FLYING HERO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 June 1927, Page 5

FLYING HERO

LINDBERGH'S ARRIVAL HOME

A STUPENDOUS WELCOME

HONOUR BESTOWED BY PRESIDENT

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian &. N.Z. Cable Association)

WASHINGTON, 11th June

The most stupendous welcome ever accorded an individual American was given to Lindbergh on his arrival in the cruiser Memphis. -Practically the entire population of the capital and hundreds of thousands of visitors, many of whom had lined the streets since dawn, broke into a huge roar of greoting and continued cheering in a fine frenzy of excitement from the moment the vessel appeared in sight. The dirigible Los Angeles, with scores of Government private airplanes, escorted the Memphis into dock. Guns and sirens from launches and otiier craft and' from the shore salute;! the airman as tho cruiser proceeded up the Potomac, and the presidential salute of twenty-one guns was fired at Alexandria, a seaport on the right bank of tho Potomac, five miles southward from the capital ■ Lindbergh s' mother was the first to board the cruiser, where Robert Nungesser, brother of the lost French firman, also greeted Lindbergh. Lindbergh was given a national welcome on his arrival. He was escorted at the head of a great parade through the city. President Coolidge bestowed on him the. Distinguished Flying Cross. When decorating the airman President Coolidge referred to him as "our ambassador without portfolio," and .'aid that "In showering applause and honours upon this genial modesT American youth with the naturalness, simplicity, and poise of true greatness, France had an opportunity to show clearly goodwill for America." President Coolidge paid a high tribute to Lindbergh's refusal to commercialise the feat..

Lindbergh has to face a week-end crowded with functions and celebrations, after which he is due in New York on Monday for a mammoth welcome, which, it is expected, will exceed even the Washington effort. The latest offer made to Lindbergh is a salary of 100,000 dollars yearly as nead of an American society for the promotion of aviation, on which no decision is yet announced.

AEROPLANE FALLS INTO LAKE

A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE DROWNED

(Received 13th June. 9.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, 12th June.

Dakell McKee, a Pittsburg multimillionaire, was drowned in an aeroplane which dropped into a lake in the Laurention Mountains. Deceased was a remarkable person in business and aviation. He devoted the last five years to developing trans-continental and other flights, carefully hiding his identity in these undertakings. He was testing a plane for a flight from Montreal to Alaska when the machine broke in twain during a squall over the lake.

DE PINEDO REACHES LISBON

LISBON, 12th June De Pinedo has arrived from the Azores.

A "BRITISH TEST

(Received 13th June, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, 12th June. Thirty-two Air Force bombers, fully armed and manned, commence on Tuesday a forty-eight hours' continuous reliability flight around Britain.

CIVIL AVIATION

BRITAIN'S BACKWARDNESS

(Received 13th June, 9.55 a.m.)

LONDON, 12th June. The newspaper "Observer," in an editorial, examines the American enthusiasm over the recent trans-Atlantic flights, and condemns British backwardness in civil aviation, which is attributed to "our official refrigerator," otherwise the Air Ministry, which allowed Carr and Gillman to return from the Persian Gulf unwelcomed and unhonoured.

"Our aerial ought to match our naval reputation," the "Observer" stares. "Yet other countries do nob consider us a first rank Hying nation. The Air Ministry's spirit is too military and imposes cramping restrictions on design and enterprise in civil flying. Out of eighty world's air records Britain holds not one. Yet orders follow records, for instance, Canada is ordering aeroplanes from the United States."