THE TASMAN FLIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 8

THE TASMAN FLIGHT

A FRUITLESS SEARCH. SURPRISE FOR AIRMEN. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. A search for the transtasman fliers who were believed to be lost until they arrived unexpectedly at Mangere was carried out by pilots in three Auckland aeroplanes, two from the Auckland Aero Club’s headquarters and one from Hobsonville air base. Two of the club machines, which had been to Kaitaia for the pageant on Thursday, were flown over various parts of North Auckland this morning by Flight-Lieutenant Allan and Mr G. M. Firth The third machine with FlightLieutenant Wallingford at the controls was flown to New Plymouth and back. None of the searchers saw any sign of the visitors, although the club machines could not have been far away -when the Faith in New Zealand new down from the north in the early morning. Messrs Alian and Firth were surprised on returning to Mangere to find that the Puss Moth had landed there little more than an hour before. ‘‘Are you the chaps I’ve been looking for all over the country?” was the jocular greeting of Mr Allan. “We are sorry we caused concern to anyone. We tried hard to make contact with civilisation, but failed, and had to put in a night- on the beach,” said Flying-Officer Whitehead. The Puss Moth monoplane is believed by airmen to be one of the first of its type constructed when the model was introduced by the manufacturers in 1930. Within an hour of the monoplane’s arrival there was a crowd of about 100 gathered round the machine inspecting its equipment and somewhat crude but ingenious fittings. In the cabin the space for the two fliers was incredibly small, after the clearing of the seating accommodation and the installation of a petrol tank.

MACHINES CONFUSED. TASMAN AND AUCKLAND ’PLANES. ' Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. The Tasman fliers’ machine was Been by several people in North Auckland late on Thursday afternoon, but was not recognised on account of the close resemblance it bears to the Auckland Aero Club’s Puss Moth, which was in the same neighbourhood. Reports received from the north indicate that the residents were confused by the fact that a silver Puss Moth from Auckland had been flying in the vicinity of Kaitaia most of the day. Although nobody saw the machine on the ground in North Auckland, it has been established that it landed at East Beach, a little south' of Houhora Heads, on the east coast of North Auckland. People at Pukenui, some 20 miles north of Awanui, reported yesterday that they saw the machine, but paid little attention to it. One party that watched the monoplane included the local postmaster, Mr A. V. Wagener, but he, like Miss Kinane, postmistress at Houhora, mistook the Faith in New Zealand for the Auckland machine. The house which the fliers attempted to reach after landing is the home of Mr John Smith, just north of Motutangi River. Mr Smith sheltered some of the survivors when _ Hie Elingamite was wrecked on the Three Kings on 9, 1902. FLIERS’ CLAIM. ' ■“NOT A FOOLHARDY VENTURE.” Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. Any suggestion that their flight was foolhardy was repudiated by the Tasman fliers. . Both pilots said their machine was of a type in which they had confidence, other Puss Moths having accomplished long apd notable flights in many parts of the' world. They had prepared it carefully for the journey, and were carrying ample fuel to get them across safely. They did not carry wireless because they felt that such equipment would be of little value in case of a forced landing at sea. Their machine had been granted a certificate of airworthiness, but they had received a telegram from the civil aviation authorities about a week ago cancelling the certificate. This was no doubt due to the fact that they were about to attempt a long ocean, flight in a single-engined craft, and also because of the heavy load of petrol they were carrying. To comply with the regulations as regards loads and seating accommodation, however, would have meant reducing the petrol supply to such an extent that they would not have had enough fuel to make the crossing. They preferred to have less space and more petrol in order to bo safe. Actually the authorities did not know they were hopping off. AERO CLUB CENSURE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. “We applaud their courage, but we did not applaud their foolhardiness under the conditions that operated,” said Mr H. L. Patterson (Otago) at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Aero Club to-day, referring to the Tasman flight of Whitehead and Nicholl.

“Tragedy would have meant that the flight would have been a discouragement to clubs and flying in New Zealand and would cloud the public mind as to the safety of flying,” he said. “It would create a feeling that the pilots were hare-brained or lightheaded and that the Government is not keeping an adequate control on flying.” Mr P. It. Climie (Christchurch) said he had been criticised for his views on Tasman flying, but he had never had In his mind anything so ill-conceived and foolish as the flight which had (just taken place. Mr W. L. Free (Wairarapa) remarkfed that it was customary for clubs to fete Tasman fliers or aviators of note, but in this case the airmen had left without a certificate of airworthiness. He suggested that clubs should not give any reception to them. Mr Spence agreed and said that iclubs should not take any steps at all to recognise the flight. “When I heard of this flight this afternoon I was amazed. I was

shocked that these two men should risk their lives, so callous to all the anxiety they caused,” he declared. Mr T. E. O’Dowd (Hawke’s Bay) thought they were “going a bit far” in naming the two pilots. Menzies had also flown the Tasman in a singleengined machine. A voice: He had a certificate of airworthiness. Mr Spence: These men have broken -the law. , On the motion of Mr Free, seconded by Sir Bruce Stuart (Canterbury) it was decided: “That this club - discountenances recognition of any flights made in contravention of the law?’

VICE-REGAL TRIBUTE. “Of Whitehead and Nicholl, of ■whose success in their daring—although possibly over-rash—adventure in their Puss Moth we have just heard, all patriotic New Zealanders must entertain a profound admiration, declared the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe,

speaking at the meeting. Coupling them with Miss Jean Batten, McGregor and Walker, and Hewett and Kay, His Excellency said: “Their revelation |of the possibilities of aviation in this part of the Empire should stimulate the imagination and zeal of many youthful New Zealanders to emulate their skill.” Mrs A. P. Whitehead, mother of the voung airman, spent an anxious nights The first news of her son’s safety was a telegram, “Arrived safely.—Ray,” which he sent from Mangere at 7.45 a.m., and which the postmaster at Lower Hutt telephoned to their residence at Stokes Valley. “We both had really given him up,’ said Mrs Whitehead. “We endured it until we knew he was safe. Then we broke down.” The chief pilot’s sister, Miss Joyce Whitehead, also confessed that on Thursday evening, when the Faith in New Zealand did not appear, they had feared the worst. JOY FOR PARENT. SYDNEY. Nov. 23. The safe arrival of Flying-Officer Whitehead and Mr Nicholl was featured in afternoon papers in Australia, and created great interest. Mrs | Nicholl spoke to her son by wireless l to-day from Manly. She was overjoyed to hear his voice. Niclioil’s brother, a Sydney solicitor, stated to-day that his mother kept up 'j , midnight, and when she opened the newspaper this morning lost all hope. If you want a,- real thrill just have a brother who is an airman—phew.