CALIFORNIA TO NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 12

CALIFORNIA TO NEW ZEALAND

Pan-American Airways Flying-Boat Completes Long Journey

TUMULTUOUS AUCKLAND WELCOME

Thousands Line Waterfront to Watch Machine Land

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, .March 30. Out of a grey eastern sky the Pan-American Airways Sikorsky flying-boat flew gracefully over Auckland Harbour at 4.4? this afternoon to complete its great survey flight from San Francisco’s Golden Gate to New Zealand. Thousands lined both the Auckland and North Shore waterfronts to wave and cheer an excited welcome to the plane which, by its flight to-day, completed an important page in New Zealand’s history. A dense crowd gathered at the landing dais between King’s Wharf and the Devonport vehicular ferry, and a great crescendo of cheering broke out as the clipper roared its way to its moorings. The clipper left Pago Pago at 5.30 a.m. to-day, New Zealand time. Throughout her 1850 miles’ flight she wag in constant radio communication with the Pan-American Airways’ radio “shack” in Auckland and frequent progress messages were received throughout the day. At 4 p.m. Captain Musick, the commander, radioed that he had sighted the Great Barrier Island and, as the news of the approach of the Sikorsky spread round the town, the crowd on the water front rapidly grew, and excitement increased. At 4.43 the clipper was sighted at Tiritiri lighthouse, and two minutes later the great silver-grey leviathan of the skies came out of the clouds between Mount Victoria and North Head, and roared its way up the harbour, round the city, and back over Orakei to come up the harbour again. With all the grace of a bird she skimmed the water. As she landed cheers broke from the thousands who lined the waterfront.