The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1933. A MISSING NATIONAL HERO.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11841, 24 January 1933, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1933. A MISSING NATIONAL HERO.

' The complete disappearance of Bert Hinkler, who, with “Smithy”, is dnei of Australian flying heroes, lias led to much, discussion on the unwisdom on a flyer’s part in (undertaking a lengthy .journey without lodging with the authorities a pla.il detailing the exact-route ho intends to follow. It is true that, prior to his departure from England - for Australia, ! Hinkler

carried out the requiremcints of pass* incr ; the Customs, but, from all accounts, he made a point of interviewing. 'thoso officials pome days before talcing off and, in the end, ho left Engl and'from a private' hangar in another locality. The’'exact route which Hinkler intended to follow would seem to he quite unknown. Ik was supposed that he would make his !first call at Brindisi, but, if th/ero was authority for any such claim,/the fack remains * that he was mot sighted ■there. In. some quarters, what !is suggested is that, as Hinkler was Inot seen at Brindisi lie met with ■some mishap on route. The general assumption would sqem to he, however, that ho .did reacli the Conitinemfc and wenk on. via the Swiss Alps. If this belief should prove to be ill-founded, a lot of valuable time iin which to make search for him has been lost! It is probably the position that Hinkler did decide to try new routes over certain portions of ,'fclie journey with the object of minimising the time occupied, and to ■enable’ him to create a new record between England and Australia. The point which his disappearance stresses is noi that the exact details of a lengthy flight should be made public property, but. that they should -at least bo handed to the authorities in th e country from which a start is made. No one can, of course, .question Hinkler’s ability; his wonderful record of aerial adventures speaks for itself. As a. boy, he sold newspapers to got .sufficient money to build a 'glider. In the Great War, he was a .member of the Royal Naval Air Force and was awarded the Distinguished Service. Cross. He was a member of the British Schneider Trophy team in 1925. In February, 1928, he won. world fame as a result of his opoohmnkior" solo flight from England to Australia, accomplishing the journey of 10,810 miles in .100 hours’ actual flying time.. On this journey, he broke a number of intermediate records as well ns gaining the honour of making the fii-st solo flight from England to Australia. In October. 1931. Hinkler made a record non-stop flight from Long Island (New York) to Kingston (Jamaica), a distance of 1800 miles, the journey being undertaken mostly at night. Then followed his meienric dash by way of Venezuela and Brazil across the South Atlantic to St. Louis (French West Africa) and on to London. For this exploit- he was awarded a rare distinction for a foreigner—the (Moroccan Cross—by the French (Moroccan Government and last year lie gained the Segrnve (Memorial trophy for 1981 tin award made to the British ' übiect held to have accomplished the mart outstanding demonstration of land, water or air transport for the year. There will be widespread grief if it should turn out that disaster has overtaken this most colourful personality in the World cf Wings.