Tasman Sea Again Conquered

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 January 1931, Page 5

Tasman Sea Again Conquered

SURPRISE FLIGHT FROM SYDNEY PILOT MENZIES REACHES NEW ZEALAND

CRASHES IN SWAMP IN WESTLAND AVIATOR ESCAPES INJURY: MACHINE DAMAGED

Late yesterday afternoon, definite information was received from Sydney that Guy Menzies had hopped off at 1 o’clock that morning for New Zealand in the, Southern Cross Junior, in which Kingsford Smith (the first to conquer the Tasman Sea by air) flew from England to Australia. After “The Mail” was published a Press Association “extraordinary’’ stated that the ’plane crashed at Herepo, fifty miles south of Hokitika, but the pilot was unhurt.

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

Smith’s Southern Cross Junior ’plane on Christmas Eve, but the fact (hat tho sale had been negotiated was not broadcast and the new owner told his family his objective was to make a record flight to Perth. Nothing else was divulged about his plans and when late last evening the ’plane was wheeled out at Mascot and the airmail placed on hoard two days’ food and five days’ water with petrol sufficient for eighteen hours’ flight, it struck no one as unusual.

WELLINGTON, 7th January. News of the arrival in New Zealand of the Southern Cross Junior was promptly received in Wellington by tho Secretary of the General Post Office. The Postmaster at Greymouth telegraphed at 3.20 p.m. that an aeroplane was reported as having landed near Hari Hari a few minutes ago, and sixteen minutes later he transmitted advice from the Postmaster at Ross stating that Okarito (eighty•t-lireo miles south of Hokitika) reported at 2.45 p.m. that an aeroplane had circled the township and dropped a note which was not located. At 3.15 p.m. it was reported that tho aeroplane landed near Berry’s property, at Hari Hari. Details, however, were lacking at the moment; but eleven minutes later Greymouth transmitted further news from Ross announcing that the Southern Cross Junior crashed in a swamp on Mr A. Wall’s property at Herepo. Pilot Menzies was unhurt but the areoplane was slightly damaged. At 4.18 Greymouth telegraphed: “The Postmaster at Ross reports that he has now been speaking on the telephone to Pilot Menzies, who has confirmed the previous report of the crash and states he is now at Mr J. Hewer’s residence and intends coming north as soon as possible to make arrangements for repairing the machine.”

Quietly farewelling his. immediate friends and relatives amidst band in age about meeting so and so in Perth. Menzies donned. his flying helmet and goggles, handed letters to his father, arid entered the cockpit. Presently the Southern Cross Junior •ose and mounted quickly and disappeared over Botany Bay, after which in the pale moonlight it must have straightened out on an easterly course for New Zealand.

The little knot of people at the aerodrome were not aware of this change until the letters wore opened. Then dramatic surprise soon gave place to apprehension. Still no inkling of what really happened was allowed to leal* out. Efforts made to warn shipping *n the Tasmai* presumably led to New Zealand learning that the Southern Cross Junior was on the wing and the supposition that Kingsford Smith was piloting ifc - ~ Sydney newspapers were equally unaware of the sensation originating right under their noses till hurry calls from New Zealand awoke them to active inquiry. No permission to make the flight was sought from the' Civil Aviation Department and Superintendent Burgess says none was actually needed as no lives were at stake other than the pilot s. The matter had been reported to headquarters, but Superintendent Burgess doubted if any action would be taken.

TO TOUR DOMINION

SYDNEY, 7th January,

Mr C. A. James, who possesses an interest in the Southern Cross Junior, had a--radiophone conversation with Menziesr .to-night, hut at the letters hearing'-was affected by the noise ot the propeller i it was not veiy satisfactory. James, however, was pleased to learn from Menzies that the plane was not very badly damaged. Mr James sails for New Zealand on Friday. The Southern Cross Junior will bo flown to all parts of the Dominion.

UNADVERTISED DEPARTURE

REAL OBJECTIVE DISCLOSED

AFTER START

(United Press Association—l!y Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, .7th January. Guy Menzies, a B. class pilot, astonished officials and friends by his unadvertised departure on the hazardous Tasman flight, the wisdom of which is questioned. Lie told his friends lie was going to attempt a non-stop flight to West Australia. Just before the takeoff lie handed letters to his brother which on perusal after the flight had begiih disclosed that the real objective was New Zealand. Only half-a-dozen saw the start and-news , of tho. sensational character of ■ the flight was not known till hours afterward. LTlm, who sold the machine Jo Menzies, knew nothing of the buyer’s intention. • Menzies is the son of a Sydney doctor, and is aged about thirty-four.

UNHERALDED FLIGHTS

SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED COURAGE NOT QUESTIONED SYDNEY, 7th January. Menzies had 800 hours’ flying to his credit and lately he had been engaged m private flying with Captain Holden. News of Menzies’ arrival in New Zealand was published in Sydney at 3 o’clock this afternoon, long before most people had any knowledge of his departure. . Dim was completely surprised when told the flight had begun. He considered it should not have been allowed owing to the unreasonable risk, but Menzies had proved the machine so his chances were good provided weather continued favourable. Menzies had told him he had no intention of trying the New Zealand flight, but wanted to break the Melbourne-Perth record and later to fly to Japan. Comment in various quarters, while shorn of some of its ascerbity by news of the safe arrival, is still definite that such unheralded flights should be discouraged. No one would deny the courage of fliers which leads to achievement, but these flights involve a good deal ot responsibility and anxiety on the part of other people who as a matter of common humanity must take what steps are practicable to render aid in case ot possible accident. All this entails loss of time and much expense,for no useful purpose, but simply to help some hairbrained notoriety seeker on to a momentary pinnacle of fame.

“THANK YOU KINDLY”

MOTHER’S COMMENT ON SAFE ARRIVAL

FLIGHT A TREMENDOUS SURPRISE SYDNEY, 7th January. When a newspaper reporter. on the Sydney “Morning Herald” this afternoon telephoned Menzies’ mother saving her son had arrived in New Zealand, she icplied: “Thank you kindly. It is wonderful to know he is safe. She added. “We knew absolutely nothing about the flight till Guy’s brother informed us at 6 o’clock this morning. It was a tremendous surprise to us and naturally we were a little nervous. That is possibly whv he kept his plans so secret. She waif not even aware that. Guy had bought the Southern Cross Junior. An evening newspapers hiHbo.HU feature the flight ‘ Lone Sydney fl*e crosses Tasman and crashes m Now Zealand.’ The whole city is amazed at the successful accomplishment of tl daring mystery flight by so youthful an aviator.

FAME OVERNIGHT

'PLANE RECENTLY PURCHASED plans not divulged SYDNEY, 7th January. At the ago of 21 Guy Menzies, a son of a Drummoyne doctor, has sprung into fame Morally overnight nv making a successful crossing of the Tasman Sea m dramatic circumstances recalling ~mdbergh’s Atlantic flight when lie pulled up at Lc Bourget. with the laconic announcement “I’m Lindbergh..” Pilot Menzies bought Kingsford