ACROSS TASMAN IN UNDER FOUR HOURS

Chronicle (Levin), 19 December 1946, Page 5

ACROSS TASMAN IN UNDER FOUR HOURS

-Press Association

By Telegraph—

AFCKLAXD, Dee. 18. Hiding a steadv westerJv wiiul at 25,uoii feet, a Musquito lighter bomber airerai't of the IJoyal Australian Ai r ; Force today broke the record for the Uight froni Sydney to Auckland by nearJy an hotir. It tiew froni Mascot aerodronie to Whenuapai in 3 liours 48 niinutes, averaging 400 niiles an hour

for the greater part of the 11148 mile jouniev and breaking easilv tlie Anieriean held record of 4 hours TI niinutes. .Sent to Xcw Zealand partly to dernoiistrate tlie eHieieney of Australiantnade aireraft and e(jiiipmpiit and partly for researeh into higli speed 'dying and assoeiated subjeets, the aireraft was llown by Flight Lieutenant L. P. Bond and liad Flighr Lieutenant L. C. Lobb with hini as navigator and wireless operator. lloth odieers have their lioines in Xlelbourne and both wero tvartiine nieinbers of Xo. 87 Squadron JLA.A.F. based at Darwin.

iiuilt entirelv in Australia exeept for its Merlin engines whieh wero const rticted in Amerioa to Hritish design, the aireraft eiiused inteuse interest speeiallv among a partv of United Rtates fliers who had just arrived at IVhenuajiai froni Xew Caledonia. The eharacteristie harsh whine of the two Xlerlin niolors brought people mnning froni buildings in time to see the Mosquito flash over the aerodronie and lose height and speed in several lazv eirouits. It touched down at 3.5 o'eloek liaving left .Mascot at 11.17 o'clock this morniug.