MRS PUTNAM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 17 December 1936, Page 5

MRS PUTNAM

MAY FLY TO AUSTRALIA PLANS NOT YET SETTLED (trailed Press Association— By Electric Telegraph Copyright! NEW YORK, 14th December. The Associated Press news agency learns on iridisoutable authority that Mrs Amelia Ea'rhart Putnam is contemplating a flight to Australia in the summer months of 1937. Approached where she is spending a holiday on a desert ranch in California, the aviatrix told a correspondent that because her plans were not yet definitely settled she must decline to make a statement at the present time. She would find it more expedient to talk of her plans when all arrangements were made. Until then she could only say that she would very much like to go to Australia, the only continent she has not visited. “Some day I hope to make the trip,” she added. The Associated Press is informed that definite inquiries have been made concerning the routes across the Pacific, contemplated stops being Honolulu. Howland Island, Port Moresby and Darwin or Brisbane. One of the complicating features is the fact that Howland Island and other likely stopping places are not yet ready for j a ’plane to land. Advice is now being sought from experts concerning the Pacific route, and it may be rejected in favour of the East It is believed that Mrs Putnam may be a competitor in the Lindbergh race across the Atlantic next May to commemorate the passing of a decade since Lindbergh's flight, for which the French Government is offering 75.000 dollars for first prize., ! 50,000 dollars for second and 25,000 dollars for third. There is a possibil- I ity that she will continue to Australia. She is expected to use a new experimental ’plane built for her at the Lockheed works. 1

A Los Angeles cable dated 13th May reported that Purdue University had provided a 50.000-dollar fund to enable Mrs Putnam to make a solo world flight in a specially-built aeroplane. The machine would be a “flying laboratory,” equipped with a robot pilot, enabling the pilot to take observations of a scientific nature. Mrs Putnam was the first woman to fly the Atlantic, crossing as a passenger on 17th June, 1928 in the

Fokker which Wilmer Stultz and Louis Gordon flew from Trespassey Bay, Newfoundland, to Burryport, Wales, about 2000 miles, in 20 hours 40 minutes. In May, 1932, she flew solo from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, to Londonderry, Ireland, in a Lockheed Vega, covering 1930 miles in 15 hours 15 minutes. She used to be a school teacher, but married George Palmer Putnam, the publisher, and became aviation editor of the Cosmopolitan Magazine, as well as vice-president of the Ludington Airlines and National Airways.. For her second flight she received the gold medal of the National Geographical Society and was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. She has writ-” ten two books.