OVER EVEREST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 149, 5 April 1933, Page 5

OVER EVEREST

BRITISH AVIATORS' FLIGHT. | ONLY A SLIGHT MISHAP. TEAK CIRCLED 15 MINUTES. (United Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, April 4. The world's highest mountain was conquered by aeroplane to-day when the two Westland-Wapiti machines provided by Lady Houston, and piloted by the Marquess of Clydesdale and Flight-Lieutenant D. F. Mclntyre, flew over Mount Everest (29,141 feet) clearing the summit by more than 100 feet. A copyright message received by "The Times"- from the headquarters <*f the expedition at Purnea gives the ■following details: —i The flight over Mount Everest was accomplished in exactly three hours, with no more fuss than a service flight in England. The only mishap was a fracture of the pip© of the oxygen apparatus worn by the cinematographer (Mr Bonnet). The mishap, which occurred over the summit was not noticed until faintness and violent stomach pains compelled Mr Bonnet to sit down m the cockpit. However, after tying a handkerchief over the fracture ho soon recovered sufficiently to continue taking photographs. The air .survey was not satisfactory because both cameras failed during part of the flight. Nevertheless it produced some magnificent photographs of the crest of Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks, including a closeup view of the entire mountain peak, showing the main southern slopes and the final ridge where Mallory and Irvine lost their lives, also the summit itself. The Marquess of Clydesdale said that both the aeroplanes flew over the summit at 10.5 a.m. They felt no bumps. They flew for a. quarter of an hour in the vicinity of the summit. Squadron-Leader the Marquess of Clydesdale is the chief pilot of the Mount Everest flying expedition which has been financed by Lady Houston. He is accompanied by AirCommodore P. F. M. Fellowes (the leader), Flight-Lieutenant D. F. Mclntyre and Mr Bonnet, cinematographer. The two ■ Westland-Wallace aeroplanes were to start from the Royal Air force base at Purnea, 250 miles north of Calcutta, and 160 miles from Everest, and to cross the jealouslyguarded frontier of Nepal. Thence they would fly 13,0001't above- savage wilderness and pathless jungle until Everest, which has hitherto appeared as one peak among many, stands alone and peerless. The airmen took increasing draughts of . pure oxygen, the, containers of w.hich were electrically, heatr ed to prevent freezing. The summit of Everest towers up to a height' of--29,141ft. The ambition of the members of the expedition was to secure for Britain the honour of conquering Everest, while air survey photographs will supply important scientific and geographical data. The fact that the North and South Poles have been reached by foreign machines renders it the more important that Everest, which is the greatest geographical objective remaining, should be attained, thus further stimulating British aviation enterprise. The possibility of engine failure was reduced to a minimum by exhaustive experiments. One of the machines used was tested at Yeovil, Somerset, on January 25. It reached a height of 35,000 feet. In a further test at Karachi, on March 15, one of the aeroplanes climbed up to 34,000 feet in ninety minutes. Flight-Lieutenant Mclntyre was the pilot. Mr Bonnet, who was with him, put his head outside the cockpit. He quickly found conditions impossible, as the wind penetrated his oxygen maslc, dispersing the oxygen and making him feel ill. The temperature was minus 45 degrees. Each machine is equipped with a Bristol Pegasus 600 horse-power engine. The flight from the base to the summit of Everest and back was expected to occupy six hours. Tho actual passago to the summit was to be cmcmatographed and tho observers' impressions recorded on a dictaphone. An a precaution against frostbite the exposed parts of the airmen's bodies were copiouslv oiled. The flyers wore electrically boated suits and earned special "iron" rations" in the events of a forced landing in some remote valley. UNFORTUNATE ANTI-CLIMAX. A 'PLANE FORCED DOWN. (Received This Bay, 10.25 a.m.) CALCUTTA, April I, There was an unfortunate anticlimax to the successful flight over Mount Everest, an aeroplane left Prunea this morning to reconnoitre Kinchin junga and had to make- a forced landing on unapproachable ground CO miles from the base. The Marquess of Clydesdale loft in a second 'plane with supplies of food and water. There is no news of casualties and it is believed that all are well. THE KING'S CONGRATULATIONS. (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. The King sent a message of gratulation to the Everest Expedition. The Prime Minister and Sir Samuel BOoare (Secretary of State for Air) were among many others who sent congratu-lation's.-—British Official Wireless.