EGYPT TO DARWIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1938, Page 5

EGYPT TO DARWIN

NON-STOP FLIGHT MADE BY R.A.F. BOMBERS

WORLD RECORDS BEATEN. A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, November 7. A message from Darwin states that two of the three Royal Air Force Vickers Wellesley bombers, which left Ismailia, Egypt, yesterday in an attempt to fly nonstop to Australia, landed there at 2.2 p.m. and 2.5 p.m. respectively, having beaten the world non-stop long-distance record of 6750 miles held by the Soviet. The distance from Ismailia to Darwin is 7162 statute miles. The machines which landed at Darwin were No. 1 and No. 3. No. 2 machine landed at Koepang, Timor Island and, after refuelling, again took off for Darwin.

The Air Ministry previously reported that at 8.26 p.m. Nos. 1 and 2 planes reached the island of Celebes, in the East Indies, east of Borneo, beating the Soviet record. The No. 3 bomber, which had been reported previously to be leading, also broke the record.

The “Daily Herald” says that the flight will cost the Air Ministry £25,000.

In July, 1937, three Soviet airmen, Gromoff, Yumasheff and Danilan, flew 6750 miles from Moscow to San Jacinto, California, via the North Pole. Their‘time for the flight was 62 hours 17 minutes. Previous to this the French airmen Codos and Rosis had held the record by their flight of 5657 miles from New York to Syria in 1933. . The Mercury, the upper component of the Mayo composite aircraft, made an attempt on the record last October, setting out to fly non-stop from England to the Cape, but was forced to land due to bad weather 400 miles short of her goal and 300 miles short of the record. LANDING TIMES JOURNEY TAKES JUST OVER 48 HOURS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) DARWIN, This Day. Two of the R.A.F. bombers landed at 1.32 p.m. and 1.35 p.m. respectively and the third machine landed at 5.10 p.m. (Darwin time). The first two bombers’ flying time was approximately 48 hours 5 minutes. They broke the Russian pilots’ record of- 6306 miles by 856 miles. Squadron-Leader Kellett, who is leading the flight, told interviewers that he was not privileged to comment on the flight beyond saying that it was excellent. NOTABLE DAY MR LYONS CONGRATULATES CREWS. IMPORTANT DEFENCE LESSON TAUGHT. SYDNEY, November 7. All three bombers broke the world non-stop record, two of the machines by almost 800 miles, in approximately 48 hours’ flying tmie, and the third by 300 miles. Unfavourable conditions and head winds were encountered from Singapore. The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, tonight telegraphed his heartiest congratulations to the crews on behalf of the Commonwealth. He said that an important defence lesson for Australia merged from this magnificent flight. Australia was brought much closer to the outside world, emphasizing the greater danger from aggression. He added: “This is a notable day for the Royal Air Force and British aviation and a triumph for British workmanship.” JUBILATION IN BRITAIN. CONTRIBUTION TO EMPIRE DEFENCE. (Independent Cable Service.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. The Press is jubilant over the R.A.F. bombers’ success. The “Evening News” says the flight is a contribution of the utmost importance to Empire air defence, proving that Australia can rely on early help from Royal Air Force bomber squadrons. OFFICIAL COMMENDATION. AIR MINISTER’S MESSAGE. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. The Secretary for Air (Sir Kingsley Wood) has sent the following telegram to Squadron-Leader Kellett: —“Most hearty congratulations on magnificent achievement. -Success has been due to the excellence of personnel, aircraft and engines, and called for high qualities of leadership and organisation. Please convey the congratulations of the Air Council to all concerned.” SPITFIRE PLANE. COMING ATTEMPT ON SPEED RECORD. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) DARWIN, This Day. A member of a bomber crew said a Royal Air Force Spitfire plane next month will attempt a new world speed record of five hundred miles an hour.