ADVENTUROUS FLIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 January 1941, Page 5

ADVENTUROUS FLIGHT

AIADE BY BRITISH OFFICER IN OLD PLANE KEEPING TOUCH WITH MISSION IN ABYSSINIA. SERIES OF NARROW ESCAPES IN MOUNTAINS. 'lb Telegraph—Press Association- Copyright) LONDON. January 20. Further news of the operations of Britons deep inside Abyssinia reveals that when no reports were received from the original mission sent to organise the natives a British major took off by plane from the Sudan. His first task was to find whether the mission was functioning. A mors.'igG was sent to the headquarters of the Abyssinians so that fh<plane* could be guided to its destination. Because of the mountainous• nature of the country it was neces-.ny to use an old type of plane capable of landing in a small area. In spite (*f the danger of meeting Italian aircraft en route, it was necessary to make the flight by day. The plane’s crew consisted of the major. >i pilot and an observer. Difiieu It weather conditions nearly brought about a erash, and later it was considered advisable to jettison the ammunition and supplies to secure greater height is: the* mountainous country when an upward current « f ail sent the platte !., a safe altitude. Dilllculty of w curing ticctir.de bearings later rm.c.i tra- pinni’ to 1. flown about 50 Ret , b v<- m-mri-lains. Just wrier- it •? in sight crash landing would become ip-ci guy. their objective w:;s sighted. On landing the party w.c; ■airr-iund-cd by thousand.; of chth-ring Abyrami.ins, and there they discovered the members of the origin rd nusrs:; The major addressed a targe gathering < ! Abyssinian chieftains and assured them that Britain was ‘ ’hr r aid. Afterward the Rrimh -fl , . - . baptised by high Kth -r-| ; partook in a great Three days after th- ;; h returned to the Sud; — th-- •; ■■ ■ aid was fulfilled 1; A F attacked an Italian ;tr ; i ; the ranircc the Blue N I’V Tprrial nrranrr;-;ra- !!:• j'r.-'" ■' ■■■: ri’lVirc. In n•!>!:•; ->n "a oilier -,;.r ■ Of li.fii-fnatliin. Is iiwl in the < * fir ovrrsr.ll Intritlf rr.re 1 i-.-.ur, and all rights therein in ,v > .1 tirv.’ Zealand ate r.'-erve-J.