ANOTHER AIR EPIC

Evening Star, Issue 22030, 16 May 1935, Page 9

ANOTHER AIR EPIC

Southern Cross Limps Home Daring and Skill Prevent Certain Disaster After a harrowing experience, in which for hours the old Southern Cross was flying lame within a few feet of the Tasman, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Captain Taylor, and Mr Stannage brought the crippled monoplane successfully to Mascot, aerodrome (Sydney) yesterday afternoon. All were exhausted and were immediately put under medical care. Unfortunately the whol.e of the cargo, and the bulk of the 34,000 letter mail had to be dumped. N The final messages received here per radio, and happily reversing the ominous bulletins that appeared in yesterday’s issue, were: — 3.46 p m.: Plane.in touch with Sydney. Faith in Australia has just taken off to him. It is estimated that the Southern Cross is approximately 60 miles from the coast. '4/46 p.m.: Southern Cross sighted land, 5.130 p.m.; Southern Cross off Botany. It will now he in in 10 minutes 5.52 p.m.: Southern Cross landed at Mascot.

EXCITING RACE AGAINST TIME tmm MULL AND DAMNS MANIFESTED SYDNEY, May 15. Only the superb still and daring of two of the world’s foremost aviators saved the Southern Cross and crew from certain disaster over the Tasman to-day. When the historic monoplane was about 450 miles from Australia on her Jubilee mail flight to New Zealand the starboard propeller broke off, rendering the 4 engine useless. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, realising his desperate plight, -immediately resolved to head the machine back to Sydney, but in an exciting race against time frequently it seemed that the crippled “ old bus ’’ was destined, to be lost. The anxiety of the crew was heightened by the fact that the other two engines showed signs. of failing', causing the plane to ■ lose speed and height. The crew will never forget the courageous act of Captain Taylor. When the order to make the port engine function properly was given he climbed on the wing and supplied a gallon of oil, which, gave it a new lease of life. When news of the Southern Cross mishap became known in Sydney’in the forenoon the public exhibited the utmost anxiety. Details supplied by the broadcasting stations and the afternoon papers kept the people well posted of the monoplane’s progress back to Sydney, and there were wide expressions of relief when it was learned that a safe landing-had been made at Mascot a.t 4.154 ,

SIXTEEN HOURS OF SUSPENSE ARRIVAL A DRAMATIC CLIMAX SYDNEY, May 15. Hero of another aviation epic, Sir, Charles Kings ford Smith, emerged from the fchlhe like a man from the dead. The crowd, obviously- very delighted over his safety, cheered and cheered, but his face was expressionless. A friend exclaimed, “ Great work, Smithy,” but Sir Charles just stared blahkly at him. Indeed, all the airmen showed the strain on their faces of a nightmare battle. Their arrival came as a dramatic climax to 16 hours of suspense. The Faith in Australia, with an Air Force machine, began to search for the Southern Cross at midday. Hours went by before their return from a point south of Sydney, with the Southern Cross well in the rear. Messages had been received about 3 p.m. saying that the Southern Cross sighted land 60 miles away, but a painful silence followed, and it was over an hour before it was reported that the machine was approaching the aerodrome escorted by a number of aeroplanes. It made a good landing.

Lady Smith, who wfs among, the waiting crowd, bore up well under the terrific strain. An examination disclosed that the starboard propeller was not lost altogether, but for fire or six inches in a vital part it waS splintered. CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE MIW RECEIVES OVATION FRSH fiRSWO SYDNEY, May 15. gtr Charles Kingsford Smith, supported on the antis of friends, was escorted through a surging crowd and placed under the care of Dr Banks,

who refused to qllow interviews. An official report was issued stating that he was temporarily deaf and exhausted. Taylor and Stannage also received an ovation when they emerged from the plane. Flying-officer Shiels expressed the opinion that the damage to the propeller was caused by a piston ring on the central motor flying off and striking the starboard propeller. TAYLOR’S DIFFICULT TASK The Southern Cross had flown for five hours fully loaded until the other engine began to cut out owing to oil pressure, the port engine failing. Taylor then climbed, through the cabin port to the disabled starboard engine, carrying with him a suitcase and a thermos flask. He haled the oil out of the engine into the suitcase and climbed back into the cockpit, which necessitated changing places with Sir Charles within a confined space. He then clambered out to the spluttering port engine, still carrying the suitcase, and poured oil into this engine and saved the situation. Flying-officer Shiels is Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s manager here, -'--ert.half the petrol jettisoned About half the Southern Cross petrol hid to be jettisoned, along with all the cargo. No attempt was made to jettison the mails until the position was desperate. This course had to be followed, with the result that, whereas 21 bags of mail were taken from Richmond, only seven small bags were brought back. It was extremely galling to Sir Charles to have to do this. There were times when the plane was so perilously close to the water that the greateast difficulty was experienced in getting it to rite again. PERILOUS MOMENTS THE FREIGHT DUMPED—STOUT AND HATS SYDNEY, May 15. The crew having gone to bed, it was impossible to obtain interviews, but it can be stated that there were occasions to-day when the Southern Cross might have had to descend to the water. Both engines were intermittently spluttering and making ominous noises as though threatening the worst. There were also many tense moments when the crew completely despaired of getting back safely, but the people in the city felt that, if anybody could bring home an “ old crock,’’ it would be Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, as he eventually did. It presented a sorry spectacle when it landed at Mascot. The freight dqmped into the sea weighed about 2001 b, and included a case of stout, a box of hats, and other merchandise, and a quantity of newspapers.

MAILS THROWN OVERBOARD MARY REGISTERED ARTICLES SYDNEY, May 15. Postal officiate stated to-night that, of 21 hags of msfils, 14 . were jettisoned, these including seven from Sydney, fire from Melbourne, and one each from Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. The 17,000 letters in the bags from Sydney included many from New Zealand. The bags brought back intact consisted of three- from Brisbane, two from Melbourne, and one each from Adelaide and Lauhceston. There were 800 registered articles in the mail, most of which is believed to have been lost and will be a liability of the Post Office, but the Post Office is under no liability for the unregistered letters and articles. It is believed that official letters and letters addressed to His Majesty the King have been saved. The Postal Department indicated tonight that there was talk of “ Smithy ” hopping Off in the Faith in Australia to-morrow night for New Zealand with the remaining seven bags of mail, but thb matter will not be discussed until to-morrow owing to the desire to afford him complete rest to-night.

TAYLOR'S HEROISM KINGSFORD SMITH’S TRIBUTE SYDNEY, May 15. Kingsford Smith told friends before retiring that the end of the exhaust pipe of the centre engine started to crack about 7 a.m., and finally broke off. “We watched it cracking. Then it went, and it flew into the starboard propeller, and the impact smashed the end off. If we hadn’t switched the engine off immediately the terrific vibration from the damaged, unbalanced blade would have shaken the engine from the wing.” “ Smithy ” paid a tribute to Taylor’s pluck. He said: “No other man in the world would or could have done what he did.” Aviators express the opinion that Taylor must have had to face a gale of 100 miles an hour, sufficient to wreck buildings, when he crawled out to the port engine. KINGSFORD SMITH INTERVIEWED GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT DF HIS CAREER STILL FAITH IN TRAHSTABMAN SERVICE SYDNEY, May 16. <Received May 16, at 11 a.m.) Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, interviewed, said although he was risking the lives of his companions he decided to keep the Jubilee mail until it was certain that the plane would go into the sea unless the bags were thrown overboard. “ I thought I could save the mail by jettisoning the cargo, but 1 it did not make the difference I expected. Without the co-operation ot Taylor and Stannage it would have been impossible to get back to the New South Wales coast, which grew closer at an agonising rate of time.” Sir Charles said he hoped that the consignors of the freight which was jettisoned would forgive him. “I feel I have betrayed the faith of more than 30,000 posters of letters, but I am sure they would sooner have had me save the lives of my companions rather than go into the water with the heavy load. The old bus is getting very old for the job, but a mishap like this does not alter my opinion about the possibilities of a transtasman service with modern planes. I wish to make no excuses, and I consider this the greatest disappointment of my career.” Captain Taylor said: “T hope this happens only once in my lifetime. The plane at times was only 20ft above the water,' and that water did not look good to me.”

FURTHER DETAILS DF FLIGHT TAYLOR MAKES SIX TRIPS TO ENGINES SYDNEY, May 16. (Received May 16, at 11 a.m.) It is now revealed that the breaking of the exhaust manifold on the centre engine of the Southern Cross caused a piece of metal to fly back and splinter the starboard propeller. The 14 bags of mail jettisoned included the whole of the letters from Sydney. The seven bags saved were from other States. During one of the occasions when the plane was within a few feet of the ocean Stannage began dumping the mail bags into the sea to lighten the load. CArgo and petrol, in fact everything that could be spared, were thrown overboard, including food hampers, boots, and spare clothing. This, in the opinion of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, undoubtedly enabled him to lift the plane to an altitude Sufficient to keep replenished the oil supply of the functioning engine. It appears that Taylor made six trips at? half-hourly intervals to the starboard and port engines. It was necessary to stop the port engine while he dinted along the strut to replenish its supply, and in this way the plane lost both altitude and speed. Each time the plane was within 50ft of the sea. Taylor climbed back into the cockpit and Smithy gave the port engine full throttle to regain speed and height. Again at one stage while Taylor was pouring oil into the port motor the plane dropped within 25ft of the sea. This caused Stannage to send out the wireless message which was received by the naval authorities to the effect that they were “ going, going, going down into the sea.’’ It was then that preparations were made to send the Sussex out. MR FORBES RELIEVED POINTS OUT ONE LESSON LEARNED LONDON, May 15. (Received May 16, at 12.00 p.m.) Mr Forbes said he was greatly relieved at Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s marvellous escape from a desperate situation, due to a wonderful exhibition of skill in the management of the plane. He expressed the opinion that one of the lessons of the adventure was that they still had not found the right type of machine to make regular mail and passenger crossings to New Zealand a practical proposition. WIRELESS ACCOUNT THRILLS EMPIRE LONDON, May 35. (Received May 16, at 12.30 p.m.) The ‘Daily Mail,’ in a leader says: “ Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his companions have added a new epic to the tales of the air. The wireless account of the struggle to Sydney

thrilled the Empire. He lias been nicknamed ‘ unlucky Smith,’ but pluck has replaced luck.” TRIBUTE TO TAYLOR'S HEROISM LONDON, May 15. (Received May 16, at 12.5 p.m.) The ‘ Chronicle,’ commenting ou Captain Taylor’s heroism in changing the oil in the Southern Cross, says: “ This; for courage, nerve, and devotion, compares with the proudest exploit of any service in any element.”