All Well With Hinkler

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6543, 27 February 1928, Page 7

All Well With Hinkler

’Plane Forced Down by Weather Arrived at Longreach Late Last Evening (By Electric Cable-Copyright—Aust and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 26. Bert Hinkler, the missing airman, arrived at Camooweal shortly after, noon on Saturday. He explained that he was forced down some distance away on account of a severe dust storm, head winds and low visibility. He camped for the night beside the ’plane. Bundaberg, Hinkler’s home town and destination, was thronged with people waiting to welcome him. The town went wild with joy when his safety was announced. Messages to-day from Camooweal state that after leaving Darwin Hinkler had a gruelling time flying over Northern ’ Territory. -. For hours he was battling against extreme heat, dust storms and bad visibility till finally he was forced to come down and anded at the Alroy Downs Station on Friday afternoon. Suffering from heat and thirst he slept the night under a windmill at the station bore. Next morning one of the station black boys informed him of his position. Thence after a good night’s rest Hinkler flevy to Alexandria Station, had breakfast, and continued his flight to Camooweal where he arrived at one o’clock yesterday afternoon. The airman is in great spirit He appeal's to have suffered no, ill effects. He states that when forced down the engine was running well, but heat, dust, and winds made flying absolutely impossible. >. Camooweal gave Hinkler a public reception last night. He intends to leave for Longreach at dawn to-day and to fly thence to Bundaberg where he expects to arrive this afternoon. (Received Monday, 1.5 a.m.) ( BRISBANE, Feb. 26. Hinkler landed safely at Longreach at five this afternoon. Camooweal Is in Burke Province, Queensland, just across the border of Northern Territory, on the direct line of flight from Darwin to Bundaberg. Longreach is in Mitchell Province, in Central Queensland, approximately half-way between the Camoowal and Bundaberg and the terminus of the central railway from Rockhampton.