Airmen Plan Cruise

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 335, 21 April 1928, Page 1

Airmen Plan Cruise

UNITED STATES, CANADA

Many Cities Will See Bremen

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. MONTREAL, Friday. IF present plans carry, many American and Canadian cities will have an opportunity to see the Bremen. Major Fitzmaurice stated that the transatlantic flyers had planned an air cruise across the United States, following the New York and Washington receptions, after which they will probably visit Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec and Toronto.

THE United States cruise is expected to last two months, and will include nearly all the important cities, going as far as San Francisco. Major Fitzmaurice also intimated that the Bremen might return to Europe as she came, with Baron von Heuhnefeld, Herr Koehl, and himself as crew. He said: “This is one of the matters that must still be discussed, but the Bremen brought us across.” The Ford plane which left Detroit today, with Floyd Bennett and Bert Balchen aboard, will take to Greenley landing gear, a new propeller, oil, and benzol for the Bremen, and clothing, food, and tobacco for the Germans. The clothing is expected to be especially welcome, as they are without clean linen. G eat difficulty was encountered in buying Herr Koehl a collar, he taking size eighteen. Major Fitzmaurice will be a passenger when the Ford plane takes off from Murray Bay for Greenley, and it is expected that Mr. Ernst Keoppen, the German Junkers’ mechanic, will also go along to aid in the repair work on the Bremen. There is a passibility that the plane’s propeller shaft may be found,

bent, in which case it would be necessary to revise all the plans for getting the flyers to New York. It is anticipated that in that event the big Ford machine would be utilised. DRAMA OF FLIGHT’S END A despatch from Murray Bay, Quebec, reveals the fact that Major Fitzmaurice saved Baron von Huehnefeld from drowning after the Bremen landed at Greenley Island. The machine descended with great force upon the thin cover of ice on a small lake used as $. reservoir, and broke through. Thaws had prevailed for several days previously, and had produced pools of water several feet deep under the ice. The baron was walking away from the machine in an exhausted condition when he fell headlong into the water. Major Fitzmaurice, in spite of the fact that he was partially stunned by the force of the landing, leaped in to the rescue. The intense cold of the water was already freezing the baron’s clothes, and he was helpless. The Bremen’s pilot, Herr Koehl, helped Major Fitzmaurice to drag the j baron to the lighthouse, where he was I able to dry himself.