JOY OF VICTORY.

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

JOY OF VICTORY.

. MISS JOHNSON LANDS. | Tumultuous Welcome at Finish Of Historic Flight. WOMAN'S GRANDEST VENTURE. (United P.A.-Electric Telegraph-Copyright) DARWIN, May 25. Miss Amy Johnson successfully completed her flight from England to Australia yesterday afternoon, landing at Darwin a few minutes before 4 o'clock from Atamboea, Timor Island, which she had left at dawn. Tired, but overjoyed at the success of her long, lonely journey through sunshine, cloud and storm, with tragedy often a close attendant upon the wings of her machine, Miss Johnson, an Empire's heroine and the admiration of the whole world, came to Darwin out of a misty haze overhanging the Timor Sea. As her weather-stained, work-worn Moth, Jason's Quest, approached the land an Australian aeroplane met her ancl accompanied her to the landing ground. There a tumultuous welcome was accorded to the plucky British girl by virtually all the population 'ef the Darwin district. - Practically all the motor cars in the territory were marshalled round about and added to the sounds of jubilation with their brazen klaxons. As soon as Miss Johnson had been questioned by the health officer and had stepped from her machine she was met by Colonel Weddell, Government Resident, on behalf of the Commonwealth and people of Australia and given an official welcome. She was invited to stay at Government House. Miss Johnson's flight thrilled the people of Darwin and she was enchanted by the warmth of her reception at the aviation ground and later at the Town Hall, where the Mayor, Mr. Adams, welcomed her on behalf of the people, whoso enthusiasm was unbounded. A song, "Amy," by Mcta McLean, was sung for the first time in Australia at the reception. Object of the Flight. Miss Johnson said she had undertaken the flight to demonstrate the safety of present-day aeroplanes. She had no expectation of monetary reward,'but shehad accepted handsome offers or. remuneration for the story of her adventures. Describing some of her experiences Miss Johnson said,,she had made good progress all the way to Rangoon, but then her troubles started. After landing at the racecourse she toppled into a ditch, breaking the propeller and one wing of her machine. This caused two days' delay. From Singapore heavy adverse winds averaging 40 miles an hour, with n south-east monsoon, held Miss Johnson back. She could not reach Sourabaya, and she was forced down short of fuel 180 miles from Batavia. She took oil again, only tb land at Lyola in a ricefield. From Samarang to Sourabaya Miss Johnson took a short cut over the Java Sea. Heavy squalls and tropical rains beat the aeroplane down so much that sometimes she was gliding only a few feet above the waves and expecting every minute to hit the water. On one /occasion she was surrounded by rainstorms' which produced such a weird effect that she almost lost her nerve, it seemed so supernatural. When attempting to reach Atamboea in one hop darkness overtook her ami sho landed at the village of Haliloelik, 16 miles from her intended destination for the day.. ' Half naked natives surrounded her and sho was terrified, but followed them. The only word sho understood was •'pastor," and after travelling- two miles they came to a church. The "pastor" was a priest who fixed things up for Miss Johnson.so that she was able to return to her'aeroplane and fly to Atamboea and complete the trip. For long hours yesterday the people of Darwin waited for word of Miss Johnson's departure from Atamboea, which she left tired but full of hope and cheered by the plaudits of admiring well-wishers. The crew of an oil steamer, the Phorus, stationed on the route of the flight about midway between Timor Island and Australia, v saw Miss Johnson's machine pass over them before noon and followed it. People gathered from all parts of Darwin, and the reports from-the Phorus made it clear that the Moth should arrive about four o'clock. Escort Leaves Darwin. The excitement grew more and more intense, especially when Captain Jones took off in the aeroplane Spirit of Australia to go out, meet the girl flyer, and escort her to land. Captain Jones circled round, waiting, like the citizens below. Then was seen another dot against the misty curtain suspended off the shore. The dot grew more distinct, and the Spirit of Australia was seen to make toward the advancing stranger. The two machines met and Captain Jones turned and kept, company with Jason's Quest as it, winged its way 1 toward the shore. J Then, amid the cheers ancl acclamation of the delighted crowd of spectators, Miss Amy Johnson drew nearer and nearer, circled above the landing ground, and came to earth and to her journey's em l_ a journey that will livC _ in the annals of aviation and the history of British endeavour. Call Me "Johnnie." At the civic reception in the evening Miss Johnson asked the speakers who addressed her as Miss Johnson to use the term "Johnnie," which she declared was the name she was known by in England. She is a good speaker and she kept her audience's attention riveted when she was returning thanks for the welcome accorded to her. She said all the hardships she had endured were well worth while in order to experience such wonderful treatment and so remarkable a welcome. A message from Sydney says Darwin's delirious welcome to Miss Johnson ("Johnnie") is reflected throughout Australia. Everywhere her name is oh all lips and a great sigh of relief as well as a feeling of pride greeted the news of her actual arrival at the northern gateway to the Commonwealth. Thousands of messages are pouring in upon the heroine of the epic flight, includin<i one of welcome and congratulation '"from Mr. J. IT. Scullin, Prime Minister, on behalf of the Common wealth, ancl another from Mr.T. I! -Bavin, Premier of New South Wales, on i behalf of this State. ,