ATLANTIC FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1930, Page 5

ATLANTIC FLIGHT

THE FLIERS RUSHED,

BY CROWD AT THE FIELD

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyrght.J

NEW YORK, June 26

A crowd of about five thousand people followed behind the fliers as tlley wore 'being led from their machine, and these then surrounded the pavilion, which, unfortunately, "'as Iroin two sides, protected by a stout metal fence.

The police cleared the doorway, and then a line of automobiles to carry the party back a distance of twenty miles to the city was drawn up in front of the door, with the police striving to keep a path open to the machines.

The Southern Gross, which looked clean and uumarred after . its strenuous trip, was immediately hitched to a tractor, and was towed into a hangar. A large ground crew were keeping the souvenir hunters off. Owing to the late arrival of the Southern Gross, all of the plans for a reception by the Mayor in New York City were cancelled. The fliers are going immediately to the Hotel Roosevelt in New York City, to rest, and to-morrow, 'in their street clothes, they will go to the City Hall in the forenoon for the civic reception

PLANE’S LUCK

ESCAPES TERRIFIC STORM

NEW YORK, June 2(5

Just after the aviators left Roosevelt field in the motors for the city, a great thunderstorm broke over the field, with terrific lightning, which had the Southern Cross been slightly delayed, would probably have made her landing extremely hazardous. A message from Oakland, California, states that plans are under way to erect a monument here in commemoration of Kingsford Smith’s exploits 1 in the Southern Cross.

SMITH INTERVIEWED.

SUCCESS DUE TO ORGANISATION

NEW YORK, June 26

Kingsford Smitli, when interviewed bv the newspaper men, said that bis condition was excellent, except for the deafness, which was a usual tiling and was not a cause for worry. “I was really in fine shape when I left this morning.” he said, “but now I begin to feel tired.” Asked whether his Atlantic or his Pacific flight was the more difficult, he said: ‘‘The navigation of the Pacific was the more difficult, but the weather over the Atlantic. was & greater trial.” Asked to what he attributed his success, he said; “To our splendid organisation’!’ Then he added: “It will be better next time.” However he declined to explain what “next time” meant.

Smith denied that their instruments were unreliable during the had hours over Newfoundland. “The instruments,” he said, “were not altogether bad.”

SMITH’S TRIBUTE TO PLANE,

NEAV YORK, June 27

Kingsford Smith, in his own story, said: “AVe knew before we started that our engines would stay with us, and they did. AA r e knew that we would get head winds, and we got them; but we did not anticipate any. delay in setting the wheels of the faithful old machine on the soil of the United States, nor did we anticipate any intervening landing. That plane has carried me, with the. same motors, close to eighty thousand miles since it left Oakland a year ago. It has flown al! of the oceans but the polar oceans. It has carried me safely over the deserts of Australia, over American, jungles, over India and Burma, and over towns and cities of Europe and it still has ft lot of flying left.”

GOING TO CHICAGO,

NEAV YORK. June 20

Pilot A"an Dyk said: “AA T e are going to Chicago on Saturday morning and thence we will go to San Francisco.” Asked whether the roughness of the crowd had frightened him, because he appeared reluctant to leave the fusilage, \ T an Dyk said: “I enjoyed the roughness ” 'Plie reporters were commenting on the fliers’ lack of luggage. A’an Dyk th»n said brightly, “we will buy some!”

SAUL’S COMMENT

NEAV YORK, June 27

Navigator SauJ seated that although he carried a photograph of his fiancee, Miss Zena March ant, of Dublin, and frequent memories of his daughter Pat, lie didn’t have much time to think. “I was too busy,” he said. “No, I clidn’ get sleepy and we had plenty to eat!”

STANNAGE PRAISES THE SET

NEAV YORK, June 27

Radio Operator Stannage had little to say for himself, hut remarked:— “That set is the finest thing I have ever seen. He admitted that he got

a bit sleepy towards the end and that his fist was a bit uncertain.

NO EAST-WEST ROUTE

NEW YORK, June 26

Pilot Van Dyk stated: “A real east to \wc.sifci transatlantic plane route Iron) Europe to America ? No | Never 1 That is as impossible as the devil. Head winds all the way, and fog fog. fog! Perhaps a southern route by the Azores, but mirth? No! No! No' Blind flying is no fun!”

cause of the hold-up

NEW YORK. June 26

Colonel Fitzmauriee, of the plane Bremen (the first to cross the Atlantic from east to west) stated: "Mo had the same experience round Labrador. It is a local condition, prevalent there as well as at Newfoundland. and it is due to the fact that the Isoponie- lines all converge towards Newfoundland, with the result that you get big changes in the magnetic variations in short distances, making it impossible to make proper corrections for the difference between true north and the magnetic north.

HIGH PRAISE,

FROM LEADING AMERICANS,

WASHINGTON. June 20

Upon the arrival of the .Southern Cross at New York, Mr Davidson, Assistant, United States Secretary for War. and Major-General Fechet, Chief of the Army Air Corps, telegraphed their congratulations. Mr Davidson said : “Hearty congratulations, on the splendid airmanship of yourself and your associates in piloting the Southern Cross to the United States. In the successful completion of your flight, you have made a new and important entry in the international ocean airways log, Your pioneering effort lias won world-wide acclaim and admiration.”

General Fetcliet stated; “The United’States Army Air Corps salutes you upon your splendid attainment, and welcomes the Southern Gross on her return to American soil. C'ongratulatios fo yourself and youp crew.

PAPER’S TRIBUTE

IN BASEBALL PARLANCE

NEW YORK, June 27

The New York Morning,World, in a lending article, states:- These fliers made their “home run;”! a “clean, smash out of the park” and if there is one thing which this country does not need to have explained to it, it is a “home run.” We have the chance here to be glad, and God knows we need ft,; and i we have the chance to extend »v welcome to men who have finished-a pretty tough job, and they must need it too.”

NEW YORK’S WELCOME

THE AIRMEN HONOURED

(Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 27.

At a civic reception, Maydfi Walker handed a scroll of honour to Kingsford SmithfC- “Greetings and' congratulations from the : people of New York city, Speaking :• through :me their chief executive, they take pride in honouring you for t-he gallant feat you hftve'-'jfi'st nooompiished? s You bo ve added thus; sir, another brighter laurel to the wreath which you have already won. Our; people are well aware of the wonderful record you have achieved as an air .soldier with the A.TA.E. on Gallipoli, and in France. AA r e are thrilled by your flight across the Pacific and we hail ou as conqueror of the Atlantic. It is such deeds as yours performed, not for vain glory, but in the Interest of science, that forge new links of bonds, amity, an.d concord.

Take then this, scroll as an earnest of our peoples very real since welcome to you and your gallant ship.” The Mayor’s address of welcome was broadcast throughout the nation.

Smith’s reply was prefixed with remarks of apology that he was a flier and not an orator. He took, the occasion to develop a phrase from the Mayor’s address to the effect that this was not a “stunt flight.” The flier said : “I have no patienee with stunt flying, and T am glad the Mayor stressed the fact that there were serious scientific aspects of such a venture as ours.”

The Mayor then decorated the four fliers with medals.

A GREAT RECEPTION

(Received this day at- 10.30 n.m.)

NEAV YORK, June 27

The four fliers, all in new clothes, fresh blue serge suits, and clearly very fit again after a good, night’s rest, were met by the- Mayor's reception eommitee at Hotel Roosevelt- shortly after noon and preceded by a squadron of mounted police were escorted down Broadway from Forty-fourth Street into the City Hall Square. The fliers, who were seated on top of a folded down automobile, waved to thousands that lined the street on both sides. The City Hall Square was jammed for hours before the arrival of the celebrants, and immediately upon their appearance, from skyscrapers surrounding tin- square a rain of torn paper descended upon them. The eastern face of AA’oolwich building appeared ns if there were a snow storm, although the temperature was nearly 100.

Aim Dyk. turning to the Mayor as the latter welcomed the fliers on the steps of the city hall, said:—“l like this weather both r than North Atlantic weather.”

After the reception the fliers were taken to a civic luncheon. Although Kingsford Smith is desirous of departing for the west to-morrow, it is considered likely that his advisers here will ask him to remain over the week-

end, and hope also to secure his approval "for a tour of the country. Jt is understood that after the Californian Flight, Smith will dispose of the Southern Cross.

TO VISIT ME HOOVER

WASHINGTON', June 27

TC mgs ford Smith and crew of the Southern Cross will be received uy Mr Hoover on Monday. The Southern Cross wil fly here from Roosevelt Field. Diplomatic representatives of the fliers’ country will present the men.