CROWDS GATHER TO WELCOME JEAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 243, 13 October 1936, Page 7

CROWDS GATHER TO WELCOME JEAN.

EXCITEMENT GROWS.

Expected at Sydney This Afternoon. STRONG WINDS YESTERDAY. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Miss Jean Batten, who arrived at Darwin on Sunday after her record flight from England, left there at 6 a.m. yesterday on her way to Sydney. She arrived at Longreach at 6.30 p.m. and decided to spend the night there. The distance from Darwin to Longreach is about 1175 miles. She left Longreach at 5.45 this mornin«, on the last 800 miles to Sydney, and stopped at Cliarleville. She left again at 9.15- She may also stop at Bourke or Narromine on the way to Mascot aerodrome, where she is now expected at about 12.30 (Sydney time). Hundreds of people have already assembled at Mascot. Miss Batten, it was later reported, had breakfast at Cliarleville. She said she was refreshed after her night's sleep at Longreach but showed signs of fatigue, adding that she hoped to be in Sydney by one o'clock. The airwoman arrived at Longreach instead of Cliarleville. She had hoped to reach Cliarleville before nightfall but a 25 miles an hour headwind reduced her speed. Late in the afternoon the impossibility of reaching Charleville before dusk became apparent and preparations were made to light Longreach aerodrome in case of a night landing there. Miss Batten landed at Longreach to the accompaniment of wild cheering from hundreds who had rushed to the aerodrome. Exhausted after battling with headwinds from Darwin, and deaf from the roar of the motor, she had tea in bed at a hotel and was asleep an hour after her arrival. Immediately on alighting she made a thorough inspection of her 'plane. She declined to discuss her trip beyond saying that the hop from Darwin had been "quite fair."

The New South "Wales Aero Club has arranged a special welcome for her. Over the Harbour Bridge she will be met by an escort of about 15 'planes. Miss Batten intends to have a few days' rest in Sydney before flying to ifew Zealand. Mr. H. F. Broadbent, whose record Miss Batten has beaten, says that probably he will attempt to regain it within the next 12 months. He is delighted with the airwoman's achievement and says he hopes she will get through to New Zealand and thus be the first woman to fly from London to the Dominion. • The risk of engine failure is not serious, says Mr. Broadbent, but it is essential that Miss Batten should study the weather conditions.