KINGSFORD SMITH

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3373, 3 October 1931, Page 5

KINGSFORD SMITH

ARRIVAL AT ATHENS. (Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 9.40 a.m.) Athens, October 2. Kingsford Smith arrived here at 7 p.m. WORLD'S FINEST PILOT. TRIBUTE BY MOLLISON. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 10.40 a.m.) London, October 2. In an interview, Mollison, who holds the present record time in the flight from Australia to England, said:— "If Smithy had beaten me I would have had another smack at the Australian flight. I will now attempt a London to Capetown record at the end of the month." Mollison further stated: "Smithy, lucky or unlucky, is undoubtedly the world's finest pilot—not excluding Lindbergh." Sunstroke Compels Descent.

A message from Smyrna says that Kingsford Smith declared that a sunstroke obliged him to descend at Milas. A DISAPPOINTED MAN. FAILURE DUE TO SUNSTROKE. (Press Association.—Copyright) (Received 11.45 a.m.) Athens, October 2. Kingsford Smith reports that he is a very sad man. This is the first time he has let his aeroplane down and cannot understand what is the matter with him. He thinks that the after effects of the sunstroke is the cause of his trouble. He hopes to be all right for an attempt at a record in some other way. The enforced delay at Milas was possibly for the best, as he believes an endeavour to continue while he was so sick might have been disastrous.

The following summary, compiled by Mr. R. Leslie Jones, shows the progress made during the flight by Kingsford Smith: — Ist Day (Thursday), 24th September. —Left Wyndham (Australia) 2 a.m.; arrived Cheribon (Ba-

tavia), 5.30 p.m. 2nd Day (Friday), 25th September. —Left Cheribon 3.45 a.m. (slept out that night); arrived Victoria Point following morning, 26th September, at 7.15 a.m. 3rd Day (Saturday), 26th September.—Left Victoria Point 11.30 a.m.; arrived Rangoon 5.55 p.m. 4th Day (Sunday), 27th September. —Left Rangoon 4.15 a.m. (stopped at Calcutta from 11.25 a.m. until 12.15 p.m.), then flew on without stopping at Allahabad to Jhansi; arrived at Jhansi about

6 p.m. sth Day (Monday), 28th September. —Left Jhansi 3 a.m. (stopped at Karachi from 11.15 a.m. un-

til 1.35 p.m.), then flew to Jask;

arrived at Jask 7 p.m. 6th Day (Tuesday) 29th September. —Left Jask 2 a.m. (returned to Jask and left again 10 a.m.,

stopped at Bagdad 5.30 p.m., refuelled, and left 20 minutes later), also stopped at Bushire to attend to engine; arrived Aleppo 11

p.m. 7th Day (Wednesday), 30th Septem-

ber.—Left Aleppo 4 a.m. Bth Day (Thursday), Ist October. — Reported at Milas, Asia Minor. 9th Day (Friday), 2nd October. — Arrived at Athens.