A GREAT FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1933, Page 8

A GREAT FLIGHT

by ITALIAN AIRMEN. TO AMERICA AND BACK. ROME, Aug. 12. The air armada returned triumphantly this evening to the air port °l Ostia, having flown in formation irom Italy to America by the sub-Arctic northern route, and reurned by way el the. Azores,

General Balbo’s machine landed at 6.30, and the other 22 followed, shortly after, at one minute intervals. There were two flying boats fewer than sec out. One crashed when landing at Amsterdam, on the outward flight, and one when taking off from the Azores. The machines had left Lisbon at dawn, a lid passed within sight of Tangier and Cartagena. They were delayed on the way by bad weather, b-t at length..the stupendous crowd gather, od on the beach near the air port, siglited the flying boats at 6 20 in the evening. As they-emerged from the horizon cheers from a million throats filled the air and bands struck up the fascist hymn, “Giovinezza.”

MUSSOLINI’S GREETING. Signor Mussolini, in a black shirt with decorations, was standing with the ambassadors of those countries through which the armada had passed on i-s dorld flight. The Duce hastened to the mooring place and smiled as General Balbo left his flying boat and gave the Roman salute. As they embraced each other with fervour the huge crowd in the tribunes inside the airport cried: “Viva Bajbp, Viva Mussolini.” The remaining 2-2 machines alighted like graceful and enormous birds at their mooring posts. Signora Balbo, with her three children, was waiting, and she burst into tears of joy as her husband kissed her.

Meanwhile thero was such cheering from aU along the five-mile stretch of sand that the sound of the engines or the other flying- boats as tliev landed on the water could not be heard. As each pilot and his crew alighted in succession the cheers burst out anew, and then the airmen were introduced, one bv one, to Signor Mussolini by General Balbo.

They afterwards shook hands wtb the envoys, members of the Diplomat! 1 Corps, and other officials, and embraced their relatives. All the time cbee” after went up along the beach, whi b bad been crowded with persons from early morning. Enthusias'm rose to the indescribable heights as the flyers in 24 lar~e open cars, headed by Signor Balbo left the air port" for, the 12 mile drive in procession to Rome. In honour of his achievement, General Balbo has been. made the first' Italian Air Marshal, ard every iri:t r who took part in the flight has been raised one rank. COST OF FLIGHT. The continued delay before the flight ben-on. and .the lesser delay in Amerra, added greatly to the already cost to the Italian Government. Each flying boat cost £15,000. The cost of maintenance of a big flying and ground staff runs ‘into several thousands a week. : ir

On top of flying costs the employment of the trawlers and wireless experts from -England on the northern route ate up thousands more. It is safe to say that the completed flight, must have tost Italy not less than £2,000,000 and there was in addition the costs for hospitality falling on f e Governments and countries which have been visited. The Free State, for instance, maintained at Valentia more than 100* of its army. 50 or more Civm Guards,. the police band, and a sma’l army of post office engineers and telegraphists in readiness to welcome the machines. At Londonderry, the British and Ulster Governments provided experts and machines several weeks before the flyers arrived and several days, during their stay. The costs to Governments other than Italy may be put at £500,000. The flight of 100 men from Italy to Chicago and back must therefore have cost no less than £25,000' a man.