TWO AIRMEN SAFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22029, 8 February 1935, Page 10

TWO AIRMEN SAFE

SPARER . AND NEHSWOKTH

ARRIVAL AT KOEPANG

FLIGHT FROM RAMBANG

ENGINE TROUBLE REMEDIED

(J3y Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received February 7, 11.45 p.m.) DARWIN, Feb. 7 The two Australian airmen Messrs. Ray Parer and G. Hemsworth, who are on a, leisurely flight to Australia after having abandoned the contest in the Centenary air race, left Rambang at 9.17 a.m. to-day for iKoepang and arrived there at 2 p.m. The report of their movement's received ,-yesterday from Rangoon is contradicted by Captain i r ouell, pilot of the mail aeroplane Athena, who accompanied them from Singapore. He says he parted company with them in the vicinity of Rambang. The .airmen left Itambang on Tuesday, but were obliged to return owing to .engine trouble which was repaired at Rambang.

MR. PARER'S CAREER

NEW GUINEA EXPLOITS V TORN OF FORTUNE'S WHEEL 1 Reference to the part played by Mr. - Bay Parer in the times when New . % Guinea was proving its worth for the transportation of geld by air is con- • tained in a recent publication entitled "Gold-Dust and Ashes," by lon L. Idriess, a:a authentic record of some of the struggles and adventures of men who risked everything in the quest. Mr. Parer had joined up with a friend ~ who would provide capital in starting - the "Bulolo Goldfiells Aeroplane Ser.vies" at about the same time that the Guinea Gold Company was formed in Australia in 1927. Both were keen to eecure aeroplanes, asi well as space on the only Vessel leaving for New Guinea. Dogged by adverse fate, " Battling Parer," as he was to become known on " the Guinea goldfields, had to stand by his D.H.4 aeroplane and watch the Melusia sail with the rival company's aeroplane,, a D.H.37, on board. Mr. Parer had already flown from s England to Australia with Mr. Mac- • Intosh in a "crazy machine" in 1920. r But the pair had been beaten by Sir i Ross Smith. In the rival company were Messrs. Mustar and Mullins, pilot and r engineer, each with war experience. Second Great Ra:e o 1 His Life^ The vessel Melusia struck a cyclone, ' and the Guinea Gold. Company's aero plane was damaged. Mr. Parer and his [ companion shipped their D.H.4 on the Marsina with the knowledge that their rivals had three weelis f start, but were relieved to find the damage was not - repaired Ibv the tim ? they arrived at New Guinea. Both aeroplanes were ready to start at about the same - moment. The D.H.4 was an old machine with

* a leakv radiator and -worn cylinders, 'a ad when Mr. Parec took off on the frst flight clouds of; steam filled the t cockpit. He wt,s forci d to land at once, = and in doing so ths machine turned over. His passenger was seriously inr jured, and Mr- Panr spent a day in hospital. He had come another second in the second great race of his life. ' While the Guinea Gold Company's

aeroplane was proving that bigger and ; more powerful air transport was needed , between Lae and W&u, Mr. Parer had met an Englishman in Rabaul. Money >. "was raised, and they, set to work to repair the damaged D.H.4. •I " For sheet metal to repair the wings I they cut up an old boiler and made the : petrol tank oufc of galvanised sheet iron; a worry, becsiuse the sheet iron was three times heavier than the original tank. In six v;eeks they had rebuilt the plane." Two Frenchmen were booked a& * passengers to the g;>ldfields. - " Well, I.hope these two birds enjoy their flight," ssaid Mr. Parer dubiously. "They might need feathers. This * radiator has jrot me troubled." Remunerative Service Started ■ On the firs-; test flight the radiator burst; so they came more or less gracefully tp eartli and repaired it. They went aloft, where it promptly burst again. For the third time they rose aloft, only to swoop down in a cloud of steam." Their two would-be passenr gers loft for Kokopa. " We prefer to lose our money to our lives," was their t. good-bye. Eventually after tinkering with the aeroplane, thy dauntless pilot and his - companion set off from liabaul to Lae. After an exciting time, they lauded at v the prepared aerodrome. Mr. Parer found a big second prize he had never expected, and set to work carrying passengers and freight almost night and dav. In a short time he had made enoueh to ec south and icturn with a D.H.9 and an old Bristol Fighter, bringing Mr. Charlcis Pratt of Geelong with him. They flew from Port Moresby to Lae, the first flight made from Papua into the Mandated Territory. }fr. Parer arrived just at a tune when misfortunes had temporarily put the Guinea Gold aeroplanes out of commission. The minors up in the field were in ;C dismay.' Mr. Parer laved the situation >" jjjie nn angel from 1 he sky. After that he did well until tli<; gods of chance '' took a hand, and he utis again 1 Battling Parer." He passe ;1 through many vicissitudes before lie finally became established.