KINGSFORD SMITH

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1931, Page 14

KINGSFORD SMITH

ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND

INCIDENTS OF FLIGHT

TIGER AND TURKEY

(United Proas Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received Bth October, 2 p.m.) LONDON, 7th October. Air Commodore Kingsford Smith has arrived at Heston from Rome and proceeded to London. Sitting in a luxurious suite at Dorchester House Hotel, Park Lane, overlooking Hydo Park, collar less, with the sleeves of a greasy buff sweater rolled up, KinggfoTd Smith later told the Australian Press Association representative of his adventurous flight from Wyndham, in which exasperating illluck prevented the attainment of a record. Bmith looked remarkably well, despite his trying experiences, but the deep coating of tan hid traces of what must have been a nerve-wracking ordeal. ... The airman, maintaining his Australian reputation for express train punctuality, landed at Heston, according to schedule, at 5.30 p.m. His welcomers included the airmen J. A. Molhson, Oscar Garden, Captain J. P. Saul, his navigator of the transatlantic flight, Squadron-Leader Marsden, representing the High Commissioner of New Zealand, and the airwomen Miss Jean Batten and Mrs. Victor Bruce. , A quarter of an hour after his arrival his face broke into a smile when he ■was informed that his wife was waiting at the wireless telephone in Melbourne. He waß engaged in five minutes' happy conversation, and then ate ft, meal of poached eggs before being driven to London, where revelling in- the ease of a deep armchair after a strnggle ■ against sleep, he talked freely of. his .adventures. He explained that the landing in Turkey was a case of either coming down or fainting in the air with the possibility of disastrous results. "I came down eight miles from Mil**, hoping to snatch a rest and push on before the authorities found me. I lay. down in a leathor coat beside my machine.-When I awoke I found villagers grouped round me. Then the police arrived and I knew the chance of breaking the record was gone.'.' "They had never seen an aeroplane before. Soldiers guarded me the first night. Then, when I explained that I was an officer in my own country, a good-natured officer took charge, until the British Embassy secured my release." . The sunstroke. sustained over thja Bay of Bengal, through what he admitted. was his own carelessness in not wearing the proper tropical flying helmet, worried him throughout the trip. it made him feel so light-headed that he felt like jumping out of his machine. The most unnerving experience of the" flight was-the forced landing on the beach near Victoria Point. He went to the jungle to gather timber to prop.up the machine and prevent the rising tide from damaging ( it, when suddenly he heard a tiger growl. "I covered two hundred yards of the beach in twenty seconds," said Smith, "clambered; into the cockpit, and remained there until morning. I had no sleep that night." Smithes nervous system would not stand the strain of an immediate flight home. He is seeing a doctor to-mor-row; - His plans depended largely on the doctor's advice, but he is hopeful of .starting next week. He is confident of breaking tho Anglo-Australian record. ■ .