FOLLOWING THE FLYING BOATS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 11, 8 September 1939, Page 41

FOLLOWING THE FLYING BOATS

Commercial Services Keep In Touch

HE arrivals of two giant flyingboats, the Aotearoa from South- | ampton, and the Pan-American Boeing from San Francisco, within two days of each other, were featured Sy the National Commercial Broadcasting Service. Listeners to ZB stations followed the pragress of the flying-boats during the days preceding their arrival, and enjoyed an up-to-the-minute description of the actual arrival. Just before dawn of Monday, August 28, the Aotearoa took off from Sydney. It was 5 a.m. Australian time. The departure was broadcast by radio telephone from Sydney and relayed here through the Commercial network between 6.30 a.m. and 6.45 a.m. The announcer drew an extremely graphic picture. The arrival in Auckland was also broadcast. Commentary was given by Doug. Laurenson, of the 1ZB staff, who incidentally was a Royal Air Force officer. Associated with him was B. T. Sheil, Deputy Controller of the Service. As Captain Burgess stepped aboard the ’plane at Sydney a record, made at the actual moment of departure by Station 2UE, was handed to him. That record was played over the Commercial network in New Zealand the same night. The ship carried no mails or cargo. The record contained a goodwill mes-

sage to New Zealand from the Hon, A. Mair, Premier of New South Wales, and a message by Captain Burgess. A point of special interest to Auckland listeners is that the commentator was Harry Withers, once an announcer at 1ZB, and now attached to the staff of 2UE, Sydney. The Commercial Service was assisted by Maurice Clarke, General Manager -of Tasman Empire Airways, and his staff, who helped during all stages of the broadcast coverage. On the Sunday night preceding the atrival of the Pacific Clipper a special preliminary broadcast was relayed over the network from 1ZB by Doug. Laurenson. The programme included a recording of the arrival of the first Clipper in 1938, and the only recorded speech of the late Captain Musick. From the time the big Boeing left San Francisco on August 22, until it touched the water of Waitemata Harbour, listeners to all ZB stations were kept closely in touch with its progress, and for the last day of the flight, hourly progress reports were broadcast. The actual arrival was again described by Doug. Laurenson and Beau Sheil. Harold Gatty, New Zealand representative of Pan-American Airways, cooperated.