CLOUSTON LANDS AT BLENHEIM.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 March 1938, Page 8

CLOUSTON LANDS AT BLENHEIM.

(By Telegraph—Tress Association.} BLENHEIM, Last Night. Completing the fastest journey ever made between England and New Zealand, the JDominion-Jborn R.A.F. airman, Flying-Officer Clouston, with his English journalist companion, Mr. Ricketts, landed his famous Comet monoplane at the Blenheim aerodrome this afternoon seven hours ten minutes out from Sydney—a record for a Tasman crossing—and four days eight nours seven minutes from England, setting a new record and slashing six days eighteen hours odd off Miss Jean Batten’s solo time. Three thousand enthusiastic people gave the fliers a warm welcome when Mr. Clouston brought down his machine to a perfect landing and taxied towards the hangar. After a iong and patient wait the people surged forward past the; barriers as the plane approached and despite loud-speaker appeals it appeared as if the fliers would be mobbed, but officials, police, firemen and territorials who were swept ahead of the crowd 1 managed to join hands to form a cordon which kept all but the welcoming party 1 at a safe distance. Mr. Clouston had been expected an hour earlier, as he took off from Sydney at 9,30 a.m., New Zealand time, and, averaging 200 miles per hour, was expected at Blenheim in six hours. However adverse conditions over the Tasman resulted in an hour’s delay, and the wheels touched the ground at 4.40. Having made a landfall at Mount Egmont, the Comet came down the coast through Cook Strait and came into the airport from the sea. The rate at which the ’plane appeared to increase in size indicated its great turn of speed and as it swept past the excited crowd her ultra-streamlining and pace made the ’plane look like a greywinged bullet. The machine was already at a low altitude, but, apparently with the intention of familiarising himself with the field in view of the take-off on the return journey, Mr. Clouston made no fewer than six circuits before putting the Comet down. The ’plane had ample landing room, pulling up with more than half the runway to spare. As the crowd surged round the machine Mr. Clouston opened the roof of the cockpit and waved a cheery greeting. After conferring with the president of the aero club (Mr. McNab) as to the housing of the Comet, he taxied the machine to the hangar, where it was soon safely accommodated under the watchful eyes of the pickets. Being overseas arrivals, the fliers had perforce to undergo medical and Customs examinations and, this formality completed, they were escorted to the temporary dais, where a formal welcome was extended by Mr. McNab, the Mayor of Blenheim. (Mr. J. Stevenson) and Hon. R. Semple, who came, specially from Kaikoura to represent the Govern- ■ ment. Before, mounting the dais Mr. Clouston was affectionately greeted by his mother, father, five sisters and two brothers, most of whom came in a special ’plane from Nelson. This was one of the four airliners and 11 other ’planes which had arrived following the announcement of Mr. Clouston’s changed plans. Subsequently the fliers were entertained at the aero club house, where there was a happy family re-union and Mr. Clouston met many old friends. Interviewed, the fliers said they experienced head winds practically throughout the whole trip from England, and this, with delays for refuelling and engine trouble at Basra, made them eight hours behind Scott and Black’s record to Darwin. Unless everything went perfectly, they said, that record was practically unassailable. Head winds were again, experienced over the Tasman, together with hail and heavy rain, making the trip very uncomfortable. The machine had behaved splendidly. When they set out from Gravesend they had had five records in mind and had broken those from London to Sydney and London to New Zealand; They hoped to break the New ZealandLondon, Sydney-London and, round-trip records. The fliers are remaining in Blenheim to-night and propose to take off tomorrow morning following a check-over of the machine, which is being undertaken by Cook Strait Airways ground staff. Mr. Clouston has fixed his departure for three hours after daylight.

i “IRON MAN.” SAYS FLIGHT WAS “NOTHING MARVELLOUS” BLENHEIM, Last Night. Although neither Messrs. Clouston nor Eicketts had had more than ten hours sleep since they left England last Wednesday morning they looked remarkably fresh on landing at Blenheim and made light of what would be a trying ordeal under any circumstances but which was made doubly so on account of bad luck in regard to the weather all through. Mr. Clouston, on whom the greatest ('.responsibility devolved, looked a little tired about the eyes but his genera! buoyancy of spirit was evidence of the stamina which has won for him in the Air Force the sobriquet “Iron Man.” When the formalities of arrival had been completed this afternoon Mr. Clouston had a long-looked-for talk with

4 Days 8 Hours From England. Tasman Crossed In Seven Hours.

Iris own people and the principal topic of conversation was where they would spend the night. Cook Strait Airways had generously offered to place the liner at the disposal of the Clouston family to fly them home. Notwithstanding what he had already been through Mr. Clouston was quite ready to undertake the trip, returning to Blenheim in the morning for the take-off. However, Mr. Clouston senior inquired what sleep he had had, “We had a good sleep in Sydney last night,' ’ replied the aviator. “We were five hours in bed.”

That settled the question, the flier’s mother promptly deciding that her son should not undergo further strain and the decision was made to spend the night at a hotel there, enabling Mr. Clouston to devote time in the morning to check up on the machine besides giving him a precious few hours alone with his people. When they replied to the welcome both men were in cheerful mood and made light of their recent accomplishment. Mr. Clouston expressed pleasure at being in Blenheim and appreciation of the welcome. “Our great aim was to beat the record of Mr. Scott and the late Mr. Campbell Black, but owing to strong head winds and really filthy weather we were well behind time at Darwin, so we had four hours’ sleep before proceeding to Sydney. ’ ’ With Blenheim counting as the capital, he added smilingly, they had broken the record from England to New Zealand and hoped to break others before they reached home again. Mr. Clouston described the flight as “nothing marvellous,” declaring that a thousand pilots in the Air Force and many in New Zealand could have done exactly the same, but it was just that they had a lucky machine and had come along smoothly. He paid tribute to his first instructor, Squadron-Leader Chandler, who had taught him to fly with the Marlborough Aero Club. “And a very bad pupil I was too,” he added. "It was such men as Chandler and ‘poor old Smithy’ who did the real work for aviation. ’ ’

Mr. Clouston concluded by inviting Mr. Ricketts to tell the rest of the story after describing how his very efficient co-pilot divided his spare time between tapping out stories on the typewriter and munching apples. Mr. Ricketts modestly contended that he was only a passenger on the trip. “He’s the big shot,” he said, nodding towards his companion. “All the way across the world ‘Clou. ’ has been saying he wanted to get to New Zealand and he was most unhappy when he thought we wouldn’t be able to get across. This morning when we left the Australian coast he rubbed his hands together and said: ‘This is the moment I’ve been waiting for for months. ’ ’ ’

ATTEMPT ON SCOTT’S DARWIN RECORD FAILS. ALARMING ORDEAL OVER THE TIMOR SEA SYDNEY, March 19. ' A Darwin report states that FlyingOffice:' Clouston, whose time was 7 hours 35 minutes outside Mr. C. W. A. Scott’s record to Darwin, said: “I am afraid Scott’s record has us beaten. The refuelling arrangements cost us valuable time along the route.” He added: "After leaving Singapore we ran into a blinding hailstorm, and the stones just pelted down. While flying over the Timor Sea we thought we were finished at one stage, and L believed we were destined for a watery grave. The oil filters became choked and the oil pressure fell with alarming rapidity, but we managed to get through. It was the most anxious time I have ever had, and I think Mr. Ricketts (Mr. Clouston V companion on the flight) felt as I did.”

TASMAN CROSSING SURPRISE TO SYDNEY. AN ELEVENTH HOUR DECISION Received Sunday, Midnight. SYDNEY, March 19. Clouston’s departure for New Zealand this morning caused some surprise in Sydney as the Daily Telegraph, which was sponsoring the flight, had stated that the Sydney-New Zealand portion of the flight had been cancelled and even yesterday published a radio telephone conversation with Clouston’s J mother wherein she expressed disappointment when told her son had reluctantly decided it was impossible in the time to make the New Zealand hop as he had at first intended. Even the officials were in the dark as to his intentions. He had requested that the machine be made ready and the tanks filled for six this morning. When the oil company official asked him as he stepped into the machine when he expected to arrive at Darwin, Clouston said he was not going to j Darwin but was going to Blenheim. : The acting-editor of the Daily Telegraph stated to-night that j Clouston had found, after his arrival in Sydney yesterday after-

noon, that it would he possible to continue on to' New Zealand. The Sunday Sun this morning said he was returning to Darwin immediately. Some twenty people assembled at the aerodrome to witness his departure and it , was evident when he turned east instead of north he vos going to New Zealand and not Darwin. THE SYDNEY LANDING Flying-Officer Clouston and Mr. Ricketts landed at Kingsford Smith Aerodrome, Mascot, at 3.16 p.m. on Saturday. The flight from England to Sydney occupied 3 days 8 hours 2 minutes. Both men wore several days' growth of beard and were obviously suffering from the prolonged strain of more than three days' almost constant flying.

RETURN FLIGHT. CLOUSTON LEAVES AT 9.32 A.M. BLENHEIM, This Day. Flying-Officer Clouston left for Sydney at 9.92 a.m., the Comet leaving the ground after using about 800 of the 1200 yards runaway. The weather was fine, but - partially overcast, with prospects of head winds for the first part of the Tasman crossing at any rate. The of 500 gave the fliers a hearty send-off. Many had been at the aerodrome since dawn. After their first night’s sleep of any consequence since leaving Gravesend, the flyers breakfasted at their Hotel about, 7.30 o'clock this morning and then proceeded to the aerodrome, where they checked over the 'plane, paying particular attention to the wings, which were slightly damaged by a hailstorm on the way over the Tasman, but which were repaired by the ground staff of Cook Strait Airways and the Marlborough Aero Club. About 8.3 U a.m. the 'plane was taken fropn the hangar and the airmen spent a long time seeing that everything was properly stowed in the diminutive cockpit. At 9.20 a.m. the engines were started, and after about ten minutes warning up the men boarded the 'plane. They waved cheerily to the crowd and taxied over to the south-western side of the 'drome, heading into a slight northwest breeze. The 'plane gathered speed quickly and rose without difficulty.

Flying-Officer Clouston circled tlxo 'drome twice, the second time sweep ing low down at a terrific speed along ’the ranks of cheering spectators. Th? ■"plane disappeared within a few minutes towards the threatening ‘clouds shrouding the hills between Blenheim and Nelson. It was his, intention to fly over Nelson and his home town, Mota eka, before finally setting out across the Tasman.

I Last night the 'plane was refilled I with petrol, and when the airmen left this morning it was carrying a load cf 204 gallons, of which 125 were put in at Blenheim.

From an early hour this morning, people began to gather at the aerodrome, Flying-Officer Clouston having announced last night that he would take off probably three hours after dawn. By the time the fliers had arrived at the field there was a crowd of upwards of: 500 present to witness the departure and demonstrate the keen, friendly interest that was felt in the r«cord-brealcing performance. Flying-Officer Clouston's mother and father and other members of his family gave him an affectionate send-off. The aviator spent some time in the office alongside the hangar ■ with his family and friends and relatives resident in Marlborough, before finally taking over the controls. His last act before turning the 'plane round to taxi over the aerodrome was to speak into the microphone to extend thanks for the reception accorded him and his companion.

A striking feature about the take-off was the ’plane's speed and the facility with which she was handled. Despite the heavy load of fuel, which was oniy thirty to forty gallons under the maximum. Climbing quickly, the

Comet was monoeuvred as easily as a light ’plane, and was soon lost to sight., FLIGHT OVER NELSON. VANTAGE POINTS CROWDED. I ■ NELSON, This Day. Clouston’s flight over Nelson district, was greatly appreciated. The ’planecircled the city two or three times and then proceeded over the port at Nelson, the Wahneas, Moutere, Neudorf (where Clouston’s parents live) and Motueka. Vantage points in all parts were crowded and farewells waved as themachine dipped its wings in salute.