ATLANTIC CROSSED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 232, 23 May 1932, Page 5

ATLANTIC CROSSED

JPress Assn.-

AVlAtRXX BRMkS three RECORDS ON LANDING IN IRELAND TEN HOURS THROUGH STORMS

— By Telegrsiph — Oopyright).

Rec. May 22, 6.50 p.m. LONDON, Saturday. "t've done it, but I am sorry I did inot Hiahe Ffance,'* said Mrs Amelia Erhardt Putnam, who is the acclaimed heiroine . of woman's triumphs in aviation. She celebrated the anniversary of Coionel Lindbergh's epic flight by creating three records; the first woffian to fly the Atlantic aloiie; the first flyer to cross the Atlantic twice ; and coihpleting the distance in the fastest tiihe, 13 hoiirs 15 minuteS, according to her own eomputation, beating Alcott bnd Brown's record; which has stood for 13 years. Mrs Putnam's arrival was as dramatic as the flight, which is notably dangerous. She flew machine considerably over te-n hours in a storm and fog. She alighted in a field near a farmhouse twO miies from Londonderry, and was greeted by Mr. Gallagher, the owner, who was amazed to recognise the red and gold body of which he had just previously read a description. Mrs Putnam hurried to Londonderry to announce her arrival.

Adventurous Journey Three hours after starting, the alti-mete-r stopped functioning, at a height of 1200 feet and therafter she flew low until the weather forced her up. "When four hours out I saw flames shoot from the exhaust, and I thought, 'that's done it.' I found the exhaust manifold burnt out, but the engine stuck it. I had 1000 miles to go. "The weather was good for the start, but became worse with many thunder storms, and iee. began to form on the wings owing to the height. Finally the petrol gauge broke, and I saw the petrol running down the back and I began to fear the fuel would not last the journey. I only saw one vessel, a tanker, off the coast of Ireland, over which I circled, hoping the ship would radio my whereabouts. The storm curtailed the speed of the 'plane." Mrs Putnam said she aimed at Valencia, but hit the middle' of Ireland and flew north, but fearing a petrol shortage, she lande-d when she found a suitable field. Mrs Putnam is receiving worldwide congratulations.