THE SAVED SEAPLANE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19584, 14 September 1925, Page 7

THE SAVED SEAPLANE

A 450-MILE DRIFT. CREW WELL AKD HAPPY. NAVY DEPARTMENT JUBILANT. PrMM Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, September 11. Mr Wilbur and the officials of the Navy Department are jubilant over the news of the safety of the crew of PN9—l. Admiral Eberle, Chief of Operations, made the following statement; “It is wonderful news. I.cannot find words to express my gratification. We had based tho hope of safety on tho staunchness of the plane, which might have drifted to port had she not had the good fortune to bo picked up by tho patrol boat R 4.” —A. and N.Z. Cable. AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. THE CREW’S PRIVATIONS. HONOLULU, September 11. Greeted by the entire population of Kauai the aviators were towed ashore at Lihue last night. >t “In good condition, well and happy, according to the message intercepted here, they were found at a point 450 miles west of the spot where they were forced down, having drifted more slowly than the navy calculations indicated. The wings of the plane were badly smashed, but the hull is intact. After the plane dropped anchor in the harbour where it was towed by Hie submarine, tho line broke and the craft drifted into tho breakers on a coral reef. The crew refused to leave the plane until she was brought safely avshore. Heavily boarded and tanned tho men showed the effects of Hie nine days strain. They were without food and water supplies for four days. The fabric torn off the machine by the buffeting of the waves was used to catch rain. Heavy seas made matters uncomfortable, but only on one day was rough weather experienced, accordingto Commander Rodgers.—Reuter. ANOTHER HAWAIIAN FLIGHT PROJECTED. SAN FRANCISCO, September 11. Captain Moses, Flight Project Commander, announces ,PBI will attempt a Hawaiian flight probably about September 21, when the weather has cleared. PBI successfully completed a test' flight carrying 1900 gallons of patrol or 713 gallons more than PN9 —1.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BOUND FOR PEARL HARBOUR. HONOLULU, September 11. Tho aircraft tender Pecan has gone to Kauai to tow PN9—l 95 miles to Pearl Harbour, where a great ovation awaits tho crew.—Reuter. PROMOTION FOR COMMANDER. HIS LACONIC STORY. HONOLULU, September 11. Commander John Rodgers, who, according to a Washington despatch, has been appointed assistant chief of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, in recognition ot his conduct of tho PN9—l flight, gave a laconic version of the crew’s experiences while “missing.’’ “Wo saw one merchant ship,’’ ho said, “and glimpsed an aeroplane. Tho worst weather was on the third day, when it rained, but the plane rode tho waves well, and aside from the wetting we did not suffer We spread canvas to catch water for drinking. Wo had no food after the fourth day, as we had not stinted ourselves on the emergency rations carried. All the time we were confident of being rescued, and so vra were. That’s about all there is to it.' A. and N.Z. Cable. AIRCRAFT’S WIRELESS DISABLED. HONOLULU, September 11. Messages sent by the searching planes and ships were heard by PN9—l, which Could nob respond because the antennae had dropped under water. “Has FBI made a successful flight to Hawaii ?" was one of tho first questions the fliers asked their rescuers.—Router. THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. I LIGHT TECHNICALLY COMPLETED. HONOLULU, September 10. (Received Sept. 13, at 5.5 p.rn.) In his first official statement Commander Rodgers said ho was farced to land 50 miles north of Aroos. The gas gave,out killing tho engines and radio transmisSl °“We made a perfect landing. Wo cut fabric from tho lower wing, rigged a foresail, and sailed before the wind. endeavourine to make Oahu, V\e nuido. oO miles a day, and passed Ohau at 45 miles distance. On the eighth day dosoLained for Kauai wc reached a point 15 miles off Nawijili. Wc were trying to signal when tho submarine picked us up. Wo had sailed 400 miles under jury rig. the plane behaved well at all times - The only miscarriage of P W was due to the failure to find the ship selected to refuel ns Our only concern was water. Commander Rodgers and the crawcompleted tho journey on Thursday m h . KeT arrived at Pearl Harbour on the destroyer' MacDonongh, receiving a great toiome. mile the world the^tery of their adventure Commander Rodgers and tho crew rested on Friday. Technically the flight was completedThe crew stayed on it grounded after being afloat 218 hours The aviators have been ordered to Pear Harbour Hospital to rest and sleep. The plane covered 1800 miles m the air and F 3OO on the surface of the Tt was salvaged almost intact. There was JtilT somo tead aboard, but it was unP£ Graat C praieo is given to Commander Rodgers, who has been promoted to aSsW Chief of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics. The crew are reticent as to the cause of the failure but the actual conditions differed from those of the proUminary teste.-—-Router.