GRAF ZEPPELIN’S TOUR OF ENGLAND

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6633, 21 August 1931, Page 7

GRAF ZEPPELIN’S TOUR OF ENGLAND

Dr. Eckener Honoured

INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION ESSENTIAL

British Official Wireless. Received Thursday, 9.50 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 19.

In welcoming Dr. Eckner and the officers and crew of tho Graf Zeppelin on arrival last night, the Under-Secretary for Air (Mr. F. Montague) waraily congratulated them on the progress of the Graf Zeppelin and expressed appreciation of the assistance already given by Dr. Eekner and the willing help offored in future to the cause of British airship development. On behalf of his English friends and admirers Dr. Eckner was presented with an inscribed gold box. Dr. Eckner, replying, expressed his opinion that a complete system of international co-operation was essential to airship development. Tho Graf Zeppelin completed her 24hour tour of Britain when she landed at Hanworth at 7 o’clock and disembarked her passengers. Previously there had been some doubt as to the possibility of landing under tho gusty conditions and sho had circled over London for nearly an hour, but tho operation was carried out without a hitch. She remained for about an hour and a half, and Dr. Eckner received Sir John Simon on board and showed him the equipment in the control cabin.

Shortly’before 8 o’clock the groat airship rose from the ground and, heading for central London, started her homeward journey to Fricdrichshaven. The trip round Britain of 1000 miles was confined to England and Ireland, as adverse weather reports prevented Dr. Eckner visiting Glasgow and Edinburgh as he had intended. In passing over Hull at noon Dr. Eckner dipped the Zeppelin in salute to the memory of the men of the airship R3B, which blew up over the river Humber. On landing, tho Master of Sempill and other passengers stated that they had had a very good time despite the bad weather, and it had been a great flight.