PACIFIC AIR LINK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 287, 4 December 1941, Page 13

PACIFIC AIR LINK

FIJI'S BIG DAY CLIPPER OFFICERS HONOURED (0.C.) SUVA, Nov. 30. Arrangements for the Pan-Ameri-can Airways' service are now working satisfactorily. The base at Laucala Bay is equipped with suitable facilities, and on the initial flight, passengers were passed by the Customs and Immigration officials in a few minutes, and were taken by a fast launch connected with the service into Suva.

The Governor, Sir Harry Luke, with an official party, went on board to greet the captain and officers. To mark this historic occasion, his Excellency sent a telegraphic message to the headquarters of PanAmerican Airways in New York, on behalf of the Fiji Government and people, expressing pleasure that the service is now an accomplished fact, and appreciation of this additional and valuable link in the Pacific communications.

At a reception at the Town Hall, each member of the flight crew was presented with pieces of engraved tortoise shell ware and a souvenir book of Suva, with special reference to the occasion. Afterwards Captain Tilton and members of the crew of the Clipper visited the Defence Club, where they signed the visitors' book on the page dated June 5, 1928, which contains the signatures of Charles Kingsford-Smith, C. T. Ulm, H. W. Lyon and James W. Warner (two Australians and two Americans), who pioneered the transpacific flight in the Southern Cross. In signing the book, Captain Tilton said a great honour had been conferred on him, and it was a privilege that they had been able to complete the work of these great airmen.