FINDER OF HELMET

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1928, Page 1

FINDER OF HELMET

•MAY OUT TIUP IX SOUTHL'RX CROSS. ■ Tly Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 17. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith’s Hying helmet on which was pinned the mascot he prizes so much was returned to him under rather novel stances.It was picked up at the Wigrnm Aerodrome on Tuesday morning by Mr R. Armstrong, of 169 Tailored Street, Limvood, in the gor.se hedge through which the airman was pushed by the surging crowd after he got out of the Southern Cross. Mr Armstrong saw Kingsford Smith pushed past him, anil immediately lie felt something under his foot. On stooping down he found that it was a flying helmet and he decided to take it away with- him and return it to the owner at the first opportunity. He was not sure whether the helmet actually belonged to Kingsford Smith, hut when he returned to the city he wrote to him stating that he had picked up a helmet and if it belonged to a member of the crew of the Southern Cross he would return it immediately. He expressed a wish that he should he allowed to retain the mascot, a small black and silver “Felix” cat, which would cost about a shilling only. At that time he knew nothing about the offer of a reward. The helmet was tried on during the day by most of the workers at Mr .Armstrong s place of business. Early in the evening ho was told by a friend that an announcement had been broadcast that Kingsford Smith was offering a reward of £lO for the return of the mascot. As soon as possible after getting the message, Mr Armstrong, accompanied bv his wife, proceeded to the United Service Hotel, where they had an interview with Squadron-leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm. Kingsford Smith was so delighted to get his mascot back that ho was most desirous that Mr and Mrs Armstrong should accept the reward, but they declined to take it saying that they did not come for a reward. He then promised that lie would wear the helmet on his return flight to Sydney, where lie would autograph it and post it back to Mr and Mrs Armstrong. The mascot he declined to part with under any conditions as he explained that lie had had it since the latter part of the war and had taken it with him on nil Ins adventures, lie was so grateful for its return that ho offered to take Mr am .Mrs Armstrong for n flight- in tie Southern Cross if it could possibly he arranged. . dr Armstrong, who is a returnee soldier himself, had a similar mascot while lie was at the war.