CAPE YORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 239, 9 October 1934, Page 9

CAPE YORK.

LANDING GROUND PREPARED.

FLYING TO NEW GUINEA

When Svdncv Marshall, an Australian pilot attached" to Guinea Airways in New Guinea, was granted three months leave in April last, he created a new aviation record by Hying /lis own plane from New Guinea to Sydney. Up to that time this flight had never been attempted, and his three and a halt davs' flight from Lae, by way of Port Moresby and Cooktown to Sydney, m his Westland Widgeon high-wing monoplane, . was considered an aviation achievement. The flight from New Guinea to LooUtown, the nearest landing ground in Australia, involved a water crossing of approximately 400 miles, and although a feat of this nature calls for considerable courage on the part of a pilot flying a small land machine, Marshall, on his arrival in Sydney, did not seem to regard his performance as deserving the commendation accorded it in aviation circles. Mr. Marshall has since stressed the necessity of having a landing ground at Cape "York to facilitate flying between Australia and New Guinea. He stated that a landing ground situated at that remote part of the continent would enable the development of aviation between the two mainlands, and at the same time provide a point from which 'planes could efficiently patrol Northern waters. He determined to make an effort to locate a landing ground at Cape York so that on his return flight to New Guinea a landing could be made. He obtained an extension of his leave, and after considerable trouble arranged for a landing ground to be prepared at Cape York. In this work Mr. H. Vidgeon, a resident of Thursday Island, gave enthusiastic support, and as a result a suitable area covered with scrub and anthills was cleared. This landing ground will enable Mr. Marshall to land at the most northern point of Australia, where the Vacuum Oil Co. has arranged for supplies. By means of this landing ground the water crossing to New Guinea is reduced by approximately 100 miles, and a considerable amount of risk is thereby eliminated from the flight.