HAWAHAN FLIERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1925, Page 1

HAWAHAN FLIERS.

A LIB FAT OVATION. I_Australia .V N.Z. Cable Association. | HONOLULU. Sept. fl. (• reeled by the entire- population of Kauai, the aviators oil the seaplane P.N. I were towed ashore al Diliili lasi night “in govd loiulilion. "ell. and happy.'' a( cording to a message inter-

cepted here. They were found at a point -lot) miles west of the spot where they were forced down, having drifted more slowly than the navy calculations indicated. The wings of tin- seaplane were badly .smashed, bin the bull was intact. \fter ib-- plain- dropped anchor in the harbour "here 1 hey were lowed by a submarine, ihe Inn- broke and the eraft drifted into the breakers on a coral reef. The crew refused to leave the plane .mt il she had been brought safely ashore. Heavily burdened ami tanned, the men showed the strain of their nine day's drill. They were without food or water supplies for four days. The fabric which was torn off the machine by the biilTeiiug of the waves, was nscil to eotcli jiiio. i lon v v seas mailmatters imrnmfnrtaMe for the live men, but only one day of rough weather was experienced, according in (‘oimnandei- Rodgers. The aii-erafi lender Pecan has gone to Kauai in tow P.N. I a distance of !)o miles to Pearl Harbour, where a great ovation awaits the crew. SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 11.

Captain Moses, Flight Project Commander. niimumrc.s the plane P.B. I. will attempt the Hawaiian Might, probably leaving about Seot-ember 2L-t . w lieu i lie w ---it her him ch-a red, P.B. I lias sue; essl'ully eoiiipli-ted a lest [light carrying IDt‘o gallons ot petrol, or 71.'i gallons more than P.N. 10 carried.

thi: (■(i.mm.wdkh's story. Hn.NTti.ri.T. Sip!. n. ( omniait.!i i' ■l■ >ii■ i R"( Igor-. who :ifeordiiig in ;i Wii.'liinglou de-patch has !ifrii apfiiintcil Assi-tnnt Chief of the Bureau el Aeronaut to-. in recognition .if lII' i olulurt i'l tlf I Might, gave a he mil'- Version nt the crow experience, while "missing.” "We saw (me merchant ship." he said, "and ue glimpsed one aeroplane. Ihe uor-i ea I her was oil Ihe third dav when it rained. Cut the plane rode the

are-' well, and aside front the wetting uc did led suffer. We spread a canvas in : 1 1* 1 1 some water for drinkinn:. We had no tend alter the ioiirth dav. as wo had not, slinted niir-elv

mi the emergency rations we carried All tile time We Wel'e confident ot he inn re-eimd —-a ml we were. 'I hat a I old. all i here is to ii.’’

Messages sent hy sea rehi ng planes and ships were heard hy P.N I. which could not respond, because her anieun e had dropped under water. “fins IM). I linn! e a successful iliu:1 1 1■ to Hawaii !" "as one ol the li rst questions tlm fliers asked their

In his first ollicial statement. Commander Ifod.ners said- “We were forced to land titty miles north of .Arons. ToU positions. They was gave old. hilling the engines radio transmission. We made a perfect landing. W'e then cut the fahrie I'r.nn the lower wing ami rigged up a jury mainsail. We sailed before the wind, endeavouring to nuihe Oahu. We lunde fifty miles a, day. We passed Oahu at Id miles distance on the eighth day. We close hauled for Kauai and readied a point fifteen miles off Xawi.iili. We were frying to signal when the submarine picked us up. Vie then had sailed tIK) miles tinder the jury rig. The plane, behaved well at all times. The only miscarriage in our plan was due to our failure to find the ship selected to refuel. Our only concern was water."

(Tnnamnder Rodgers and his. crew completed the journey to Hawaii on Thursday night.

They have arrived at Pearl TTarbour on tlu* destroyer AlaeDonnugh, receiving a great welcome. While Lite world read the story of their adventures. Commander Rodgers and his crew rested on Friday. Technically the flight was completed. a> the cow stayed on the seaplane until it grounded, after being afloat for did hours.

The aviators were ordered t.> Pearl Ilarlmur Hospital to rest and sleep. The plane P.N. 1 covered eighteen hundred miles by air and three hundred on the surface of the ocean. She was salvaged almost intact. There was still some food aboard, but it was unpalatable.

Great praise is given to Commander Rodgers, who lias been promoted to be Assistant Chief of the Navy Human of Aeronautics.

The crow are rctioieni as to the cause of the failure, but the actual conditions differed to the preliminary