MISS JOHNSON'S STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20594, 19 June 1930, Page 8

MISS JOHNSON'S STORY.

START FROM CROYDON.

FEW PERSONS PRESENT'*

A THRILLING BEGINNING

FINAL' WORDS OF THANKS.

(Copyright.) No. IX.

&iss Johnson, in concluding her personal btory of lior flight, describes the scene at Croydon when she. started. 111 a foil and with foR reported in the Channel. A contrast to the scene at Croydon was her reception in Australia by thousands of excited onlookers. Her final words are of thanks to,all those who inado her flight possible. 1

Final preparations were made, and I jtvant to bed about 9 p.m. As I was tumbling between the sheets, I paused and tried to analyse my feelings. Weeks before I had viewed this night in prospect, Riid thought it would bo ono of feverish excitement; but there I was, calmly seeking slumber in tho most matter-of-fact planner.

I was not excited. 1 was not nervous. I anticipated no dangers. I was Sinbued with one burning desiro—to havo s good night's rest. This, I thought, was tile most vital need; because it was possible that sleep would be very limited during the flight. So I shut my eyes; and then realised that Croydon was on a busy thoroughfare. The unceasing traffic was distracting, and X could not sleep, lather was in a back room where it was supposed to be quieter. So at 11 o'clock I rang the bell furiously, and sent the maid to tell father I wanted to change beds. We did so; but it was little better. Finally, I fell asleep, and rested for about half-an-hour.

At 3.30 I was up and got dressed in the dark. Engineers had been working all night on the Jason, and when I arrived at the aerodrome everything was in readiness for the take-off—everything except the weather.

Destroyers in Readiness. Advices wero roceived that thick fog enveloped the Channel and it was deBired that the flight be delayed. Every littlo while they asked me to another half an hour. Instructions were given to " circle in and cancel out." That meant I was to fly over the last airport in England and the first airport in France. Should I fail to " cancel out" on the other side .within a few hours, then destroyers would be sent out to search for me. So vast were the instructions given and the regulations issued concerning the flight over the Channel that this waterway seemed to be one of the most dangerous and formidable of the entire joufney.

How I have &ince laughed over those regulations, especially after crossing the long stretch of water to Atamboea, and after the final hop to Darwin! Actually, the Channel now seems little tnoro than a big river. About 5 o'clock I was ready in the cockpit, waiting for another weather report, when a petrol leak in one of the extra tanks doveloped. This was due to the unusual loading. A Host of Instructions.

I got out of the cockpit, and while the engineers worked like fury I went back to my room and rested. At last I was ready to hop off, about 17.20. Only half-a-dozen of my staunchest friends were there to say farewell. I was not at* all thrilled about the adventure, because everybody had lectured and lecjtnred me.

They told me I should keep her nose down to do 'this and that, until everything was getting somewhat mixed. I had never ilown anything except an unloaded light machine, and now I was going up in a heavily-loaded aeroplane. The propeller was whirring round at last, and I went the full length of the aerodrome before turning. Then on I came at full speed, but the machine would not rise.

The few present gasped in dismay as they saw me getting closer to the boundary and not rising. They expected me to crash; but I pulled np in time. Acting on advice, I kept the stick well back, and I never took off. Then the engineers promptly told me I had the stick too far back. This contradictory instruction annoyed me.

" Get out of the way, the lot of you," I cried, " and I will do what I like." So I took my own advice, and off 1 went, rising easily and getting height without trouble, climbing above the fog iito a haze. An Auspicious Start, Next, I realised I was above the Chan nel, and I was marvelling at the easiness of the business, when I sat up with a shock. Suddenly the sea appeared on my right hand, with the land on my left. 1 Coming down low, I discovered that the Channel had been crossed. The fog had gone, and I was winging my way to Australia. It was a delightful sensation, and a most auspicious start. After a really pleasant journey I reached Brussels. ® The rest of my journey, its adventures Bud excitements, its sorrows and joys, already have been related, and now I am in Australia, overwhelmed with kindness, and enjoying every minute of my stay in this wonderful outpost of the Empire. This is a wonderful country for aviation, for everything is so ideal. The weather conditions are perfect—the best I have experienced. It was not until nearing Australia that I used the horizon indicator for the first time. I found it had been bent—probably Lent all the way. There is need in some parts for more oi' better aerodromes. Those at Darwin and Daly Waters could bo onlarged and improved, and over the timbered country south of Darwin there is an urgent need for emergency landing grounds. Spaces should be cleared, and kept clear. Once these are provided Australia can develop an efficient encircling air route. It must come, because of the vast distances between centres of population, and- it will come, because flying is so comfortable in comparison with driving over dusty and poorly-made bush roads. Acknowledgment of Help.

My final words must be of thanks to tlioso few who made it possible for me to fly to Australia. To my father, mother jihd sisters I owo much for their help and support. Mr. C. S. Humphries, of the London Aeroplane Club, really did everything possible to help. Anything 1 know about engineering he taught me; and I thank him and tho engineers of the London Aeroplane Club for their help, especially those who worked night and day in the terrific rush to get my engine ready for the flight. .I ' thank Captain Baker, Captain Matthews, and Major Travers for having taught me to fly; Sir Sefton Brancker for his personal interest and introduction to Lord Wakefield; and, finally, I thank Lord Wakefield for his kindness and generosity. If he had not supported me, all the aid and advice given by others iWouid not have been of use.

He and my father financed my flight, and I wish that those who welcomed me iwill kindly remember those benefactors •nd big-hearted men behind the scenes.