ATLANTIC FLIGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20604, 1 July 1930, Page 14

ATLANTIC FLIGHTS.

Sir,—ln Thursday's Herald recording flights across the Atlantic you give the failures and tragedies, iri conjunction with tho cross ngs that were taken in stapes. Now here are the facts: —The Atlantic was crossed from west to east for the first time by a U.S.A. naval plane, "NC4," in Mav. 1919, arriving in Lisbon on May 27, 19i9. This was not a failure, but was regarded throughout the world as a brilliant success at the time. Three naval planes (U.S.A.) set out, tho "NCI," "NC3," "NC4," the latter only arriving at its destination. Let us play fair and practise some of our boasted fairplay. Certainly the Atlantic was crossed" in one jump by Captain John Alcock one month later than the event above, but here again, Alcock s navigator. Lieutenant Arthur W. Brown, although in tho British Service, was an American. Simply because the "NC4" did not cross in one jump does not take away from it tho honour of being the first to cross. No one will question the accomplishment of Smith in crossing the Pacific for the first time, although it was done in several stages Thomas Sap.sfiei.d. Hainiltcn.