AVIATOR’S RETURN

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1932, Page 8

AVIATOR’S RETURN

CHICHESTER AT WELLINGTON

HLS EXPERIENCES IN THE EAST

WELLINGTON, December 4

An interesting account of his experi- ' ences.since he left New Zealand in March last ycai} on his trans-Tasman flight via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands was given by Mr F. C. Chichester, the Wellington airman, wno leturned from England by the Kuahine yesterday. After recovering from the worst of the injuries lie received when h© crashed in Japan, Mr Chichester went to England and recuperated in Devou|mM, .Jbe has come back looking fit jpd^wi'^&d.is ?till wear.ng the beard ail l grew whne in Sydney|. Mr ChtqSester said that the flig'ti from Australia to Japan was most in- ? teresting, especially the trip over t;,e head-hunters’ territory in New Guinea. jj V remarkable feature of that part of the flight was the formation of thei youiniy in tne .ntenor, •wnich appea.ed to be in drains and ridges, evidence possibly of an ancient civilisation. As j he was flying solo, however, his photo-1 graphs were net very good, but lie had, sent one to the lloyal Geographic-; al Society, which intended to make in- : vestigations.

Before lie undertook the flight over New Guinea, Mr Chichester was warned that in the event of a forced landing it would be only a matter of hours before he was eaten by the cannibals.. He carried a pistol, but realised it would be of little use against the bows •and arrows of the natives, who are marvellously proficient in their us\ Fortunately lie had no trouble on the flight. While at Merauke, on the coast of New Guinea, he saw some cannibals in' prison. They belonged to the hill tribes who were in the habit of coming clown to he low country and carrying off anyone they could “for the scewpot.’’ The authorities did not execute those who were caught,, but 1 gave them a term in prison. From New Guinea, Mr Chichester went to the Aru Islands, lying to the west, and then on to tie Spice Islands. As-he was flying a seaplane he was able to visit many ports and rivers where <a. flying machine had not previously been seen. A seaplane was essent.al for such a flight, he said, although it was harder to fly, and entailed a colossal amount of maintenance, in addition to reducing the range. The next stage of the leisurely journey was to the Philippine Islands, then on to Formosa, Shanghai, and Japan. Up to this point Mr Chichester had had a certain amount cf engine trouble best no serious, mishap. It was while ’lie was circling the Japanese town of Katsura that his machine ran into a number of telephone wires stretched between two hills, and‘ nose-dived into the ground from a height of 150 feet,' He received numerous injuries, and the seaplane was 'Completely wrecked; Skilful medical treatment -by a Japanese doctor scion had him out cf danger, and within a month he had recovered sufficiently to leave for Home, where •he' settled down quietly in Devonshire and wrote a book on the trans-Tasman flight. Mr Chichester said he proposed to write another book on the flight from -Australia, to Japan, ..and in the meantime lie would not d 0 any serious flying. When he-set out from Australia he hod in' mind a -solo flight over Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Iceland, to England, and if the opportunity offered in future to make such a trip he would not hestitate to undertake it.

-While he was in England, Mr Chichester met Wing Commander S. GrantDalton, formerly Director of Air Services in New Zealand, who said -he hoped to return to. the Dominion if circumstances permitted. Squadron Leader G. L. Stedman, pilot-instructor of the Wellington Aero Club, gave Mr Chichester an airman’s Welcome by flying over the Ruahjne in the stream and stunting for several minutes.