Non-Stop Global Jet Flight In 45 Hours

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28181, 21 January 1957, Page 9

Non-Stop Global Jet Flight In 45 Hours

(Rec. 9 p.m.) MARCH AIR FORCE BASE (California), January 19. Three United States Air Force 852 Stratofortress bombers, potential carriers of the hydrogen bomb, completed the first jet bomber non-stop round-the-world flight; today. They flew at an average of 525 miles an hour. The big planes, refuelling in the air. made the historic 24.325-milei flight in the unofficial time of 451 hours 19 minutes. This was less than half the 94! hours 1 minute required by the United States Air Force propeller-1 driven aircraft. The Air Force said that the aircraft followed a route that carried them over New Foundland. French Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the coasts of India and Ceylon, the Philippine Islands and Guam. A little more than half way around the globe, the eight-jet bombers made a simulated bomb drop off the southern tip of the Malay peninsula. I The 852 s were refuelled several times by KC97 aerial tankers. The Air Force declined for security reasons to say how many refuellings were made. The flight was kept secret until last night, even from the crew members’ wifes. "What does your little boy think of his father flying around the I

world?” a reporter asked Mrs Laura Hinkley, aged 32. Her husband was a radio operator aboard one of the planes.

“Around the world? So that’s where he's been,” said Mrs Hinkley. She explained that her husband had told her he was only going on a routine mission. The planes took off from Castle Air Force Base, near Merced, California, on Wednesday. It was no f until last night that word 1 leaked out that they were on a round-the-world flight.

Dr. Adams Case (Rec. 8 p.m.) EASTBOURNE. January 19 Earlv next week Dr. John Bodkin Adams will hear whether he is to be tried on a murder charge which has focused the attention of the world on this quiet seaside town. Five local Magistrates, who for the last week have been listening to allegations against the doctor, will decide whether the evidence justifies trial in a higher Court. So far 37 witnesses have been heard out of a total of nearly 50 lined up by the prosecution: Nurses, solicitors. chemists, bankers, and cremation officials ihave given testimony.