Darwin to England in Less Than Nine Days

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 May 1934, Page 8

Darwin to England in Less Than Nine Days

FAST FLIGHT HOME.

AN UNOFFICIAL RECORD

Received Wednesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, May 1

The airmen Bernard Rubens and Kenneth Waller landed at Eastbourne, having flown from Darwin in eight days 12 iours. Rubens says that ho believes they have broken the record, but it will not be recognised, as it was not officially timed. Rubens and Waller had a thrilling moment over the Timor Sea. Their engine suddenly ran faultily and the ma chine lost height. The men were perturbed, but then remembered that one tank was not properly filled. It had run dry, and it was only a matter of switching from one tank to the other. They reached Calcutta on April 26 and Aleppo on April' 30. They left Rome this morning and had their worst day's flying- They experienced low fogs across France and flew blind through the Channel fog' till they saw a house which recognised as a friend's bungalow, and landed. Only thirty saw the landing, their arrival being quite unexpected. Waller explained that wlien they left Darwin they had no idea of breaking the record, but as they got on they found they were making good time and decided on the last two days to "go all out. The trip was most valuable in giving them a better chance in the Melbourne race. The worst section was from Rangoon to Singapore. The fog was so bad at Lc Touquet that the authorities forbade their departure. After waiting for a while they were allowed to go, having signed a document freeing the aerodrome staff from responsibility.