THROUGH FENCE

Northern Advocate, 19 October 1935, Page 10

THROUGH FENCE

MANGERE LANDING ’PLANE SLIGHTLY DAMAGED mystery pilot unhurt. r Snecial to “Northern Advocate .’ ] [Special AUCKIjAN d ; This Day. When the long-awaited monoplane was first seen winging its way tQ war the Mangere Aerodrome last night there wefe only a few people present The sound of the ’plane could be heard a long way off, and officials at the aerodrome were in readiness for it to land: Had the Mangere landing- been definite, and had some news received from the ’plane as to what time it would probably land, there would probably have been a large number of the public to greet the lon^flier. There were only club officials, the ground staff, two or three enthusiasts arid newspaper men on the ground when O’Hara dropped from the sky. Reported from Waiuku. At 7.15 p.m. the first advice of the aeroplane was .received at Mangere, when it was reported from Waiuku that a machine was flying overhead. Under the direction of Flight-Lieuten-ant D. M. Allan, the club’s chief instructor, the staff of the aerodrome immediately rushed out to start the flares, in the form of the letter “L, to guide the pilot not only as to the location of the aerodrome, but also as to the best means of approach. A little later a report was received from Manukau Heads that the monoplane; was flying up the harbour towards Mangere. All the flares were then lighted, and a motor car was stationed so that the powerful lights would illuminate j the runway. Verey lights wefe fired, ! and iri a few moments the steady throb lof the monoplane’s engine could be heard from the west. The machine was about 2000 feet high, but when rilore Verey lights were fired from the aerodrome, the noise of the engine became louder and louder, so it was known that the pilot was gradually descending. ’Plane Hits Fence. The first view of the monoplane was given the watchers when it momentarily stood out against a light-coloured cloud. In a moment or two the throb of the engine became a sudden swish, and then it was known that the aeroplane had touched the ground. The little monoplane looked very dainty, it being coloured in blue and silver, and as it landed the officials and those present thought that everything was well. In a flash the monoplane touched the ground, bounced a little, and then went rapidly toward the fence at the south-western side ,of the aerodrome. It seemed a second only after the landing that there was a loud crash, as the ’plane struck the fence, tearing it away for about 25 feet. The monoplane then came to rest on the collapsed undercarriage. Everybody made a rush toward the machine, but Mr O’Hara, quite uninjured. climbed stiffly out of the cockpit and was on the ground before the first of those who ran towards him had reached the. ’plane. He seemed very anxious about his machine, but after he had made an inspection he discovered that the damage was confined to the undercarriage, and the air-screw, which was bent. All the officials were loud in their praise of the flight, and Mr O’Hara was congratulated on all sides. Shortly after, he was driven to the city. This morning a thorough inspection will be made of his Klemm monoplane, named the Zealandia, and bearing, the Australian registration letters, VH-USP. As soon as it is possible to do so the machine will be repaired. The little machine is the first of its kind to be seen in the Dominion, and it is hoped that there will be no trouble in making any necessary repairs. ' Message to Mother. The first thing Mr O’Hara did after clambering out of his monoplane at Mangere was to speak to his mother, Mrs M. O’Hara, and his brother-in-law and sister, Mr and Mrs E. Miaclntyre, by telephone from Mangere Aerodrome to Warkworth. All day long Mrs O’Hara had been waiting to hear word about her son. Mrs O’Hara was offered a radio set to listen in for a possible broadcast announcement,. but she kindly refused the offer, as it was thought the strain of waiting would only be intensified. After speaking to her son on the telephone, Mrs O’Hara and Mr and Mrs Maclntyre travelled' by car to Devonpcrt, where, shortly after 11.30 p.m., they were reunited with Mr O’Hara. Shortly afterwards they left again for Warkworth. Mail Carried, Mr O’Hara carried about 50 letters for reposting at Auckland for Australia. The majority of the letters were from keen Australian philatelists, and all bore New Zealand stamps—some of them Health Stamps—to take the letters back to Australia. Mr O’Hara also carried a Netherlands flag from the Consul-General for the Netherlands at Sydney, to be handed to the Consul for the Netherlands at Auckland, Captain F. Bauer. Why He Wanted Secrecy. The reason that Mr O’Hara wanted to keep his identity secret was that he did not wish to cause his mother and relatives any anxiety about the

flight. The papers, however, soon started to call him “Pilot X." and. for a day or two he had to hide here, there and everywhere, in order to try to dodge the newspaper men who chased him all over Sydney. He had the role of the “Elusive Scarlet Pimpernel” thrust upon him. and said that before long the whole affair developed into something like a comic, opera. At last the newspaper men proved too clever for him, and managed to run him to earth. That was the end of his secret.