AIRMEN SAFE.
Story Of Civilian Flight To Honolulu. FOG CAUSES DIFFICULTIES. HONOLULU, July 17. Tiie attempt by civilians to beat the flight of the army airmen. Lieutenants Maitland and Hegenberger, from San Francisco to Honolulu, ended disastrously when the monoplane, City of Oakland, piloted by Mr. Ernest Smith, and Mr. Emery Bronte, as navigator, crashed into the trees on Molokai Island, about 50 miles from their goal, owing to shortage of fuel. Neither of the airmen injured.
The whole flight took place in fog, but the wireless worked perfectly, except for a failure of the receiving set shortly before the mishap.
The fog caused peculiar difficulties. Constant mirages of land with distinct images of farm houses proved a torment. The failure of the automatic petrol-feed compelled them to manipulate the handpump for many hours, and the derangement of the petrol indicator n.ade them fear their petrol would suddenly dive out. They therefore prepared to 'ami on the sea.
When they were near enciiili t*> -ethe water (tor the first time sln-v th. y started) the "plane suddenly spurt ••••I upwa "d and they ?j«' Moioka: J-land, and an instant Inter they cpt-hed in thtree>.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 167, 18 July 1927, Page 7
Word Count
194AIRMEN SAFE. Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 167, 18 July 1927, Page 7
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