WINGING ACROSS WIDE OCEAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 369, 1 June 1928, Page 1

WINGING ACROSS WIDE OCEAN

KINGSFORD SMITH HOPS OFF LONG PACIFIC JUGHT BEGINS SAN FRANCISCO TO BRISBANE SOUTHERN CROSS HEADS FOR HONOLULU NOTHER bold ocean flight has commenced in the attempt of Captain Kingsford Smith and three companions to fly from Oakland, California, to Brisbane, via Honolulu and Suva. Undeterred by the tragic Dole Prize race to Hawaii last August, when two of the four planes in the contest were never seen again, Smith and his companions took off vesterda.v rnnmino- and were

soon hundreds of miles out over the broad Pacific. (United l*.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association)

Reed. 9.5 a.m. OAKLAND, Thursday. Captain Kingsford Smith arrived at the airport shortly after seven o’clock this morning, wearing his flying clothes. The other members of the crew had not yet appeared. Captain Smith declined to say definitely whether the flight would be attempted today.

In the meantime, the United States weather bureau at San Francisco reported favourable conditions for the light. The report said:

"The airplanes leaving this morning for the Hawaiian Islands will have broken, low clouds, and moderate to fresh northerly winds. There will be an average wind velocity of about 16 miles an hour for the first 400 miles, then light and variable winds and broken stratus and cumulus clouds until the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands is approached, when clear skies and moderate east winds of 15 to 20 miles an hour will be encountered. No disturbances are charted over the route between San Francisco and the Hawaiian Islands."

The report concluded with the remark that weather and wind condition* were favourable for the start. Lieutenant C. T. Ulna, Captain Harry Lyon, and Mr. James Warner, radio operator, reached the airport shortly after eight o’clock. Several hundred persons had gathered at the Held, and the police began clearing the crowd back from the plane preparatory to starting the motors. There was every indication that the take-off would be made shortly, although Captain Smith gave no definite announcement. The first of the three motors was then started, and Captain Smith climbed into the cockpit, and shouted “Cheerio! ” to a group of his friends standing nearby. He began examining the charts on the instrument board. The other members of the crew entered the plane, and took their positions shortly before Captain Smith climbed into the cockpit. EASY TAKE-OFF MADE The Southern Cross took off at *53 under excellent weather conditions. With Captain Smith at the controls, the giant monoplane started down the runway at 8.56, but the centre motor w ent dead. Captain Smith then cut off the other two motors, and the Plane stopped. He then returned and started again, making an easy takeoff. The Southern Cross took the air after a 5,000-foot run. It rose from the ground for a moment, settled down, then rose again gracefully, despite the seven-ton load it carried. There were 1,200 gallons of petrol in the fuel tanks for the first 2.100tnile stage of the flight. The plane climbed to an altitude of 100 feet, and increased its speed. A moment later it vanished from sight into a slight sun-pierced haze in the west. The wings of the Southern Cross gleamed in the morning sun as the ship turned to the north**Bl, and sped toward the open ocean past the Golden Gate. The crowd had increased rapidly during the morning, and approximately 0.000 people witnessed the departure. Additional police guards kept them from the runway. The airport fire wagon had proceeded to the 5.000-foot mark on the tunway ready for a possible emergency. Smith was given a copy of Jhe Government weather report just before the start, detailing the conditions along the route The Southern Cross passed over the city at 5.59. Thousands of people in the streets halted and gazed upward ®t the blue and silver plane. GUIDING BEACONS

Th« plane will be guided during the nr*t part of the flight by the radio ®eacon at the Crissey Field, San Frun--2JBco. then midway between San fancisco and the Hawaiian Islands *will pick up the radio beacon at the "heeler Field, near Honolulu. Captain Smith indicated that the “jsht to Honolulu would take approximately 25 hours. He estimated that mal. Southern Cross would make a SMpi of from 95 to 100 miles an hour

at the start, later increasing this slightly as the weight of the fuel load was cut down.

The crew decided not to carry life-rafts or other safety devices. Captain Smith said: “They would only increase the weight of the plane, and we will not need them.” WOULD FLOAT SOME HOURS A hacksaw was put in the cockpit of the plane, to be used in cutting away the three heavy engines in case there was a forced descent on the water. Captain Smith was confident that the plane would remain afloat for some hours with the engines cut away, and the petrol tanks emptied by the emergency valves. Mr. Warner is expected to make hourly reports of the position of the plane to the land stations along the Californian coast and in Hawaii, and to ships at sea. The plane carried three radio sets, one being supplied with power by storage batteries, so that a message for aid could be sent out even if the motors were disabled. Nine vessels were reported early to-day along the route to Honolulu—• namely, the Calawaii, Vigilant, Massa, Lubrico, Herborg, Wilhelmina, President McKinley, Malolo, and tug Meigh. All were advised to keep a constant look-out for the passage of the plane. TOUCHING FAREWELL Word of the departure was flashed immediately to Honolulu, where army officers stood ready to begin working the radio beacon at the Wheeler Field. Friends pressed around Captain Smith and his companions as they walked from the administration building of the airport, and took their positions in the plane. Three women kissed Captain Smith with tears in the.r eyes, and he seemed confused by this show of emotion. One of the women who last talked with him was the mother of Lieutenant Eichwaldt, who perished in the Dole flight. Mrs. Eichwaldt presented Captain Smith with a silver ring which her sou had fashioned from a franc piece while he was serving with the American forces in France. Just before leaving, Captain Smith said: “I have realised the ambition of eight years. The ship is equipped as finely as it is humanly possible t.o equip a ship, and we will see you in Honolulu.” The plane carried besides the week’s emergency rations several dozen sandwiches and coffee and hot soup in thermos bottles, also chocolate and other concentrated foods. “TO HANG, NOT DROWN” Captain Lyons, questioned as to his expectations of the flight, said ‘‘There

is not the slightest shadow of doubt that I was born to be hanged, not to drown.”

He showed a plain pin which he had picked up and said “I’m wearing it to Suva for luck.” Captain Smith wears a silver and black enamel cat on his helmet.

He said, “I have worn Felix for six or seven years and have always gotteh what I set out for. He’s been good luck, I suppose, for here I am.” Asked where he got the cat, he blushed and said, “From a young lady. It was so romantic-” -

PROGRESS REPORTED “ALL WELL7 r SAYS SMITH PLANE GOING FINELY (Australian Press Association) (Received 9.30 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, Thurs. The Southern Cross was in almost constant communication with the radio stations of San Francisco during the early stages; of the flight. The messages told of passing the Golden Gate, and going out over the vast expanse of the Pacific. A message, which was received shortly before 10 o’clock this morning, from Captain Smith said, “Everything going fine. Weather perfect motors working splendidly.” The “Herald-Examiner,” shortly after the Southern Cross left, picked up a message from her saying the radio generator was not working properly; but the Radio Corporation an hour later received a mesage, which came through “clear as a bell,” that the generator had been repaired. SON OF AN ADMIRAL

It is recalled here that Captain Lyon, of the Southern Cross crew, is a son of Rear-Admiral Lyon, of the American Navy. Young Lyon commanded several vessels, including the cruiser St. Louis, during the world war. He has had 20 years’ experience in navigating the Pacific. Mr. Warner served under Captain Lyon as chief radio officer of the St. Louis, and is described as one of the most efficient radio men developed by the navy. IN GOOD SPIRITS At 11.15 this morning Smith radioed that he was flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet. All was well. The speed was not given, but it Is estimated that the plane was 190 miles or more from Oakland. The engines continue to function perfectly. The crew are in the best of spirits. At 12.30 this afternoon the Southern Cross messages Indicated that it had covered over 300 miles. The plane was flying perfectly. Early this afternoon, the flyers reported that they were slightly off the course, 400 miles out. Conditions were favourable. They expect to remain at Hawaii 36 hours and go then to Suva. A commercial wireless operator here says he picked up a message from the Southern Cross, which was signalling the steamer Wilhelmina for her position and bearings. The Wilhelmina is 1,777 miles from Honolulu, the agents say. The Southern Cross was later reported to have lost the radio beacon at the Crissey Field, but it is expected that she will pick it up soon. She is said to be averaging approximately 85 miles an hour. EIGHTY MILES AN HOUR

PLANE SPEEDING WEST ULM SOON TAKES OVER (United I*.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association) (Received 1.10 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, Thurs. The latest messages from the plane indicate that it is flying at 2,500 feet and averaging 80 miles an hour. Lieutenant TJlm relieved Captain Smith twice briefly, and will soon take his first long shift at the controls. The afternoon was reported to be “cloudy with clear spots, and a few clouds along the water don’t allow us to see very far ahead.” , At 1.25 everything was fine. The engine was making 1,675 revolutions a minute, and a speed of 74 knots. The oil temperature was 48 degrees, the pressure 60 pounds. At 1.30 the plane communicated with the steamer Wilhelmina through KPH. The plane’s position at noon was 32.35, by 132.03 west. After another 600 miles, Lieutenant Ulm reported that the visibility was excellent under the clouds. Kingsford Smith said: “I feel as

if we are sitting on the top of the world.” Lieutenant Ulm carries a small silver Buddha. He said at the start: “It is for good luck if you want it. but a good ship, an efficient crew, and the excellent preparations will have something to do with our success.” He opened the Buddha and displayed a rattlesnake tail. He said: “I don’t know its significance. A war pal of mine sent me the Buddha from Sydney. It will carry us through.” Mr. Warner carries no luck charm. H-e said?. “I have had a lot of bad

luck iu my life. Now I’m due for a little good luck.” Captain Lyon was wandering about among the crowd eating ices and peanuts with a straw hat on his head. He said: “I’m a Nomad. I resigned from the navy twice, because I can’t stand being bound. I don’t think this flight to Australia will peak my adventures. Perhaps someone will think of a longer hop, for the next adventure is the one that always lures me.”