THE TASMAN FLIERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 292, 7 November 1928, Page 6

THE TASMAN FLIERS.

The action of the New Zealand Government in conferring Air

Force honours upon SquadronLeader C. Kingsford Smith and his colleagues, Flight-Lieutenant C. P. Ulm and Messrs Litchfield and McWilliams, comes as a graceful recognition of the services rendered to the cause of aviation by these pioneers of flying across the Tasman. The first named receives the rank of major in the New Zealand Air Force, Lieutenant Dim is made a captain of the same force and the others are given the rank of lieutenant. The story of the flight, from Australia to New Zealand was a thrilling one, and marked at once the courage, detrmination and endurance of these conquerors of the air. To SquadronLeader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Dim belongs the honour of makirfg the most memorable flight yet attempted in the history of aviation, crossing as they did from California to Australia and thence to New Zealand, blazing the trail fqr the aerial services which will, in years to come, help to. further annihilate distances, and- effect a great saving of time in crossing, the Pacific from continent to continent and from the Australian States to this Dominion. Daring, adventure and romance are all attached to the story, which covers an epic of valour hitherto unsurpassed in the conquest of the air. New Zealanders appreciated to the full the presence of these brave men who came across the seas, not in the comfort and luxury of the modern ocean liner, but in an aeroplane exposed to all the rigours of storm and tempest, and thus demonstrated the feasibility of linking up the Doihinion of New Zealand with the Commonwealth of Australia in rapid transit through the air. New' Zealanders applaud their dauntless pluck and rejoice to know that the Government, rising to the occasion, has honoured them with commissions in the Dominion Air Force in addition to recognising their services in more substantial fashion financially. They will be assured of a warm welcome wdien they next visit this country.