AMY'S STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 122, 26 May 1930, Page 7

AMY'S STORY.

» ROMANCE OF FLIGHT. Some Parts of Journey Like Horrible Dream. FRUITS OF SUCCESS. (United P.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Received 12 noon.) DARWIN, this day. - Miss Amy Johnson, relating the story of her historic flight from Croydon to Darwin, admits that on leaving England she Avas feeling "a bit scared" over crossing the Channel. She left Croydon with a good following wind, but in a heavy fog which suddenly lifted. She saw a small stream of water with land on the other side, and thought at first that she had turned around in the fog and was returning to Croydon. 'After five minutes she ascertained that she had crossed the Channel without realising it. In referring to her forced landing later on in the desert, she said the sand was fearful. It was her worst experience in the .flight. She lost all control of the 'plane, which -a. hurricane tossed about like a shuttlecock. She was dressed in warm clothing, and the heat was insufferable. Her sole thoughts were that her mother would be worrying, and she regretted that she had taken on the flight against all advice. Oh leaving Samarang she struck another fearful storm. Everything was black, and rain fell in sheets. She could see nothing. She was surrounded by an intense rainbow and everything was ethereal and almost supernatural. At one time she thought she was dead or dreaming. On leaving Sourabaya she was forced by lack of -petrol to land at Dora Hulala, 16 miles from Atamboea, in a field full of horses and cattle. On landing, she

found lierself surrounded by natives dressed; in, loin cloths, and carrying murderous knives and swords. A native chief caught her by the arm and led her away. Though scared she thought it better to submit. Having walked two miles she arrived at a church. . On sighting Melville Island she stood up and cheered and threw her pneumatic pillow overboard. She could hardly realise that her object had been achieved, and alternately laughed and cried-till she picked up the Point Charles lighthouse, and turned for Darwin. Her reception here was beyond her wildest imaginings. She-intends to return to England in September and take a position with the "Daily Mail,'i of London, at a salary of £10,000 for seven months. In this agreement she will be rated as aeronautical correspondent and lecturer. , Flight to Sydney. Miss Johnson leaves to-day .for Alexandria, Cloncurry, and Brisbane. She expects to arrive at Brisbane on Wednesday. Upon her arrival at Sydney, she intends to visit a newspaper office which classed her intention to fly to Australia as a "girl's bombast" and ask for the writer of the article and say: "I'm hero anyhow." When she realised she could not equal: Mr. Bert- Hinklcr's record, which she set out to lower, she became despondent and was inclined to abandon the trip, but Siam residents, tried to cheer hetup and told her that by long hops she could catch up. Others advised her to take it easy, while some, including Squadron-Leader Cave-Brown-Cave, advised her to abandon the flight as it Was hopeless to contend against the monsoons. From England to Calcutta was ideal flying, but from •Rangoon to Australia was like a hideous dream. It was a series of nerve-racking experiences and 1 marvellous escapes. At Sourabaya she found she? had been flying since she left Rangoon with a broken spar and also a broken speedometer. ADMIRATION OF' AERONAUTS. NEW YORK, May 25. Sir Hubert Wilkins, the noted Polar explorer, airman, commenting upon Miss \inv Johnson's flight from England to Australia, says: '"Her great exhibition of skill, judgment and courage fills me with "admiration. She is one who among others'is laying the trail of what shortly will be a regular air route to Australia from England." Miss Eleanor Smith, holder of the American' altitude record for women, gays- "Miss Johnson's flight is of international value. Her courage in overcoming obstacles was little short or miraculous." Miss Ruth Elder, who flew across the Atlantic/ says: "The flight is so marvellous that I wish I could have done it myself. We will invite Miss Johnson to the American women's derby." Mr Clarence Chamberlain, another Atlantic Aver, says: "It is one of the most/difficult aviation feats ever accomplished by n woman. _ It; leaves me breathless with admiration.'