COBHAM'S DELAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17152, 30 September 1926, Page 6

COBHAM'S DELAY

A VIVID DESCRIPTION PENANG TO RANGOON Mr. Alan Cobham's adventurous* journey in a rainstorm from Victoria Point to Itangcon was described as follows by the airman himself in a message to the Australian Press Association which was published in the Sydney Morning Herald:— "I landed at Rangoon to-day (September 15) at 1.15, from Victoria Point, having flown 400 of the 600 miles in continuous rain. Our quick progress from Australia had a sudden check when, on Wednesday last week, during the fight from Penang to Victoria Point, we ran into hpavy monsoonal rain. "We were on a compass course over open sea scattered with uninhabited rocky islands when we ran into the storms. Eventually, owing to the heavy deluge, we were unable to see ahead and, fearing collision with isolated rocks as we flew low over the waves, we alighted on the water to leeward of a lonely island 40 mdes from the mainland. "The. shore was rocky and the .island was covered to the water's edge with dense, tropical vegetation, but we discovered a little sandy beach in a cove 100 yards wide and into this we taxied the seaplane. Sergeant Ward and Mr; Capel, my engineers, were out on the floats, and as we neared the shelving beach they jumped into the water and manhandled the floats to the sand. Then with a long rope we lashed the seaplane to a coeoanut palm growing at the water's edge. "We were happy to be safely down, although a deluge of rain was falling all it he time. On investigation we discovered that it was impossible to penetrate the island owing to the dense jungle. We rigged an awning under the trees for protection against the rain, and Ward insisted on lighting a fire. JOURNEY RESUMED. "We had no idea how long we should be marooned, but fortunately the rain ceased and we decided to push on. Ward got into the water and held themachine head on to the sea, while Capel started the Siddeley-Jaguar engine. The moment it fired Ward leaped on to the floats and we were off. "Soon we felt a vibration and heard a whistling noise, and knew that the rain had torn part of our propeller. Consequently we were glad when eventually we reached the creek and calm water. We saw the little village nestling among palms on a beach of silver sand, which was perfect for beaching the seaplane. We soon alighted on the water and beached the machine. "Cm examining the seaplane we discovered slight damage to the propellor and undercarriage. Ward and Capel set to work to do repairs, while I went 20 miles in a car to the nearest telegraph office to warn Rangoon of my whereabouts. I discovered good roads in Siam and kindly people. "By evening the weather had cleared and the machine had been repaired." When the tide came up at midnight we launched the seaplane and towed it out to a safe anchorage. On our return we discovered that the secretary of his Highness the Prince, Lord Lieutenant of the district, had arrived with presents of English tinned food, a bottle of whiskey, bottles of sodawater and cigarettes from the Prince, who had just heard of our arrival. RACING A STORM. "All day Thursday it rained heavily nntil late "in the afternoon when* cleared a little. We managed to pack a up and get off and travel before dark I 150 miles to Victoria Point, where oil/V was stored. On Friday morning we took ™ off at six o'clock, with ominous storms coming up behind. We thought we could get ahead into fine weather before they arrived, and reach Rangoon, 600 miles further on; but, after going 40 miles, we ran into the worst storm I have ever experienced. It simply wiped out all visibility. "We turned back. To my dismay 1 discovered the bad weather had closed in behind us. We had to fight our way back through a deluge of water. After we circled to a small area where the rain was not so heavy, as it was impossible to go ahead owing to the solid mass of water teeming down. "At last we reached Victoria Point again. There we moored just before a deluge came down. This almost swamped the small rowing boat that came to assist us. We moored in a veritable waterspout and then jumped into the boat. We headed in the direction of th 9 shore 150 yards away, and rowed into a cloudburst. The jetty could not be seen. We simply left our seaplane to weather out the storm at her moorings. She was obliterated from view. "After this experience we decided to wait for a definite break in the weather. There was no telegraph, telephone, or wireless communication at intermediate places on our 600 miles jump to Rangoon, 'if "During our forced halt I saw what bad monsoonal conditions were like, for it was impossible to move for five days until to-day. Then we began the flight in dull weather. After the first 150 miles we saw the rain again, and flew" the remaining 400 miles through a continuous downpour until Rangoon was sighted in clear weather.