AEROPLANES FOR ESCORT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19928, 15 May 1930, Page 11

AEROPLANES FOR ESCORT.

♦- —— WELCOME TO MISS JOHNSON. PREPARATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. (wsited mass association—by electkic TEMSCUUPH— COPYBtQHT.) (Received May 14th, 8.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Mav 14. "When Miss Amy Johnson arrives at Darwin she will have an escort of several aeroplanes, chiefly from the Queensland Air Service, in order that she should not be exposed to any risks over the treacherous routo from Darwin to Longreach. Women's sports organisations in New South Wales and Victoria are awaiting Miss Johnson's arrival with particular interest and intend to give her a fitting welcome. She is certain to be overwhelmed with hospitality. MISS JOHNSON'S FLIGHT. ANOTHER MISHAP NEAR RANGOON. RANGOON, May 13. Miss Amy Johnson landed at Insoin, nine miles from Rangoon, at 5.30 p.m. In an interview she said that on leaving Calcutta there was foggy weather for tho morning journey to Akyab. which, however, was pleasant; but later she ran into terrible weather, with heavy rains and strong head winds. Owing to bad visibility she gradually came down to about 200 feet, then followed the coastline, and also the railway, till she reached Insein. where she mistook a playing field for the Rangoon Racecourse, but finding ll too small she continued her flight. However, losing sight of Rangoon and finding no other placo, she returned to Insein and landed there perfcct,V- . , . ,„• +„ While taxi-ing tho machine fell into a ditch, which she had not noticed, and thus slightly damaged the wings, wheels, and propeller. She herself was uninjured, and the engine was all If ropairs are finished she intends to take off to-morrow. MACHINE NOT SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. (Received May ldth, 1.15 a.m.) RANGOON, May 14. An examination of Mis 3 Johnson's aeroplane this morning showed that the damage was not serious, a wheel, the fuselage, and tho wing fabrics requiring repairs, which will be done locally. Miss Johnson is the guest of the principal of Shaw Institute. All going well, she intends to make her return flight m a fortnight's time. WILL ATTEMPT RETURN FLIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS TO AVIATRIX. (BBITIBIt omCIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, May 13. The Air Minister, Lord Thomson, has telegraphed his congratulations to Miss Johnson, wishing her success in the remaining stages of tho flight. Her routo from Calcutta lies through Rangoon, Bangkok, and Bourabaya, to Port Darwin. The next stage, from Rangoon to Singapore, is 1200 miles. It Is Miss Johnson's present intention to make a return journey from Australia in tho same Gipsy Moth machine Which she is now using. Before she acquired the machine it had done considerable service, including long flights when Captain Hope ÜBed it last year to follow the Prince of Wales on his African tour. Miss Johnson's direct routo to Ran* goon represented a distance of 600 miles, and involved a sea crossing of nearly 200 miles. This ib described as "tho danger route." Tho alternative route, which she declined to take, is along the coastline before turning in* land, and is about 100 miles longer. She flow over huge stretches of jungle with bo possibility of receiving aid if her machine had to come down. Enthusiasm is growing in Australia over Miss Johnson's flight, and a pub' lie fund is being initiated for presentation to her when she arrives at Port Dftrwln. Her present long flight is all the more remarkable as she had done littlo solo flying, and it is revealed that her longest solo flight previously was from London to Hull, 190 miles. London, May is. After an ovation at the Rotarlan Cm fcrence the president, Sir Charles Man der, read a message about Miss Amy Johnson's forced landing. Mrs Johnson, a grey-clad figure, was overjoyed when informed that her daughter was not hurt. She added that she would not be broken-hearted oven if Miss Johnson did not break tho record for tho flight to Australia, ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. FRENCHMAN CLAIMS A RECORD. 810 DE JANEIRO, May 13. Jean the French airman, in landing at Natal (Brazil), completed a flight of about 1700 miles across the Atlantic, taking 20hrs 12min. It is understood that a claim will be lodged with the International Federation Aeronautique for a record. The first part of the journey from St. Louis (Senegal) was easy, but the aviators radioed when halfway across that the cabin of the aeroplane was nearly filled with rain, caused by a storm through which they had passed. AIR MAIL SERVICE. SPECIAL LETTER BOXES PROVIDED. (BEITISH OFFICIAL WIBKLBSS.) (Received May 14th, 5.5 p.m.) < RUGBY, May 13. Pillar boxes for air mail correspondence only are to be provided for th«» London postal service. They will bP painted blue to distinguish cheni from the red pillar boxes for ordinary letters. It has been decided to fix a few of these air mail' letter boxes in the West End and the City as air experiment. The boxes will be blue. became blue is the colour people associate with airmen and blue is already the colour of the air mail labels.