TRANS-ATLANTIC FLYERS SAFE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 18, 15 October 1927, Page 11

TRANS-ATLANTIC FLYERS SAFE

AEROPLANE AMERICAN GIRL FORCED DOWN OFF AZORES DRAMATIC RESCUE OF MISS ELDER AND CAPTAIN HALDEMANN JUST BEFORE MACHINE BURST INTO FLAMES The monoplane American Girl, which started from New ; [York on a flight to Paris, was forced down off the Azores ! owing to a broken oil-line. The pilots, Miss Elder and Cap- ; tain Haldemann, were dramatically rescued by a Dutch steamer just before the ’plane burst into flames. Both are well.- ' •

By Telegraph.—Press A:

isociation.—Copyright.

Rugby, October 13. At midday to-day no news had reached London of the American monoplane American Girl, piloted by Miss Ruth Elder and Captain Haldemann, which left New York at 3.30 a.m. Greenwich mean time yesterday, and should have arrived at Le Bourget, Paris, this morning. The machine was last reported to have been seen by a vessel 400 miles over the Atlantic yesterday. Fears for the safety of the Transatlantic flyers had been growing during the day, but this evening it was announced from New York that a wireless message had been received from the liner Olympic, relayed by the liner Leviathan, that “Ruth Elder picked up off Azores by Dutch steamer Barendroecht. Both well.”—British Official Wireless. Paris, October 13. The dramatic nature of Miss Elder’s unexpected rescue was enhanced by the fact that the aeroplane burst into flames almost the instant the pilots boarded the ship, and burned furiously to the water’s edge. It was almost exactly on its correct course and on time. Experts believe that having covered more than half the journey and reached a good weather area, it would most likely have reached Paris, because the monoplane was almost an exact counterpart of Lindbergh’s. At Le Bourget there was a scene of constant excitement. The girl’s flight was on everybody’s lips. At midday 5000 people were waiting. As the afternoon wore on there was a monotonous repetition from the coastal lookouts : “No signs,” and the crowd dwindled. Aviators of all nationalities, including German, journalists, photographers, and members of the welcome committee discussed the chances. None held out a hope. Le Bourget wireless officers. listened to ships along the route questioning each other. London and Dublin could be heard calling the ships. The Government instructed all naval stations to send out searching seaplanes. Two trunks filled with pretty clothes were awaiting Miss Elder; also a special boudoir fitted up to surprise her. BROKEN OIL-LINE New York, October 13. The steamship. Olympic sent a .wireless message on Thursday morning that the American Girl had been forced to alight on the ocean off the Azores with a broken oil-line. The aviators were safe.■ THE FIRST NEWS . Paris, October 13. The first news of Miss Elder was received in an American newspaper office in Paris by wireless from the . steamer Barendroecht, saying: “Landed by Barendroecht w'ith broken oil-line. Both O.K. Signed, Ruth Elder.” It is believed the position of the Barendroecht was 600 miles north-east of the Azores. COSTE’S FLIGHT TO BRAZIL (Rec. October 14, 11.45 p.m.) London, October 14. r A message from St. Louis (Senegal) States that the French airman Coste resumed his flight to Brazil this morning-

SMITH’S FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

EXHAUSTIVE TESTS OF ’PLANE (Rec. October 14, 7.45 p.m.) San Francisco, October 14. Lieut. Kingsford Smith has been granted a temporary license by the Department of Commerce, giving the ’plane the necessary sanction to . traverse State lines within the nation. The flyers immediately announced that the ’plane would be given exhaustive full-load tests. They plan to check the engine and 'plane over Southern California. The schedule of test flights has not yet Ueen announced. COBHAM’S FLIGHT ROUND AFRICA Rugby, October 13. Sir Alan Cobham will begin a 20,000 miles flight for surveying, purposes next month right round Africa, returning via the .West Coast. He will use an all-metal'flying-boat, fitted with two Rolls-Royce Condor engines. His object is to bring about the early inauguration of a British air route through Africa. The flying-boat will pass up the Nile to Victoria Nyanza, and will then follow the chain of Tanganyika and Nyassa Lakes to the East . Coast at Beira. Thence the route will be round the coast via Durban and Cape Town, to Walfisch Bay, and on to the Congo,’ Nigeria, Gold Coast, and Sierra Leone, round French West Africa, Morocco, and Spain, and so back to London. The Air Ministry, realising the utility and importance of the flight, has loaned the flying-boat to Sir Alan Cobham.—British Official Wireless. SCHNEIDER CUP RACE PROPOSED SITES Rugby, October 13. The Royal Aero Club has under consideration a number of proposed sites for next year’s international air race for the Schneider Trophy, which will be flown over British waters in consequence of Flight-Lieutenant Webster’s victory in this year’s contest. Several seaside resorts on the west, east, and south coasts are advocating their respective localities.—British Official Wireless. FATALITIES IN AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE Sydney, October 14. Since 1925 fourteen members of the Australian Air Force have been killed in the Commonwealth, eleven of them belonging to the permanent staff, and three to the citizen forces. The compensation paid in connection with their deaths was £6543.