CHEERING THRONG SEES LAST OF AIRMAN IDOL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 57, 30 May 1927, Page 9

CHEERING THRONG SEES LAST OF AIRMAN IDOL

LINDBERGH LEAVES PARIS WILL SEE DERBY RUN By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright PARIS, Sunday. The American airman, Captain Charles Lindbergh, who recently flew from New York to Paris, prior to his departure for Brussels superintended the work of refilling the fuel tank and the final adjustments to his machine. He then signed the “Golden Book” at the Le Bourget aerodrome with his oil-stained hand. An enormous crowd cheered enthusiastically as it watched his departure. A squad of military planes escorted him as he flew over Paris, where the roofs and streets were packed with cheering crowds. He dropped a message of thanks to the people of Paris. As he flew over Senlis he dropped a message saluting the courage of the town in the recent war. The airman was welcomed at Brussels with equal cordiality by tens of thousands of people, who cheered when he was driven through the streets to the memorial to the Unknown Soldier Airmen, on which he laid a wreath. The King and Queen of the Belgians received Captain Lindbergh and the King gave him the decoration of the Cross of the Knighthood of the Order of Leopold. A message from London says the numbers of men and women who will greet Captain Lindbergh at the Croydon aerodrome will be almost unlimited. The American Ambassador, Mr. A. B. Houghton, the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Samuel Hoare, and Lady Hoare, and many other prominent people, will welcome the distinguished airman. When Captain Lindbergh flies to London from Brussels on Monday two large British air liners will accompany him to the Croydon aerodrome, and Royal Air Force machines will meet him over the English coastline. He will be given an official welcome and on Wednesday will be received by King George. The programme will include a luncheon in his honour on Tuesday and a visit to Epsom to see the race for the Derby on Wednesday. —A. and N.Z.

GREAT SERVICE FLIGHT

ENGLAND TO SINGAPORE SIX MACHINES TO START By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Saturday. The greatest flight that has ever been undertaken by an air service in any country will be begun in October, when six super-marine Southampton flying boats will set out from England for Singapore. They will be under the command of Wing-Commander T. R. Cave-Brown-Cave. The Southampton machines will have *metal hulls, and be fitted with two Napier engines. Each will have a crew of five or six men. —A. and N.Z.

IN MID-OCEAN

DI PINEDO’S ADVENTURE CAUGHT IN CYCLONE By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright ROME, Friday. The Marchese di Pinedo’s adventures in mid-Atlantic make a thrilling story. He left Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland, at dawn on May 23, and soon realised that navigation to the Azores would be difficult, owing to strongcontrary winds. Later he calculated that at his then rate of progress it would be impossible with his available supply of petrol to reach the Azores. In the afternoon he resolved to descend and moor his seaplane in midocean and await favourable winds. The weather became worse, owing to a cyclonic disturbance, and the airman was forced to ride out the roughest seas in his airplane for three days, while a schooner stood by. Nevertheless, in sipte of the buffeting from the waves and the incessant squalls, his machine has suffered only slight damage, and the marchese intends to resume his flight from the Azores when the wing has been repaired.—A. and N.Z. —Sun.