"FLYING SAMARITAN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 8, 11 January 1939, Page 14

"FLYING SAMARITAN"

NANCY BIRD IN GERMANY

The well-known Sydney airwoman Miss Nancy Bird, writing recently from Berlin, stated that she had decided to stage an exhibition called "Wings the World Over," as soon as she returned to Australia, states, an exchange. She is now collecting material in Germany 'and will fly to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark for more material later, returning to England early this year.

She has already received excellent support for her project from the German airlines, Royal Dutch Airlines, and the Zeppelin organisation, and many models as well as piles of material are being prepared for dispatch to Australia.

Miss Bird considers ber plan to be of great educational value, and she will approach schools and colleges in the Commonwealth as soon as she returns.

SHOWERED WITH HOSPITALITY.

When she reached Germany Miss Bird was showered with hospitality and was made an honorary member of Huse der Flieger, the German Aero Clubhouse, soon after her arrival. She also met the controller of civil aviation in Germany, who collaborated with other officials in arranging a programme for her, which included visits to the major airports. She thus went to Vienna, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Hamburg, taking ten days over the trip. The Air Ministry also gave, her special permission to take photographs on various airports.

At Frankfurt Miss Bird was met by representatives from the Zeppelin organisation and by the Mayor. First she went to see the new Graf Zeppelin, which completed its first trial flight in September. Miss Bird went inside the airship, inspecting it thoroughly, and also took some moving pictures of it.

With the Mayor's car at her disposal Miss Bird saw a great deal of Frankfurt, and visited Darmstadt, the chief experimental and construction works for gliding and gliders in Germany. There she met Hanna Reitsch, the, famous test pilot, who is considered to be one of the most important airwomen in Germany.

Miss Bird used to be known as the "Flying Samaritan" in the far northwest of New South Wales, where she used to transport a trained nurse by aeroplane to outback parts.