MINUTE BY MINUTE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 456, 11 September 1928, Page 1

MINUTE BY MINUTE

HOW STORY OF FLIGHT CAME THROUGH

WARY OF THE VOYAGE OUT of the dark and space throughout the night a tiny magnetic flutter kept the airmen in touch with both sides of fhe Tasman. With headphones pressed to their ears many listened for hours to the wavering messages which told of the progress of the Southern Cross. The Sun’s specially appointed operator kept every little detail of the flight ticked up to a minute. The following is the diary of the epic voyage. -■ to Sydney "How are my signals?” 7.58 p,m.—Plane again called Sydney, asking how signals were received. Wave Is very erratic. Plane may be climbing. 5.35 p.m,—Plane signalled “Sky overcast; altitude 1,100." Signals are very Patchy and not as clear as earlier. 8.55 p.m.—Southern Cross again asks Sydney how signals are coming tn. So far as Auckland is concerned, the wave is veering all over the place, adjustments evidently being made, *hile it might also be that the plane is not having too smooth a passage. 9.30 p.m.—Plane’s carrier wave is Still very unsteady. 937 p.m.—Southern Cross to VIS, Sydney; "How do you receive me?” 9.45 p.m.—Plane to Sydney': “Are thy signals any better?” Sydney’s ccply was not heard here, but the Plane’s signals were certainly better. It seems as if Sydney is having difficulty in receiving the plane’s signals. 9-53 p.m.—Southern Cross still asklug Sydney how signals are coming in. 19-5 p.m.—Southern Cross called Auckland or Wellington, and asked them to tell Sydney to advise the Plane if signals are being received in Auckland or Wellington. ... 19.25 p.m.—Southern Cross called all stations. Gave position as lat. 35.30 S., long. 156.30 E., course 111, speed approx. 95 knots, now approachlug storm. Does Wellington or Auckland get my signals?”

10.45 p.m.—Plane heard calling Wellington. A STRANGE SILENCE After the message at 10.45 p.m. there is a strange silence, and a careful and systematic combing of the ether on both the short-wave and 600metres fails to reveal any trace of the now familiar carrier-wave of the Southern Cross. The hours pass slowly, the monotony of no news being partially relieved by broadcasts from the New Zealand and Australian broadcast stations. IYA causes some amusement by asking listeners to listen to what the announcer says is the sound of the

Southern Cross's generator. It probably goes down with many; experts, however, merely smile up their sleeves. 11.5 p.m.—2BL (Sydney) says the Southern Cross is still going strong. 11.30- p.m.—2BL, reports hearing signal at reduced strength. 12.28 p.m.—According to 2BL, signals are fainter. No sign of plane on short-wave. 2 a.m.—2YA Wellington gives a resume of reports received and says that the last official advice of the plane having been heard was at 11.3 p.m. (yet IYA was asking listeners to listen to it just before 2 a.m.). 2YA adds that the plane would be transmitting Press messages to Australia on 600 metres, which owing to the

plane’s low power would not be heard in New Zealand, and that the fact of the plane not having been heard since 11.8 need cause no apprehension. Once more the search of the ether continues on short and low-wave, but there is no sign of the night-bird’s whistle. 2.30 a.m. —Southern Cross reports to 2BL< that everything is going well and that the plane is half-way across. 3 a.m.—2YA Wellington again comes on the air and says that it has received official advice that at 2.34 the plane was heard again. 3.15 a.m.—The speeding airway pioneers are heard calling Sydney. MORE THAN HALF-WAY OVER 4 a.m.—Wellington comes on again with further information regarding the message picked up at 2.34 a.m. The station says the message was picked up through heavy static and it gave the plane’s position as lat. 38.17 S., long. 164.33. No observations or readings had been taken for two hours. 4.13 a.m. —Sydney is trying to establish communication with the plane. Static is bad and it is doubtful if the plane, with the added noise of engines, is hearing the message. 4.15. —Awarua reports that it has not received any signals from the plane since 11.3 p.m. 5 a.m. —2YA Wellington says signals are not being picked up in Wellington, but that at 4.30 Sydney was receiving them strongly. 5.10 a.m. —Turn once again to short-wave to see if amateurs can accomplish what the commercial stations cannot do. The fine comb is carefully used,* but seems as if the plane’s short-wave outfit is a washout on this occasion. It is to be hoped that Mr. McWilliams will be able to confirm this assumption. It

is little comfort to hear from Wellington that the plane is probably sending Press messages to Australia: messages to New Zealand would be more welcome. All the world seems to be sending messages except the Southern

Cross. It is something to learn from Wellington that the plane is still going. 6 a.m.—2YA Wellington gongs through and Mr. Ball’s cheerful voice says that VLW (Wellington Radio) has received calls from the Southern Cross. VLW replied, but received no acknowledgment of the signals. 6.53 a.m.—After a long spell of silence the plane’s carrier wave is heard, but no signals. If he were sending them interference from commercial stations is so bad it is doubtful if they would be heard. However, the plane is still going. 7.30 a.m.—2YA Wellington reported that the Southern Cross had been

sighted over Wellington Harbour and headed South. 7.35 a.m. The plane signalled: Had a pretty rough time last night. Radio gear and everybody wet through. Will reach Christchurch at 9 a.m.

7.49 a.m.—After a long silence the Southern Cross’s carrier wave coming in strongly.. 8.0 a.m. —The wave Is still strong, but unsteady. No messages are being sent. 8.55 a.m. —The P. and T. Department reported: Southern Cross just passed South Bay, well out to sea. 9 a.m.—Wellington announced that the Southern Cross had passed . over Point Robinson, about 80 miles from Christchurch, at 8.35 a.m. 9.11 a.m. —“There are four small planes and one big one low down on the horizon,” said the announcer at Sockburn. “There are two small planes

on either side of the Southern Cross. She looks a monster.” 9.12 a.m.—The Southern Cross was sighted from roofs 'of buildings in Christchurch. Almost simultaneously it was seen from the airdrome. 9.13 a.m. —Wellington announced the Christchurch airplanes had met the Southern Cross at Amberley. 9.23 a.m. —The Southern Cross made a perfect landing at Sockburn, after being 14 hours 12 minutes in the air.