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R 33 RETURNS

CREW OVATIONED

A SUPREME TEST,

BIG HOLE IN THE SHIR

■IUSTKALIAN ANI) N.Z. CAHLE ASSOCIATION

LONDON, April 17. Crowds gathered at Pulliam last night in anticipation of the return of R-33. 1 hey were disappointed when the news leaked out,that she was unlikely to arrive home before late in the utteriioon. Anxiety was allayed hv the assurance of radios received from the ship, which indicated the men were as happy as skylarks. LONDON, April 17.

An examination of R 33 shows that her nose, fabric was ripped to tatters. There i s a gash measuring 2:100 square feet.

thousands gathered on the seafront at Lowestoft, eagerly watching the approaching cratt..which passed over the town, where there were further crowds of anxious watchers gathered by every means of locomotion. Great cheers were, raised when the ejrnft was sighted. The work of manoeuvring the ship to tlie hangar occupied some, ninety minutes. The faithful gunboat Godetin, accompanied by Dutch destroyers, followed the vessel until she made land. LONDON, April 17.

Delighted rclatives aflection atelv greeted the weary crew when disembarking from R 33. They were taken to huts for refreshments,' before returning for much-needed sleep. The crew lolt severely the cold night, hut they were very cheerful. •‘Whose got any cigarettes ?” was almost the general equiry from the crew- of R 33 a.s they climbed out from the gondolas. They had been greeted with rousing cheers from thousands gathered at Pulliam, where the onlookers were amazed to see the extent of the damage to the airship’s fabric. Its arrival was almost marked by a- tragedy. One of the mooring wheels was stall hanging from its rope, and it just missed the. roof of a house. Then it swung over the heads of the crowd, and iinullv shattered a

Everybody idolised Flag-Lieut. Booth, who pleaded: ‘‘All I want is sleep.” The wireless operator Keeley, was also worn out. Both were glad to get a wav to rest.

There was general surprise at the little effects of the buffeting among the crew, who explained that the climax was in lighting the gale over Ymouidcu, Holland. The wind just howled in wicked gusts. This battle went on for nine hours in the area ol fifty square miles. The airship was first over Holland; then it was swept out to sea, and then hack again. I was after midnight before Booth was able to keep her nose headed homewards. Theraftcr, the crew never thought of losing. “There is nothing to say. it was nothing at all,” said Lieutenant Booth, edging away from the press reporters, who were anxious to interview him, after the landing. Lieutenant Booth relates that when the rni-hap occurred, a bow girder also broke, fracturing the foremost gasbag, the leakage from which proved a grave danger. The bag was dell a ted. and then it was lashed to the framework, creating a new bulkhead. But lor this prompt safeguard, the airship would have been lost within an hour.

fine of the engineers was more , oiu munieative. lie. said: “Till 3.1-a this morning, we were going backwards. All the time we kept her nose pointing home. AYe could not make any lieiul- ■ wa-v. AYe dared not run the engines all out, with the damaged nose. Sometimes we were rather low over the water. Lieutenant Booth ordered the lifebelts to be placed bandy. Nobody bad any sleep. The engines ran perfectly. They did not give us a moment's trouble. The wind abated before dawn, and we began to make headwav. AYe reached a speed ol 10 to 13 knots an hour. Then we know we were alright, but it was a near thing. AY lieu the ship landed there was only five hours’ petrol lolt.” c?eot-t declares the mast top carried away first. The airship’s nose was broken against the- mast. As soon a.s it was discovered that- she was drifting the crew lot the forward ballast go. Thereby the airship was lilted clear. The engines were running within three minutes. Lieutenant Booth examined the how. and foil ml the girder broken, and also found No 1 gasbag fractured. The airship wi’fi losing gas quickly, and this was extremely dangerous. The lm was laced to No 2 frame, thereby forming a new hulk head, and preventing Hie damage from spreading. 1 this had not been performed, the airship undoubtedly would have been lost within the first hour. Lieutenant Booth’s finest achievement with an airship in any country lias demonstrated that a damaged airship can DC brought safely through a storm to its home port-. Another story is that LULL at two o’clock in the morning, unexplaiiiedlv dropped seawards. Lifebelts were then served out. She was only 250 feet above the water, and she remained thus for half an lionr. Then, just as unexplainedly, she regained the former altitude. .... One of the most laughable incidents of the landing was a g''im engineer’s ..reefing from ft peephole: “AA'oll. we’ve brought the old girl home just ill time for tea.” Throughout the anxious night, the voinrn wireless man. Keeley, remained ' at his post aboard, keeping her in touch with the land officials, who were directing her movements. A graphic story of the grim struggle against the gale was told in brief telegrams. Progress was necessarily slow, as all the live engines were not used simultaneously, in order to conserve the fuel supply-’

tktbutk to booth. I {OXDON, Apvil 1". “Your efforts have been .splendid, a „d redound to the credit of all." were the words telegraphed by Air A neMnrshal Salmon. 1 to 1 Flight Lieutenant Booth. “They reflect the feelings of the whole country towards the thirty vcar-old hero who piloted the crippled aircraft safely home, after nearly 30 hours of au unofficial flight across the North Sea.” Mrs Booth had been a t Pulliam all

night long, anxiously awaiting her husband.

The vessel limped home, with her nose badly damaged. Great rents were showing in the envelope, and the bare steel work was visible through the fabric.

LESSONS OF THE MISHAP. LONDON, April 18

Sir Philip Sassoon, (Under Sec. for Air) in an interview, said: “This experience- shows the need for airships to have ft speed of at least 70 miles an hour, compared with R33’s •70 miles. It- has also taught us .something regarding the construction of masfs, to enable them to withstand the heaviest strain. AYe have also acquired some knowledge of the rate at which anti-cyclones travel and of tlici tendencies and progress. Finally the combination of the -Meteorological Department, the wireless and the robust character of tho ship afforded inior: iition giving confidence and encouragement concerning tho construction future airships. The “Daily Telegraph” comments on the fact that an airship, which lias outridden such a. gale successfully carries a renewed sense of confidence i the future of the airship as a new means of quick travel all over tho Empire.

A leading official in the Air Ministry says that as a proof of tho skill of the crew in a supreme test, it was well worth while that the accident happened. The logbook would add a fascinating and valuable story among the world’s wonderful flights. RECRUITING AIRMEN. LONDON, April 18. The “Daily Mail” says : —The. London anti-aircraft brigade is carrying out a novel recruiting plan. Nightly during the last week of April searchlights and anti-aircraft, guns will operate against aeroplanes, dropping instead of bombs, pamphlets urging men between 17 and -15 years to join the Brigade, which is materially below strength, AMERICA’S DIRIGIBLE. WASHINGTON. April 17. It is reported that the Naval dirigible Los Angeles, in a test- ilight. on Thursday, sailed over the Rum Row and observed many of the crews heaving cases of liquor overboard. She secured photographs of persons aboard. The airship apparently acted on its own initiative, according to the Navy Department, but it is stated, that if I icturcs of value had been taken, they would he. turned over to the Prohibition authorities.

A AY I RE LESS CONVENTION. PARIS, April 17

The International Wireless Congress has arranged the following scale of wave lengths for amateur two-way operators: -—Europe, three choices between 11.7 and 95 metres, (i-7 and 70, and 17 and 13; Canada 120 and 115,

!3 and 111 ; United States, 85 and i->, 111 and 37 1-3. the rest of the world, 15 and 85 and 37-1 and 35.

THE KING’S CONGRATULATIONS. L.Recc'vcd this day at 8 a. in.) LONDON. April 20. The King has telegraphed to Sir GeofVrc-v Salmmul his hearty congratulations to Flight-Lieut. Booth and his crew on the splendid achievement of skilfully handling the R. 33 under such exceptional difficulties and trying cir-eumst-aiiccs and bringing her back safe !v l.i Pulliam. " I am sure,” Hie King emit nines, “the air bii'ce is as proud of them as I am."

Sir (•'. Salmoml replied: “A our Mnjcsiv’s gracious message communicated (o BOOUI and crew of the 11. 33. They are proud ol having had the oppoitunity of putting to test their lailh in the 11. 33. thus earning his Majesty’s approval. The Air 1 oree doubly appreciates voile .Majesty’s tribute to Booth ami his crew.”

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HOG19250420.2.4

Bibliographic details

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1925, Page 1

Word Count
1,524

R33 RETURNS Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1925, Page 1

R33 RETURNS Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1925, Page 1