PACIFIC SURVEY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 395, 31 March 1937, Page 6

PACIFIC SURVEY

CLIPPER AT AUCKLAND HUGE WELCOMING CROWD Linking of Two Countries Press Association —Copyright. Auckland, March 30. Out of a grey eastern sky the PanAmerican Airways clipper Sikorsky flying-boat flew giiacefully over Auckland haflbour at 4.45 o’clock this afternoon to complete a great survey flight from San Francisco’s Golden Gate to the Waitenia-ta.

Thousands lined both the Auckland and North Shore waterfronts to wave and cheed an excited welcome to tho plane, 'Which by its flight to-day completed an important page in New Zealand’s history. A dense crowd gathered at the landing dias between King’s wharf and the Devonport vehicular ferry, and a great crescendo of cheering broke out as -the clipper roared its way to the mooringe. The clipper left Pago Pago at 5.30 a.m. today (New Zealand time). Throughout her 1850 miles flight she was in constant radio communication with Pan-American Airways’ radio shack at Auckland. Frequent progress nlessages we’i’e received! throughout the day. At 4 p.inx Captain Edward Musick, the pilot, radioed that he had sighted Great Barrier Island, and as news of the approach of tho Sikor sky spread round the town the crowd on the waterfront rapidly grew, and excitement increased. Dr. G. Grahlam Russell and Dr. C. Gilbert boarded the Sikorsky and granted pratique, ard Customs and other official inspections Were completed. Mr Harold Gatty went aboard to welcome Captuin Musick and his crew. Amidst ringing cheers Captlain Musick and his men, accompanied by Mr Gatty, stepped from the plane and walked up the gangway to the enclosure. Official speeches of welcome followed.

The first person to the clipper plane after she had been brought to rest was Dr. Grisham Rustell, port health officer, of Auckland. It 'Was his duty to carry out an of the plane before the .membert of the crew could disembark. ' Testing of Petrol Tanks. The testing of the petrol tanks was one of Captain Musick's first duties. With two assistants he climbed on the wing and with ia- sort of a chart began to measure the contents of the tanks. It was obvious that Captain Musick and his staff were much more concerned with the performance of the job in hand than with acknowledging the plaudits of the crowd. Air Force mechanics were -busy in the melantime getting liner fast to the clipper and towing her in. The great ship of the air was brought in with her tail toward the shore. Four cinema cameramen worked vigorously to record these first glimpses of the clipper and her complement. As a large force of aircraftsmen brought the clipper to her moorings', Captlain Musick and his assistants finished their task on the wings and •descended, disappearing once more Within the cabin.

The most delicate ijart of the job had to be undertaken as helpers pulled the clipper alongside the pontoon. Very great care was used in this operation. About a dozen old motorcar tyres were lashed to the side of the pontoon as buffers. The clipper was made fast at 5.30 p.m. Quarantine office:s boarded her before Captain Musick and his crew came off. Mr Gatty approached the clipper, and after waving a. greeting,, tunned back and walked along the pontoon.

Prolonged cheering greeted Captain Musick when, at about 5.55 p.m., escorted by the- chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr C. G- Macindoe, he mounted the dias in front of the landing stage. Captain Musick stepped lightly on the platform as if he had come from a short journeyjlni stead of a 12 hours’ flight. Also on the platform were Hon. 11. 1 C. R. Mason, Attorney-General, representing the Government, the Mayor of Auckland, Mr Ernest Davis, anti the members of the crew of the clip per a.nd representatives of public ~offies and prominent citizens. “The occasion is a historic one,” said Mr Macindoe, in a welcoming speech. “It marks not only the forging of a link between two peoples who have a common language and

common aspirations, but it testifies to the triumph of scientific achievement over what have hitherto been considered insuperable barriers, and it bears witness to the skill, determin ation and' invincible courage of those who undertook the task of establishing a permanent relation between our two countries.” Captain Musick made a chacacterI&tically brief reply to the speeches of welcome. f, We greatly- appreciate,” he said, “the warm welcome extended to us on the completion of the first transport flight to New Zealand from the United States. During the three years of preparation which preceded our flight we knew, of course, of the enthusiastic interest of the people of Ne’v.’ 1 Zealand toward the possible establishment of a modern air transport service between their country and our own, and of the far-sighted interest of your Government, whose co-op- ration has made such a service possible.

Possibilities of the Service. “We who have been privileged to make this first pioneering flight can particularly appreciate the possibilities of such a service. Our flight from jthe United States to the Hawaiian Islands and then south over Kin.gman Tcfef and Samoa to your sjhores was particularly interesting. “While we accomplished a great of exploration study along the route, v,'e yet travelled these 7002 miles in just 49 1-3 flying hours. We encountered no problems which our engineers in three years of study over this route did not fully anticipate, and no problems which we had not previously encountered and successfully solved before the establishment of the present clipper service over the longer 9000-mile rou'te- between America and the Orient. “There is no incident of any kind to report,” he added. “The Pan-Am-erican clipper performed fully as she was expected 'to do. Her four engines did not miss a beat over the entire 7000 miles. We were never without constant communication with our ground radio control stations, and our long-range radio direction finder served as an unerring guide every mile of the v'ay.

‘•Whatever credit is due should rightfully go to those who haves work ed out the real technical problems upon whose solution safe, dependable, scheduled transportation by air acji’ots this ocean has been made possible. To those who made our first crossing to New Zealand so easy through their efficient managing of the bases. en route by their expert weather forecasts and their perfect radio aid, and to the entire Pan~American organisation which functioned so efficiently behind us should go the real credit.”