MIGRANTS CROSS PACIFIC BY AIR: ARRIVAL TONIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22819, 14 December 1948, Page 4

MIGRANTS CROSS PACIFIC BY AIR: ARRIVAL TONIGHT

(S.R.)

AUCKLAND, Dec. 14.

A charter flight by a Skymaster of the American “unscheduled” airline. Transocean Airlines, is to arrive in Auckland today. Under charter to Pan-American Airways, the aircraft is bringing a party of 42 passengers from Britain.

Originally due on another special flight about a fortnight ago, but delayed by the recent shipping strike in Britain and a thick fog which held up other movements, the Skymaster is due at 6 p.m, Including several family groups, the passengers spent about a fortnight in America before they came on to New Zealand. Recent inquiries made by friends in Auckland seem to show that the party was organised by the immigrants as a means of getting to the Dominion. The 42 passengers include several children.

Although this will be the first time one of this company’s aircraft has visited New Zealand the company is one of the best-known of the American “tramp” airlines, and its activities extend over the North Pacific. Irregular cargo and passenger flights have been made to the Philippines and many other islands which were in the news during the war.