AUSTRALIA TO ENGLAND IN THIRTEEN DAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 712, 11 July 1929, Page 1

AUSTRALIA TO ENGLAND IN THIRTEEN DAYS

SOUTHERN CROSS AIRMEN

Great Welcome at Croydon king sends congratulations Another Notable Achievement POM Australia to England in less than 13 days! That is the latest achievement of Squadron-Leader Kingsford-Smith and his companions of the Southern Cross. They swooped down at Croydon yesterday afternoon, and had a tumultuous reception from a big crowd. King George at once sent a congratulatory message, and Sir Sefton Brancker conveyed to the airmen the congratulations of the Air Minister, Lord Thomson.

(United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association J (United Service)

jlecd. 9.50 a.m. LONDON, Wed. The Southern Cross landed at Croydon at 2.30 p.ru.. completing its flight from Australia. Squadron-Leader C. E. Kingsford Smith said the log allowed that the flight had occupied exactly 12 days 21 hours 18 minutes from the time the Monoplane left Derby, Western Australia, to the minute it landed in England. The airmen had left Rome at 4.55 B.m. The machine passed over Lyons soon after 10 a.m. Later Kingsford Smith sent a wireless message to the Air Ministry saying: “We are over Paris. All well. Expect to reach Croydon at 3 p.m." Then came the following:—"We are now heading up through France. It is Sue and clear here. We expect to reach Croydon at 2.40 p.m.” Kingsford Smith later wirelessed to Croydon:—“The Southern Cross is heading inland over England. Loud cheers from the boys. We are flying beautifully, and expect to land at Croydon in 20 minutes." The Southern Cross made a spectacular landing, just grazing the hangars. Hundreds of spectators besieged the Syers. The four airmen—Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Clm, Mr. H. A. Litchfield, navigator, and Mr. T. H. McWilliams, wireless operator—were welcomed by a big crowd at Croydon. Among those present were Sir lan Hamilton and Sir Sefton Brancker, Director of Civil J Aviation. Kingsford Smith stated: “We had lots of minor troubles, but generally we had a good flight." The King sent a message as follows: “Please convey to the four airmen my heartfelt congratulations on the remarkable, successful achievement, after all the hardships and danger they experienced.” The airmen expect to remain in England for some weeks. So far thev have made no plans for crossing the Atlantic. The Australian and New Zealand Press Association learns that Kings-; ford Smith has ordered three Aero- j lynx monoplanes fitted with three Arm- 1 strong-Siddeley engines, for the purpose of operating an Australian air service. Smith himself will superin-! lend their construction. GREAT INTEREST IN PLANE Sir Sefton Brancker conveyed the congratulations of the Air Minister, Lord Thomson, to the crew of the Southern Cross, and declared that their flight would encourage the support of a passenger air service to Australia. Squadron-Leader Smith said he considered such a service was quite feasible. Great interest is being shown in the Southern Cross, in which SquadronLeader Smith and Flight-Lieutenant 11m a few months ago made the first trans-Pacific flight, and have since made other remarkable trips. ENTERTAINED AT ROME A message from Rome says promincnt people interested in aviation and motoring gave a luncheon to the airmen yesterday at the Littorio airport. in replying to the toast of their health, Kingsford Smith said he had ie Ter seen a better equipped airport, “iey appreciated their reception and "ould take an early opportunity of retarning to Rome. Kingsford Smith, in an interview, said he was delighted to find that the Southern Cross was nearly two days ahead of the fastest time for a flight heiaveen Australia and England. We are tired but we are fit.” said Smith, “and I would do it all over h**in if it were necessary. However, ‘1 had to repeat the trip I would use J, ‘khter machine than the Southern j-ross. it is extremely heavy when it * oat * et *’ weighing more than GJ Th® majority of the taking-off bounds on the route, if they are wet sandy, will not carry that weight. _ ® struck a bamboo pole at Calcutta "hich had been placed there by some stupid native when we were leaving.”

DETAILS of the flight

TWO DAYS LOST THROUGH ENGINE REPAIRS notable achievement are the details of the u*kt of the Southern Cross: 27.—-Left Derby, Western Australia, for Singapore, about 2,020 T 5.40 p.m. * £* 28. —Arrived at Singapore.

June 2D.—Left Singapore and landed at Singora, Siam, about 458 miles. June 30.—Arrived at Rangoon, Burma. from Singora, about 690 miles. July 1. —Plane“at Rangoon; repairs to engines. July 2.—Left Rangoon and arrived at Calcutta, about 660 miles. July 3. —Flew from Calcutta, to Allahabad, about 460 miles. July 4. —Flew from Allahabad to Karachi, about 890 miles. July 5.—-Plane at Karachi; repairs to engines. July 6.—Left Karachi for Basra and Bagdad, Iraq. July 7. —Arrived at Basra from Karachi, about 1,350 miles, and flew on to Bagdad, another 350 miles. July 8. —Arrived at Athens from Bagdad, about 1,290 miles. July 9.—Arrived at Rome from Athens, about 600 miles. July 10. —Arrived at Croydon from Rome (about 850 miles), at 3.20 p.m. The flight really began at Sydney. On June 25 the plane hopped off for Derby, 2,100 miles away, and arrived there after a flight of 22 hours 5 minutes. HINKLER’S GREAT DASH The Southern Cross flight has revealed how great was the achievement of Captain Bert Hinkler, who in Februarv last year, made a lone dash in a small plane, flying from England to Australia in 15J days. His itinerary was as follows: February 7.—Left Croydon. February B.—Reached Rome. February 10. —Left Rome for Malta. February 12.—Arrived at Ramleh, Egypt, near Alexandria. February 13. —Reached Basra. February 15. —At. Karachi (India) in one week. . _ , February 18. —Arrived Calcutta. February 19.—Left Singapore for Batavia. ! February 20. —Arrived at Batavia. ; February 21.—Set out for Buna, Dutch East Indies. . . : February 22.—Bima to Darwm, arrived at 6 p.m. The distance covered was 11,300 I miles.