THE CENTENARY AIR RACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4411, 30 October 1934, Page 2

THE CENTENARY AIR RACE.

McGregor and walker REACH MELBOURNE. AND SECURE FIFTH PLACE IN SPEED EVENT. Melbourne, October 28. Squadron Leader M. C. McGregor and Mr H. C. Walker arrived at Melbourne at 7.55 a.m. on Sunday, finishing fifth in the speed section. They were held up on Friday night owing to dust storms and spent the night at Brunette Downs. Saturday night, was spent at Narromine and they flew on to Melbourne early Sunday morning. There were only a few people at Lavevton aerodrome to welcome the New Zealanders. When the tiny machine in which they flew from England was wheeled into the hangar the spectators laughed ' as it was accommodated under one wing., of Parmentier’s machine.

“Just a trip,” was McGregor’s comment. He added that the weather was had after Darwin and they became lost for a time trying to follow' the tracks people advised them to watch for. They usually petered out at a waterliole. “The cowling worried the life out of us,” said the pilot. “Every time we stopped we had to repair it instead of resting.” Both pilots looked well but burned by exposure to the, wind and sun, the machine being the only one in the race with an open cockpit. Though the handicap points will not be calculated for more than a week yet, McGregor, on account of the sipallness of his machine and his good time, is expected to be high on the list, notwithstanding the delay at Brunette Downs. Their time for the whole journey was 7 days 14 hours 58 minutes. Their time from England to Darwin—s days 15 hours 8 minutes — constitutes a record for a singleengined machine. The previous record held by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, was 7 days 4 hours 50 minutes. McGregQr’s actual flying time from Mildenhall to Danvin has been calculated at 81 hours 40 minutes.' The airmen left Darwin at 9 a.m. on Friday, and reached Newcastle Maters. 354 miles away at 2 p.m. They stayed the night af Brunette Downs, and arrived at Cloncurrv at 10.14 a.m. on Saturday. From there they went on to Charleville, landing at 3.28 p.m., and departing. at 4.9 p.m. They reached Narromine at 9 p.m. on Saturday. This was the hardest section of the flight, said McGregor. The engine cowling gave trouble hut after making an oil screen from a 'kerosene tin to prevent oil clouding the drift indicator they were able to get away.

Explaining at Charleville the delay between Darwin and that town, McGregor said: “The weather was clear when we left Darwin but we rain into bad dust storms just before reaching Newcastle Waters. It was not bad enough to detain us there so we took off for Cloncurry. As we proceeded flying conditions gradually became worse and at times it was impossible ot see more than a few yards ahead. We had passed Brunette Downs when the visibility became so bad that it was impossible to proceed further. Consequently we returned and landed' at the station. The country between Darwin and Charleville is difficult for flying at any time, and with bad weather conditions ahead we would have ran a serious risk of crashing if we had tried to proceed. -Consequently we spent the night at Brunette Downs.” The modesty of the New Zealanders created an impression in Melbourne. McGregor, when told by the Mayor that he was a hero, replied: “Oh, no! There is nothing at all like that about it. I am just an ordinary sort of chap who happens to earn his living by flying.” Maintaining his Dominion-wide reputation as a man of very few words, Squadron Leader McGregor dismissed his great flight in three sentences when broadcasting through the national networks of Australia and New Zealand on Sunday evening.

“Wo had quite a good trip. We have enjoyed ourselves and our machine went very well. We hope to be home shortly,” was all he said. His colleague, Air H. C. Walker, also had little to say, confining his remarks to the fact that they were very, very pleased to be in Melbourne after a rather successful flight, and that they would be in New Zealand very shortly.

As soon, as word was received in Palmerston N. on Sunday that Squadron Leader McGregor and Air H. C. Walker had landed in Melbourne, flags were run up at the Boys’ High School and at the Technical School. Air Walker is an old boy of both schools. He learned about the three “R’s” at the High School, and later attended evening classes at Technical. Air J. Murray, Rector of the Boys’ High School, cabled the school’s eonv graDilations to Air Walker.

In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon Mr J. A. Nash asked the Prime Minister whether tiie Government would consider making a grant to Squardon-Leader AT. C. AlcGregor and Air H. C. Walker in recognition of the great feat performed by them in being the first New Zealand pilots to arrive at Alelbourne. Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said he would be pleased to bring the mat’d* before Cabinet.

The following message has been sent by the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) to Squadron-Lea-•Mr AlcGregor and Air H. C. Wal-

kciy the pilots. of the [Manawatu Aero lOlub’s machine in the air race: “Heartiest congratulations on your fine achievement. New Zealand is proud of her sons.” HBWJETT AND KAY’S MACHINE DAMAGED. , Charleville, Oct. 29. Hewett and Kay, while taking off from Cloneurry, hit a fence, damaged one wing, cracked a spar and damaged the rudder post. Repairs will probably occupy two days.

Melbourne, October 29.

[Hundreds of congratulations have been received by SquadronLeader EM. C. McGregor and Mr H. G. Walker, who have made no plans for their return to New Zealand yet, owing to the accident to their friendly rivals, Hewett and Kay, whom they are awaiting. They present an unusual sight in one of the leading hotels. They have not changed the. clothes in which they made their flight, and smilingly said their luggage was what they stood in. '

. There is a prospect of a, Tasman air race eventuating.

THE OTHER. FLYERS,

Darwin, Oct. 29

Hansen and Jenseri arrived here at 6.17' p.m. They left Kpepang at noon.

The Stodarts arrived at Charleville at 6 p.m,. from Cloneurry, which they left at 1.45 p.m. Calcutta, Oct. 29. Wlright and Polando are still delayed with magneto trouble. Melrose arrived at Darwin with empty petrol tank’s. He was lost in a thick dust storm for hours, and his engine cut out a mile from the Darwin ’drome, but he managed to glide in safely. His actual flying time to Darwin is 94 hours. He left at 3.55 yesterday morning for Newcastle Witters. Waller and Jones are well on their return flight to England. They left Singapore at 6.20 a.m. local time yesterday for Allahabad. They passed Calcutta at 3.35 p.m. They are taking to England 4000 feet of film depicting the Duke of Gloucester’s arrival at Melbourne, and finish of the air race, also pictures for London newspapers.

The New Zealander, Mr S. G. White, of Rahui, Havelock North, who left England on a solo flight to Australia arrived at Darwin on Saturday at 1.20 p.m. He earned the admiration of everyone there for his solo effort in a tiny machine. 'White, genial and youthful, said he had been taking the journey leisurely and had not been out to, break records. He had experienced several misfortunes. At Jodhpur K the machine’s engine gave trouble, and at. Palembang he had malaria fever which delayed him some days. - White carries a spare propellor strapped to the centre section of the struts.

Commenting on the arrival of Hewett’s McGregor’s and White’s planes, the Sydney Sunday Sun says: “Who said the Kiwis can’t fly! Between Darwin and Narrowmine the air is thick with New Zealanders.”

FUNERAL OF CRASH VICTIMS. Naples, October 2fi. The British Consul General, Mr Fisher (representing the British Government), Colonel Hetherington (representing the Air Ministry and the Royal Aero Club), and the entire British colony attended the funeral of Messrs Gilman and Baines. The Anglican Church at Naples was decorated with the Italian and British colours. Masses of flowers covered the coflips, which were carried by Italian Air Force officers who formed a guard of honour. During the service Miss Edith Wilson, Mr GiTnian’s fiancee, placed her engagement ring on' the coffin and knelt beside it, ■ griefstricken. After the service the Fascist Militia carried the coffins to the Anglican cemetery where they were interred.

INTER-ISLAND AIR SERVICE. An air service joining Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson, and .Hokitika is planned by Cook Strait Airways, a new company, of which registrar tioji will be gazetted within a few days. The three main shareholders are the Union Steam, Company of New Zealand, Ltd., Newman Bros., Ltd., and the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company, Ltd.

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith left Naselai Beach, Fiji, shortly after 6 a.m. yesterday for Honolulu.

Arrangements for a tour of the Dominion to be. made by the two New Zealand crows in the Centenary air. race with their machines have been finalised. Hewett and Kay intend flying their machine over but the Miles - Hawk, entered from. Manawatu, 'will be shipped to Auckland by the Wanganella, which was due to leave Melbourne to'-morrow and Sydney on November 3, arriving at Auckland on November 6. The tour had been scheduled to commence from Auckland on November 9 and the itineraiy which had been tentatively fixed included visits to all the principal centres.