AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1928, Page 2

AVIATION

ITALIA’S EXPEDITION. A HIGH TRIBUTE. Australian Press Assn.—United Service LONDON, August 18. Professor Behounek, of Czeeho-Slov-akia, the Italia survivor, continuing his story of the Polar flight, said:— An unfavourable winter, which cannot be foreseen, can defeat the bestorganised expedition ; whereas, favourable circumstances will work wonders. The splendidly organised German Polar expedition came to grief some years ago on those very icefields, where we lived for a month without either weapons, hoots or medicines. AYorsley, on the other hand, blithely sailed in a yacht through the very waters where the Ivrassin, the world’s biggest icebreaker, smashed its way through towards us by superhuman efforts.

Professor Behounek again pays tributes to the bravery of the Italian engineers, Wat cola and Albertini; to the airmen, Sora, Vandongen, Larsen, Holm and Lundborg; and to Professor Samnilovitch and others associated with the Krnssin.

The professor points out that the airship Norge flew 14,000 kilometres without an accident, and says that it would have been flying now if it had had a hangar in Alaska. “At the end of its flight,” he adds, “ the whole world praised the Norge, and its inventor, General Nobile. The Italia was the same type of airship, and it is unfortunate that it was wrecked after the two flights during which eight thousand kilometres entirely in the Polar regions, and two thousand kilometres over unexplored territory, were covered. Valuable scientific materials were saved, and yet widespread criticism has been levelled at General Nobile whose unhappiness had already been great enough.

Professor Behounek says that he is still full of hope regarding Amundson, Guilband, Dietrichson, Decubervillc, Valletta and Brasey. He specially extols the tireless work and the loyal comradeship of the Italia’s wireless operator, Bragi.

U.S.A. FLIERS MISSING. OTTAWA, Aug. 19. Late on Sunday the Hassell plane had not been reported-by the Government ardio stations. It was due, in the event of no mishap, at Greenland on Sunday morning. NEW YORK, Aug. 20. A message from Rockford, Illinois, states: “No sign of Hassell yet. Long overdue.” These words were radioed from Aft. Evans in Greenland on Sunday night. Apparently they rang the knell of the flight and the plane. THE MISSING HASSELL. ' VANCOUVER, August 20. The gasoline supply for Hassall’s machine must have been exhausted many hours ago. Leaving Cockraine on Saturday, the radio was heard regularly while the machine was crossing Northern Quebec, then traversing Labrador and the fringes of Ungava, but no word lias been received since they left the continental coastline for the jump across iceberg-infested seas between the mainland and Greenland Coast: What has happened to them is a matter for conjecture. MISSING ’PLANE. OTTAWA, August 20. The Canadian Government stations arc exercising a constant vigilance for news (if the missing Rockford plane. Continual long and "short wave length messages are being sent out lrom Belle Isle, Straight Lake, Port 'Burwill and Wakeham Bay stations. If the fliers have crashed in Canadian territory they will have considerable difficulty in finding their way out as the country over which they flew was barren and practically uninhabited.

SOUTH FIIN CROSS. PERTH, August 21

Fine weather has returned and Maylands aerodrome has so improved that the Southern Cross will hop off to-day for Tannnin, where a full load of petrol and also McWilliams and Litchfield will he taken aboard. The flight to Adelaide will begin about five p.m. Kingsford Smith expects to arrive at Adelaide on Wednesday morning at 8 o’clock Adelaide time. The meteorologist predicts rain for the whole journey, but Smith is desirous of losing no more time.

ACROSS AAI ERICA FLIGHT. NEW YORK, August 20.

Art Goebel, winner of the Dole Hawaiian flight, landed at 11.26 this morning on a non-stop flight from Los Angeles, covering the distance in 18 hours, 58 minutes, bettering the former record for an east-to-west flight by more than six hours.