LOST IN FOG

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 July 1927, Page 5

LOST IN FOG

WANDERED ROUND FRANCE.

BYRD’S DRAMATIC TRIP.

SEEKING A REFUGE,

BY OABLE PUMS A SSOC'I ATIUN— GOB Y KIG U.T LON I'UN, July 2.

No story of aviation had a more dramatic ending than Miss America's i. lust nous Uigur o.er tnousands oi miles of the .Atlantic in log aim rain, vvitn freezing winds, only u> 'oe hopelessly lost m blinding rain and tog o.er I’ranee, then to descend in the Channel 2UO yards from a tiny village, \ irtually wrecuing tiie aeroplane. The mysterious and dramatic five hours’ night night around France, often within earshot of tne goal, has not yet been cleared up, ana may never be so, because Commander Byrd and his companions. shut oil from the world, their compasses irreparably .tlisordeied, just hew bandiy, seeking- lights or beacons denoting a refuge. It is believed, they passed over Baris and 1-e Bourget, and then unwittingly flew south. In the meantime there were confused wireless messages from the air, so bluned a-s to be untranslatable. At midnight on Thursday tne Havre station requested that transmission should cease in order to let Havre concentrate on the aeroplane Miss America-, which did not answer. The airmen were steering from their real goal (I.e Bourget) towards Havre when suddenly they saw the beams of \ensurmer lighthouse. It was then. 3.32 a.m., five hours after they should have landed. Petrol was running out and tne central engine was stopped. It was then decided to make the descent. The lorce of the impact shattered the Miss America, the forepart of which bi oke. The sea was running high and dense blackness prepailed sborewards. Byrd and Neville were the most exhausted of the party. Byrcl nearly tainted when taken to,the village The others went to notify the lighthouseUeeper. The Miss America was half submerged, the landing gear smashed, petrol tanks perforated, and the propellers broken. The airmen slept till three o’clock, after which Byrd was enjoying a meal at the Mayor’s house at Versurmer.

COMPASS FAILS. A LANDING IN THE DARKNESS. AEROPLANE BADLY SMASHED. BYRD’S THRILLING STORY. LONDON, July 1. “We were lost as soon as we reached France. The compass, wnicn had so ably served Lindbergh, would not work, and the rain, fog and darkness shut out everything. \ve were nying lower and lower, and it was evident that we couldn’t continue,” said Commander Byrd, in describing the end of the journey. “I feared for the lives of my men, and when I saw the lighthouse I determined to land, whatever happened. He grounded sooner than we expected, tearing off the wheels of the landing gear. The cabin began to fill with water. We salved valuable scientific data and everything else of importance.” In telling of the voyage across, Commander Byrd said: “After leaving America we did not see either sky or water Our watches stopped at two o’clock.” The flight lasted 43 hours 16 minutes and it is computed that the aeroplane covered 3812 miles, as compared with Lindbergh’s 36 hours and 3610 miles, and Chamberlain’s 41 hours 55 minutes and 3790 miles. The unfortunate loss of direction ends the possibility of a return flight. Commander Byrd, nevertheless, says that the flight under sTich appalling conditions had established valuable facts. “For instance,'’ he said, “it established lor the first time the height at which an Atlantic aeroplane encounters the most favourable weather, and we secured data of the clouds which were encountered during 19 hours. In one way I am not disappointed that we landed on the water, as it dispels doubts as to how a lifeboat would work. Ours proved launchable even in great haste, but we descended solely because we had to. It wouid have been too dangerous to risk a night landing among the villages, hence I resolved to sacrifice the aeroplane. It depends upon its condition whether we shall rebuild the ’plane and take it home.”

USEFUL DATA SECURED

DIFFICULTIES OF THE FLIGHT

LONDON, July 2

In a statement to the Press at Versurmer, Byrd Lsaid he was gratified to ha\e been able to save the notes and scientific observations on the requirements of a regular air service between the Old and New "Worlds. These, he believed, would be Unique documents describing air currents, altitudes and temperatures. His engines were wonderful until the fuel ran out. The airmen were riot fatigued; they stopped only because they were compelled. The reception of wireless messages was hindered by the atmosphere and also by over-zealous people setting up communication.

AVIATORS WELCOAI ED

PLANS FOR POLAR. FLIGHT

PARIS, July 2. In pouring rain a huge crowd welcomed byrd and his companions, who were little the worse for their experience. They subsequently attended the Ely see and were, received by President Boumergue. The machine is bing packed at Vers urine r for conveyance to' Le Bourget. Byrd says that high winds will necessitate a three-engined machine fertile coming South Polar flight, which will be at an average altitude of 10,000 feet. As a precaution, it will be accompanied by high speed oneinjotor aeroplanes, which fc'uii dash back for help if there is a disaster. The newspapers generally conclude that much remains to be done before the landing of long distance planes is safe. The Petit Journal urges the start being made art night to avoid darkness difficulties when the airmen are fatigued at the end of the journey. BYRD AND ACOSTA INJURED. PARIS. July 3. It transpires that the jolt on landing on the sea injured Byrd’s chest and fractured Acosta’s collarbone. Both have been treated by a surgeon after being X-rayed.