceed slowly through the stream of traffic on its way to the ground. The approach of the party was marked by cheers from the huge crowd, both inside and outside the gates. The airmen acknowledged the cheers, farewell and good luck expressions, and the waving of many handkerchiefs by waving to the crowd.

As soon as he stepped out of his car Kingsford Smith questioned the Air Force mechanics who had been tuning up his Bristol Fighter. When satisfied that everything was in order, accompanied by the other airmen, he entered a" marquee to partake of lunch. The flyers did not waste much time lunch. Outside could be heard of the three Rolls Royce engines of tba Bristols which were being warmed up. After they had donned their warm ing suits and helmets the airmen engaged in conversation with the Mayor and officials of the Aero Club.

“I honestly hoped that it would be raining hard this morning, so that we could have spent another day in Auckland,” Kingsford Smith said to Mr. Baildon. “Tt has been a very pleasant stay indeed, and we are sorry that we now have to go. I am sorry that, owing to the necessity of conserving our petrol supply in case we meet a head wind, we are unable to flv over Auckland.”

Before he left the marquee Kingsford Smith was presented with a small mascot in the shape of a kiwi. This was, made beautifully out of leather by Mr. H, T. Good, the coat of arms of Auckland being painted on each side of the mascot. After congratulating Mr. Good on his work, the leader said that he treasured the mascot, which, he said, he would take back to Sydney with him on the Southern Cross. Ulm also took great interest in the gift, and told Mr. Good that if he could make another and send it to . Christchurch, he would be pleased to have one. Mr. Good promised to post another kiwi down to Christchurch.

Kingsford Smith then thanked the mechanics for the work they had put in on the machines. The squadron-leader then thanked the police, through Senior Sergeant Cummings, for their efficient help during their stay in Auckland. ' In the Air. As the airmen left the marquee the crowd again cheered. The Mayor accompanied the flyers to their planes and shook hands with them after they had climbed into the cockpits. Mr. Douglas Mill’s Moth, left the ground some minutes before the Bristols and circled round above waiting for the airmen to go aloft. Revving his motor up, Smith gave the signal to the mechanics to release the chocks which held the machine, and, waving his- hand and smiling to the crowd, he dashed away. The Bristol ran down into the wind and took off in 150 yards. After being jerked into the air at a steep angle, it banked sharply and came low over the heads of the crowd, then went higher. Before the other two machines got away Kingsford Smith, when at a comparatively low altitude looped the loop three times, to the great delight of the crowd, which again cheered. Afterwards the Bristol did a few rolls and then volplaned down not more than 75 feet above the thrilled spectators. So low did it coma that the faces of Smith and Ulm could be plainly seen. After this farewell swoop, the two commanders joined the other Bristols and were soon lost to sight. Farewell Message. Tlie airmen left the following message: “We wish to thank sincerely the many well-wishers who have communicated with us, and deeply regret our inability to reply to all eorrespondence, but our early departure has made this quite impossible. Our appreciation, however, is none the less, and we leave Auckland with many happy memories and the hopes of a speedv return at a not too distant date.”—Kingsford Smith. C. T. P. Ulm, H. A. Litchfield, T. H. McWilliam. Testing the Southern Cross. While he was lunching yesterday in the marquee, Squadron-Leader Smith told a “Star” reporter that before the Southern Cross took off at Christchurch for Blenheim next Friday, he would carry out at least three test flights over the Cathedral City. On these flights would be taken for trips Captains Findlay and Buckley, who had brought the other two Bristols to Auckland with the airmen. “I am also to take for the first time on the Southern Cross a civilian, Mr. E. C. Johnson, managing director of a local taxi firm. He is to accompany us on the monoplane from Christchurch to Blenheim,” he said. Mr. Johnston leaves for Christchurch to-morrow night. He is naturally pleased and somewhat thrilled at the thought of making a flight in this wonderful machine.