Girl Flier Triumphs

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 981, 26 May 1930, Page 11

Girl Flier Triumphs

AMY JOHNSON LANDS SAFELY

Plane Appears Out of Haze

INSPIRING RECEPTION IN AUSTRALIA

TIRED, but overjoyed at tl journey from England, storm, vfl+h tragedy often a el of her machine, Miss Amy Job misty haze overhanging the T United P.A. —By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 10.15 a.m. DARWIN, Today. Miss Johnson landed at 4 o’clock local time on Saturday afternoon. As her weather-stained, work-worn Moth, Jason’s Quest, approached the land an Australian airplane met her and accompanied her to the landing ground. There a thunderous welcome was accorded to the plucky British girl by virtually all the population of the Darwin district. Practically all the motor-cars in the territory were marshalled round about and added to the sounds of jubilation with their brazen claxons. As soon as Miss Johnson had been questioned by the health officer and had stepped from her machine she was met by Colonel Weddell, Government Resident, on behalf of the Commonwealth and people of Australia and given an official welcome. She was invited to stay at Government House. Miss Johnson's flight thrilled the people of Darwin and she was enchanted by the warmth of her reception at the aviation ground and later at the Town Hall, v’here the Mayor, Mr. Adams, welcomed her on behalf of the people, whose enthusiasm was unbounded. TOSSED IN STORM Recounting her experiences, Miss Johnson said: On leaving England, she admits, she felt a bit scared over crossing the Channel. ShS left Croydon with a good following wind and in a heavy fog, which suddenly lifted. She saw a small stream of water with land on the other side and thought at first she had turned around in the fog and was returning to Croydon. After five minutes, however, she ascertained she had crossed the Channel without realising it. In referring to her forced landing later on in the desert, she the sand was fearful. It was the worst experience of the flight. She lost all control of the plane, which the hurricane tossed about like a shuttlecock.

She was dressed in warm clothing and the heat was insufferable. Her sole thoughts were that her mother would be worrying and she regretted that she had jtaken on the flight against all advice. On leaving Samarang she struck another fearful storm. Everything was black with rain, which fell in sheets. She could see nothing. SXie was surrounded by an intense rainbow and everything was ethereal and almost supernatural. IN CHARGE OF NATIVES At one time she thought she was dead or dreaming. On leaving Sourabaya she was forced by lack of petrol to land at Dara Hulala, 16 miles from Atamboea, in a field full of horses and cattle. On landing she found herself surrounded by natives dressed in loin cloths and carrying murderous knives and swords. The native chief caught her by the arm and led her away. Though she was scared, she thought it better to submit. On walking two miles she arrived at the 'Church. The flight to Darwin was without incident. She passed the oil-tanker Phorus midway. TOPPLED INTO DITCH Her troubles began at Rangoon, where after landing at the racecourse she toppled into a ditch, breaking the propeller and one wing of her machine. This caused two days’ delay. A forced landing had to be made near Baujk to remedy defects and procure a new propeller. From Singapore heavy adverse winds averaging 40 miles an hour, with a south-east monsoon, held Miss Johnson back. She could not reach Sourabaya and she was forced down short of fuel 180 miles from Batavia She took off to land at Lyola in a rice-field.

From Semarang to Sourabaya Miss Johnson took a short cut over the Java Sea. Heavy squalls and tropical rains beat the airplane down so much that sometimes she was gliding only a few feet above the waves and expecting every minute to hit the water. GOING ONE BETTER LITTLE SISTER WANTS TO FLY TO NEW ZEALAND Reed. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Sunday. Miss Amy Johnson’s ten-year-old sister, Betty, says: “What Amy has done is splendid. I want to beat her by flying to New Zealand.” “I am the happiest and proudest mother in the world.” declared Amy’s mother, when seen amidst sheaves of congratulatory telegrams. “Amy is approaching 27. We have often contradicted reports that she is 22, but they persist.” PARENTS’ AGONY FATHER ENCIRCLES TELEPHONE ALL THROUGH NIGHT WILD SCENES AT HOME TOWN LONDON, Saturday. When Miss Johnson’s father was informed that his daughter had landed at Darwin he exclaimed: “Thank God for that. If I x had a hat I would throw it in the air. We could not sleep last night so we arose at 4 a.m. “Directly the telephone bell rang I felt instinctively that Amy was safe. I confess I had been walking round and round the telephone since dawn. I would not spend another night like last night for a fortune or endure a repetition of the last fortnight. Amy will be as delighted as we are that she arrived in Australia on Empire Day.*’

e success of her ls)iig, lonely ;hrough sunshine, cloud and ose attendant upon the wings nson reached Darwin out of a mor Sea. Mrs. Johnson tremblingly awaited news and when the telephone bell rang she exclaimed: “Thank God she is safe. That has been my sole thought for the last fortnight. Now I feel supreme joy. “Amy is wonderful, but I hope there are no more of her flights to Australia.” Miss Johnson’s parents had expressed wonderful relief on hearing that she had reached Timor Island on Thursday evening. Mr. Johnson had stated that the girl’s mother was terribly worried and that neither of them could sleep* though they felt certain she would reach Australia. HULL EN FETE The news of Miss Amy Johnson’s arrival at Darwin was received at 7.35 a.m. toclay and created great enthusiasm. Several of the morning papers published special editions. It was a red-letter day for Miss Johnson’s native city, Hull, which was be-flagged in her honour. St. Andrew’s* Dock, where her father has business interests, was also bedecked with bunting. The Lord Mayor of Hull, Mr. ,R. Richardson, cabled congratulations to Miss Johnson, and added: “Your native city is intensely proud of its worthy daughter.” Mr. Richardson has opened a fund to provide the plucky girl with a personal gift. “She swoops to conquer” is the “Star’s” poster for the news of Miss Johnson’s flight. MET BY AIRPLANES WATCHERS KEYED-UP GIRL CHEERED ON LANDING DARWIN, Today. For long hours y / 11, relay the people of Darwin waited for word of Miss Johnson’s departure from Atamboea, which she left tired hut full of hope and cheered by the plaudits of admiring well-wishers. The news came that the last lap had been begun. Then followed more waiting. The crew of an oil steamer, the Phorus, stationed on the route of the (light about midway between Timor Island and Australia, kept a sharp look-out. They saw Miss Johnson’s machine pass over them before noon and followed it. People gathered from all parts at Darwin, and the reports from the Phorus made it clear that the Moth should arrive about 4 o’clock. The excitement grew more and more intense, especially when Captain Jones took off in the airplane Spirit of Australia to go out, meet the girl flier and escort her to land. He could be seen, a dim speck in the distance, and was almost lost to sight in a grey haze over the sea. DOT IN THE SKY Captain Jones circled round, waiting, like the citizens below. Then was seen another dot against the misty curtain suspended off the shore. The dot grew more distinct, and the Spirit of Australia was seen to make toward the advancing stranger. The two machines met and Captain Jones turned and kept company with Jason’s Quest as it winged its way toward the shore. Then, amid the cheers and acclamation of the delighted crowd of spectators, Miss Amy Johnson drew nearer and nearer, circled above the landing ground and came to earth, and to her

journey’s end —a journey that will live |in the annals of aviation and th^ ; history of British endeavour. “CALL ME JOHNNIE” At the civic reception in the evening the girl flier asked the speakers who addressed her as Miss Johnson to use the term “Johnnie,” which she declared was the name she was known by in England. She is a good speaker and she kept her audience’s attention riveted when she was returning thanks for the welcome accorded to her. She said all the hardships she had endured were well worth while in order to experience such wonderful treatment and so remarkable a welcome. A song, “Amy,” by Meta McLean, was sung for the first time in Australia at the reception. Miss Johnson said * she had undertaken the flight to demonstrate the safety of present-day airplanes. She had no expectation of monetary reward, but she had accepted hand some offers of remuneration for the story of her adventures. GOES ON TO SYDNEY FOUND SPAR WAS BROKEN SINCE SHE LEFT RANGOON Reed. 11.5 a.m. DARWIN, Today. Miss Johnson leaves today for Alexandria, Cloncurry, and Brisbane. She expects to arrive at Brisbane on Wednesday. The authorities have asked the flight organisers to avoid a week-end arrival owing to the likelihood of traffic control in the streets being made difficult by the huge crowds of people who would be sure to assemble. Miss Johnson says when she realised that she could not equal Hinkler’s record, which she set out to lower, she became despondent, and was inclined to abandon the trap; but Siam residents tried to cheer her up, and told her that, by long hops, she could catch up. Others advised her to take it easy, while others, including Mr. Cave-Brown-Cave, advised her to abandon the flight, as it was hopeless to contend against the monsoons. The trip from England to Calcutta was ideal for flying, but from Rangoon to Australia was like a hideous dream, and a series of nerve-racking experiences and marvellous escapes. At Sourabaya she found she had been flying since Rangoon with a broken spar, and also a broken speedometer. | Reed. 12.20 p.m. SYDNEY, Today. Amalgamated Wireless advises that Miss Amy Johnson, accompanied by a Quantas plane and two Moths, left Darwin at 7.30 a.m. Adelaide time. It is believed the first stop is Alexandria. Cabled advice lias been received by the Shell Company of New Zealand, Limited, from their representative in Darwin, Captain Jones, who recently flew up from Melbourne to meet Miss Amy Johnson, and who from Darwin flew out over the sea to meet her on the last lap of her flight from Atamboea. The Shell Company’s tanker Phorus, which was on the way back to Singapore, was instructed to look out for Miss Johnson, and when she passed overhead a radio message was sent to those waiting at Darwin to expect her arrival.