THE CONQUEST OF THE TASMAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3858, 16 October 1928, Page 3

THE CONQUEST OF THE TASMAN.

"SOUTHERN CROSS” SUCCESSFUL IN RETURN TRIP. The "Southern Cross” landed on the Richmond aerodrome, Sydney, at 2.15 a.m. (Sydney time) on Sunday after crossing the Tasman from Blenheim. A huge crowd awaited the arrival of the aviators at the aerodrome and a perfect landing was effected. • First to greet the airmen was "Doc” Maidment, the man who superintended the ’planes engines, whom Kingsford Smith assured the engines had run splendidly. Next came Mrs. Smith, the airman’s mother. Their affectionate meeting was soon ended by the hero-hunting crowd, however, and the personal touch was gone in a twinkling. Smith, Ulm, Litchfield and McWilliams were seized by the cheering, surging crowd and carried shoulder-high across the field till rescued from their too boisterous admirers by a party of police and Air Force men and taken to the shelter of the hangar. It was an amazing welcome. The crowd plunged through the barriers and cheers and motor horns made a wild babel of sound, Avhich almost drowned the roar of the giant Fokker’s engines before they stopped. The airmen at last got free and left for their homes. Mrs. Ulm carried her husband off in triumph. Smith accompanied his family and the other two men found muchneeded rest with friends.

The ,aviators slept soundly till noon yesterday and awoke refreshed and in great spirit. Smith and Ulm motored to Richmond and conversed with the ’drome officials. They received an ovation from thousands of enthusiastic spectators and motorists, who hung around till nightfall. “Smithy” had a hurried glance over the faithful old ’bus, saw everything 0.K., received congratulations from scores of admirers, his arm being stiff with handshaking.

Lieutenant Ulm on behalf of Smith and the crew, gave the Australian Press representative a message for New Zealand: “Delighted to have made a safe journey. We are heartily grateful to the New Zealand Government and Dr. Kidson for their great hospitality and help. We are equally thankful to the people of Blenheim and Marlborough, also the clubs for their hospitality right up to the last minute. Cheerio, New Zealand.” Lieutenant Ulm did not know what became of McWilliams and Litchfield after the landing, and added not more, than 30 gallons of petrol was left ‘in the Southern Cross when it landed. When reminded that “Smithy” had said three gallons, Ulm replied: “No, but I think not more than 30. Anvhow, we have not measured it yet.” The ’plane made the Australian coast at midnight at Newcastle. Thick, heavy weather made the task of groping the way to Richmond difficult. Reports came in rapid succession from various points that the ’plane had been observed, but in the haze there was much uncertainty as to its location until, at 2.15 (Sydney time), • Kingsford Smith brought his ’plane down and made a perfect landing on the brilliantly flood-lighted ’drome, amidst the plaudits of huge crowds who had maintained a night-long vigil. The actual flying time was 22 hours 51 minutes, two hours being occupied on the stage from Newcastle to Richmond coming down the coast, then across North Sydney, westward to the ’drome. kingsford Smith told the crowd they had a 40-mile wind all the way and on the journey from Newcastle, had to turn back to pick up their bearings. The fog also gave trouble. “Never, at any time, did I feel that we would fail, although I knew we were cutting things pretty fine,” he said.

Flight-Lieut. Ulm appeared least affected by the long hours of anxious work aboard the ’plane. Kingsford Smith acknowledged he was dead-beat. He looked haggard and worn, which was no wonder, after the strain of such a journey. When word came that the ’plane had passed over Newcastle, sighs of relief ascended from many breasts, only to be succeeded by a period of tense anxiety, when it appeared, from the ’plane’s long silence, that she had missed the landmarks and was groping through the black night to find them. Then came reports that the Southern Cross had passed over Woy Woy, W’yong and Gosford. The airmen asked if there was a fog over Richmond, and were told “No.” Another hiatus followed, lasting nearly an hour, till a little before two o’clock, a message came that the petrol was practically down to the last drop and the craft must land soon and hoped to do so at 2.15. At 1.55 a.m., the ’plane passed over Roseville, on the North Shore line and just 20 minutes later, these argonauts of the air came out of the dark into the effulgence of many powerful floodlights positioned around Richmond aerodrome. The ’plane’s huge wings were silhouetted against the faint background of the night sky that had grown grey, as the clouds showed rifts here and there. “Smithy,” brought the Southern Cross down gently, as if doing an exercise in hroad daylight. It was a perfect landing and a fitting end to a wonderful adventure. Among the incidents of the evening at Richmond, the one of a most startling character was the failure of the flood-lighting system

from ten o’clock to 11.30 o’clock. The mechanics worked feverishly till the light was restored. The danger of their absence if the ’plane arrived before they were restored was fully realised and motor-cars were ranged round the

field, with headlights blazing, while the huge red flares were burned high in the air to mark the danger zone. Fortunately, the lights were restored in ample time. When the ’plane appeared, further aid to her pilot was afforded by the ignition of a number of oil and petrol flares, which created great black smoke streams, indicating the direction and strength of the wind. All these precautions proved most valuable and the airmen feel greatly indebted for the great work they did. Smith paid a warm tribute to the skill of McWilliams and Litchfield, and added, “Mae did wonderful work.” The leader found words inadequate to express his appreciation of the New Zealand people and Government. Interviewed in Sydney yesterday, Smith and Ulm stated that they intended returning to U.S.A. at an early date but not by air, except, perhaps, from Honolulu. HISTORIC FLIGHTS. FOUR MONTHS’ ACHIEVEMENTS. Following is a summary of the achievements of Kingsford Smith and the Southern Cross during the last four and a-haif months: — June 1, 3 a.m.: Left Oakland, California. June 2, 6 a.m.: Arrived Honolulu, 2420 miles, in 27 hours 25 minutes. June 4, 1.30 a.m.: Left Honolulu.. June 5, 12.20 p.m.: Arrived Suva, Fiji; 3290 miles, in 34 hours 50 minutes. ■ June 8, 1 p.m.: Left Suva. June 9, 10.14 a.m.: Arrived Brisbane, 1881 miles, in 21 hours 14 minutes. Total mileage, trans-Pacific flight, 7591 miles; actual flying time, 83 hours 29 minutes. June 10, 10.10 a.m.: Left Brisbane 3.5 p.m.; arrived Sydney, 585 miles. August 11, noon: Left Melbourne on trans-Australian flight. , August 12, 9.15 a.m.: Arrived Perth, West Australia, 2000 miles, in 23 hours 24 minutes. August 26: Left Perth. August 27: Arrived Adelaide. August 28: Left Adelaide and arrived Sydney. September 10, 5.30 p.m. (Eastern Australian time) : Left Sydney for Christchurch, 1660 miles; arrived September 11, 9.20 a.m. (New Zealand time). September 14-25: Toured Dominion in Bristol fighters; Christchurch - Blenheim - Wellington - Hawera - Auckland - Wanganui - Blenheim - Christchurch. September 25: Southern Cross arrived at Blenheim from Christchurch. October 13, 4.51 a.m.: Left Blenheim for Sydney. October 14, 3.47 a.m. (New Zealand standard time) : Arrived Sydney, 1534 miles, in 22 hours 51min.