Trek to the Drome

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 462, 18 September 1928, Page 1

Trek to the Drome

LONE MOTH GOES OUT AS ESCORT Kingsford Smith the Man of the Hour Ihumata, a name not well known to Auckland’s city dwellers a few weeks ago, has leapt into prominence and all roads are leading there this afternoon. Though it is not an official half-holiday, the city has lost a big proportion of its people. Motor-cars, buses and cycles, all headed for the airdrome, have transformed the roads into moving ribbons. The trek is a reflection of Auckland’s awakened air sense. Kingsford Smith and Ulm are the men of the hour. The time of arrival of the Pacific and Tasman conquerors in three Bristol fighters is still no more definite than “between four and five o’clock.” They left Wellington at 1 0.8 this morning for Hawera, and are expected to leave that town at 1.30 p.m. The trip toThumata will take about two and a half hours. Auckland’s one airplane, the Moth owned by Mr. Douglas Mill, is flying out to greet the Bristol fighters in the air. The paucity of the aerial display however is more than made up by the great reception which awaits the flyers on the firm earth.

/the order of the landing of the three *■ planes will be as follows, according to Major L. M. Isitt: Flr»t: Captain Findlay, of the Wigram airdrome, and Mr. H. A. Litchfield, navigator of the Southern Cross. Second: Captain Buckley, of Wigram, with the wireless operator, Mr. T. K. McWilliam. Third: Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-LieuL Ulm. Weather Improved Improved conditions, including a dropping of the squally westerly winds and a temporary brightening of the ■weather, have been forecast by Mr. H. M. Vincent. It is expected that flying conditions will be fair. Ihumata airdrome has been marked out for the guidance of the pilots and

a marquee lias been erected for the reception of the flyers by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. Baildon, Government representatives and officials of the Aero Club. To control the enthusiasm of the massed crowds, 15 policemen, five mounted constables, soldiers and traffic inspectors are in attendance, and there are also a squad of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and patrols of the Automobile Association. Only officials of the Aero Club are allowed on to the landing ground. Auckland Programme The reception at the landing ground will be brief and the flyers will be motored into Auckland. An impromptu reception will be given them at the Grand Hotel. There will be no official engagements to-night. Their programme is as follows: To-day: About 4 p.m., arrive at Ihumata. To-morrow: Noon, civic reception at the Town Hall. 6.30 p.m., dinner at Grand Hotel, tendered by officers of the Auckland Aero Club. Cabaret party at Dixieland. Thursday: Flyers leave for Rotorua by car. Civic reception at Hamilton and luncheon at Hamilton Hotel. Friday: At Rotorua. Saturday evening: Aero Club’s ball at the Town Hall. The flyers propose to arrive back at Christchurch next Monday. If it is possible they may make„a flight from Christchurch to Dunedin, and if time, permits to Invercargill, before getting | ready for the return flight to Sydney. Crowd Arrives Early i Three hours before the scheduled time of arrival a score of cars had ! parked near the landing-ground, a ! green stretch sloping down to a narrow arm of the Manukau. A steady stream of traffic, inelud- ; ing cars, buses and push-cycles had i set in from the city by 3 o’clock. The ground had not been marked

out, as Major Isitt had not decided on the direction of the wind. The Moth Goes Aloft Mr. D. H. Mill in his Moth airplane made a safe landing at Ihumata this afternoon after circling over the city. At 2.40 he was preparing to go up again to meet the visiting planes. GREETINGS TO COMRADES LETTER FROM EX-A.I.F. MEN IN AUCKLAND The visit of Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith has been seized upon by exsoldiers of the Australian Imperial Forces living in Auckland to send greetings to their comrades across the Tasman. The following is a copy of the letter which the A.I.F. men’s club will ask the airmen to convey on their return journey to Australia: The President, Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia, Sydney. Dear Sir, — On this memorable occasion of the visit to Auckland of Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, Flight-Lieutenant Ulm and Mr. H. A. Litchfield; we, exmembers of the Australian Imperial Forces residing in Auckland, embrace the opportunity of conveying through our honoured guests fraternal greetings to our comrades in Australia. We are honoured at having this opportunity of forwarding to you and our brother “Aussies” these greetings by bur gallant comrades who are maintaining the traditions of the true spirit of the Anzacs. We wish them God-speed on their return journey to our homeland. (Signed) E. P. TITCHENER. President. H. K. VICKERY, Vice- President. R. C. HOLLOWAY, Hon. Secretary.

A meeting of ex-A.I.F. men will be held this evening in the Seamen’s Institute Rooms, Emily Place, at 7.30 to arrange for the handing of the letter to Captain Kingsford Smith.