PERTH SURPRISED

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10664, 14 August 1928, Page 5

PERTH SURPRISED

KINGrTORD SMITH LANDS UNEXPECTEDLY-

GREETED ONLY' BY AERODROME OFFICIALTHRIVED TWO AND N-HALF-HOURS BEFORE SCHEDULE. GREAT NON-STOP FLIGHT. TWO THOUSAND MILES IN 23 HOURS. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copy-rich* 'Australian Press Association.) PEItTH. August 13. The Southern Cross’ landing at Mayiauds aerodrome on" Sunday morning was remarkable lor the fact that only one person was present, namely an aerodrome ofiicial, Mr. Soule,' who had marked the landing spot by laying down iwo huge sheets, which enabled the aviators to make a fine landing on the waterlogged flat. “How do you do, everybody,'’ remarked Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, when lie was greeted cordially bv the enthusiastic Mr. Scale, who hastened to explain that nobody expected the aviators, who were two and a-lialf hours before their scheduled hour of arrival. Squadron-Leader SmiLii cheerily answered: “It’s better to be here early than nut at all. News of their arrival spread like wild-tir«. Cars filled w ith people were soon swarming over tile enclosure. Mr IT. Millington, Minister of Agriculture, welcomed the aviators on behalf of the Government, and apologised for his lateness, which was due to a' confusion in times, somebody in authority having failed to realise that Perth was two hours different from Melbourne.

The airmen were worn aiM tired. Messrs. Litchfield and McWilliams wero cramped and unable to stand after alighting from the cockpit, but soon recovered and faced the photographers. They gathered up their own luggage and w r ere driven to the Palace Hotel, where Messrs. Litchfield and McWilliams went straight to bed. The aviators w ill be entertained bv the civic and other authorities today, to-morrow and Wednesday. The return journey to Adelaide will begin next Saturday or Sunday. The approximate distance between Melbourne and Perth is 2000 air miles, which was accomplished In 23 hours 24 minutes, and was the first non-stop flight across the Commonwealth. It is regarded as one of the finest feats of aviation, more so as the aviators encountered a head wind and were never more than five minutes without rain and blind flying. Squadron-Leader Smith and Lieutenant Ulm pay warm tributes to Mr Litchfield and Mr. McWilliams.