RETURN FLIGHT TO AMERICA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 66, 5 April 1937, Page 9

RETURN FLIGHT TO AMERICA

-■PresB AsaociaMon.I

Clipper Leaves Auckland at Dawn THRILLING SIGHT

(Bs Teleeraph-

( AUCKLAND, Last Night. J J fipeeding northward into the dark-1 (ness 'Pan-Ameriean Clipper left Auok-I ,'land' before dawn this inorning on the! •first stage of her return survey flight1 .acrosS the Paciflc. She made a perfect1, Itaketoff in the Rangitoto channel at! (4.18. The predictions. that the early morn-j ing departure'would provide a spectaclej unprecedented in New Zodland aviati.m. were amply fulfilled. Even after thej disappointment of Saturday thousands; gathered on the waterfront hefore dawni jand saw the giant silver craft sui'cpl [from the water in the Rangitoto chan-; nel, circle the city like a giant lrrides-j cent dragonfly and then speed norfch-' iward into the clouds over the Hauraki' Gulf. i The crowds began to arrive at the, j waterfront before midnight and as the' | j hours passed there was a constant j (stream of cars, necessitating the posting I (of several traffic officers to direct tio | 'i>arking. Many o !' the spectators ar-; ! (rived in evening dress and it ivas j lobvious that cabaret and night club Iparties had been carrisl on eheeriully so that their members cpuld fill in the, (time before the Clipper's departure. Theie was a medley of radio musie from mctof-cars and oecasional groups were gathered round young men with guitars and banjos to conipeto in song, Shortly after three o'cloc^ «. iaunch, and dinghy fussed up uuder the bulk: of the flying-boat and by the glare of( strong lights slipped tho craft from her, , moorings. A. few minuter later the, ' th'.!usands watching saw the three-, bl&ded screw of the outdoard starboard' motor jerk into activily. tjjon thei .thrree other propellers were turniiig! :over and then the Clipper, swingiug out' ;from the bav, followed her pilot lauaeh! •i,.-wn the harbour. a few minutes'after four o'clock a green Verey light! was. fired from the pilot launch in the distanco. The navigation iights on tiie ■wings of the Clipper could be seen to swmg round and an answeriug green iiare from the cockpit pickefl out the •fiymg-boat's position. Seagulls were quarroiiing noisily , fround Orakei wharf, but suddenly the •roar of the Clipper 's engines coming, ^cross five miles of water broke througk, , itheir strident voices. The lights of the, Clipper could be seen to.move diown the ! runway gathering speed almost in-, ! jcredibly and then the giant craft was! j 'off, the . series of lights showing upl | against the dull maas of Rangitoto. ' The Clipper turned s^id gradually she gained height. She circled over the | city and the triumphant symphony oi ' power and speed drew many to the ■windows and balconioe to see her pass. ', ; Banking gently to the right and at o| j (height of about 1500 feet, she flashed! I through the sky in the direction of' | (Devonport, streamers of flame showing j from her exhausts. Then she turned | again and all that could be seen was j the .line of lights and exhaust flames : growing fainter and fainter until in less than five minutes they disappeared into the cloudy darkness.