PACIFIC AIR LINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 11

PACIFIC AIR LINE.

MR. GATTY'S INTEREST.

MYSTERIOUS MISSION.

IN OPERATION IN JUNE ?

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, December 4. The cloak of mystery that still covers tlie movements of Mr. Harold Gatty, the Australian flyer, was given another turn when there arrived in San Francisco aboard the Matson liner Lurline, Commander Ralph G. Pennoyer, of the United States Navy, who reached the mainland after completing 18 months' service in mid-Pacific as v AttorneyGeneral in American Samoa.

The genial commander, who was on. his way to Washington, at first attempted to elude any knowledge of tlie mooted new air line connecting the Hawaiian Islands with New Zealand and Australia, but when his interrogator appeared to be conversant with the inner movements in this direction he consented to offer some comments on the situation. "Intense excitement is prevailing in Samoa these days with the prospect of an air line from Honolulu to Australia using Pago Pago harbour as intermediate base," he said.

He was questioned as to the mysterious movements of Mr. Gatty in assisting American commercial airways in investigating the possibilities of certain mid-Pacific islands being used as potential air bases. Commander Pennoyer, while not anxious to divulge any details he might be in possession of, said: "Gatty's presence has brought the question of the new air line very close to us. We feel that perhaps it might be in operation by the middle of the year."'

Gatty, who, with the late Wiley Post, circumnavigated the world in record time, it transpired, is now civilian instructor for the United States Navy Plying School at Sin Diego, Southern California, and is now on leave of absence engaged in a thorough search, of suitable air bases for the; proposed md-Pacific airline.

The "Auckland Star" correspondent was informed in San Francisco that Gatty is believed to be actually on the payroll of the Pan-American Airways System, a concern that has successfully conquered the Pacific between California and Manila in the Philippines.

The "Star" correspondent was also informed that the proposed route to New Zealand will proceed from Honolulu to Kingman Beef, which is an atoll in a lonely spot, but which is favourably located for the new-airline connecting Hawaii with the Antipodes. From Kingman Beef the airline will proceed to Pago Pago, in American Samoa, and thence to Auckland.

Interested authorities in San Francisco, fully conversant with mid-Pacific developments, told the "Star" representative that there was a possibility of the route being later diverged to include Suva, Fiji, as soon as "inter-colonial regulations are smoothed out." This same source of information said the anticipated service would be in operation, not later than August, 1936. It is understood that Gatty has left power of attorney with a naval officer stationed at Pago Pago, with the professed object of leaving American Samoa to proceed direct to Kingman Keef to continue his investigations. Important developments are expected in the very near future, but the post office authorities in Washington," through SecondAssistant Postmaster-General Harlleo Branch, have already announced that there is a good prospect of continuing the present trans-Pacific Pan-American Airways System from California to the Orient, by" instituting a new airway from Honolulu to Australia.