ATLANTIC FLIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 9

ATLANTIC FLIER.

VON HUEHNEFELD DEAD.

AN ADVENTUROUS CAREER

Australian Press Association—United Service. (Received February 6, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. G. A message from Berlin reports the death of the Atlantic flier, Baron von Huehncfeld, in his 37th year.

Ernst Guuther Ifrciherr von Huehnefeld, one of tlioso who first flew across the Atlantic from cast to west in tho Bremen, was born at Konigsberg in May, 1892. He was the son of a Prussian officer. He attended Berlin University and then began to write plays. On the outbreak of the Great War he volunteered, but was rejected as physically unfit. Thereupon he offered his service as a motor-driver and was sent to tho naval division staff in Flanders. Near Antwerp in September, 1914, he was severely wounded in both legs by shrapnel and was seven months in hospital. The shortening of ono leg, which was not put right until 1927, ended his army service. In 1915 Baron von liuehncfcld was employed by the Foreign Offices in Constantinople and Sofia, where ho became friendly with King Ferdinand. .At the end of 1916 he became vice-consul at Maastricht. It was he who received the exKaiser and ex-Crown Prince there when they fled to Holland. After the revolution he left the diplomatic service and until 1920 lived at Wieringen as a member of the staff of the ex-Crown Prince. Ho then became head of the Bremen section of tho German financial administration, but in 1923 was appointed press agent to the Norddeutscher-Lloyd Company at Bremen. In August, 1927, having secured leave of absence, the baron resolved to attempt tho Atlantic flight with Captain Koehl, hut the venture was delayed first by the death of his father and then by stormy weather off the Irish coast. In the winter he made secret plans for another attempt. ■By borrowing money from friends ho accumulated £20,000, bought a Junkers single-motor aeroplane which he christened the^Bremen, enlisted tho services of Koehl and on March 27. 1928, left by air for Ireland without anything being known of his plans. They landed at Baldonnel after a 9i hours' flight, and had to wait till April 14 for favourable weather. Commandant Fitzmaurice, head of the Irish Free State Air Force, joined them as second pilot, and at 5 a.m. they set out for New York. In tha fog they went off their course and owing to lack of petrol had to land on Greenly Island between Newfoundland and Labrador. It was found impossible to repair tho Rremen. and tho airmen were taken off by a Canadian plane. After a triumphal pro <n'ess through the United States they returned by steamer to Germany where they had a great welcome. Baron Huehnefckl in his earlier days wrote a number of poems and pl<iys Tho Crown Prince in Exile."