SAFELY ACROSS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18546, 5 November 1934, Page 7

SAFELY ACROSS

PACIFIC FLIGHT ENDS

LAST HOP A RECORD

2400 MILES IN 15 HOURS

TRIP WITHOUT INCIDENT

(Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received Nov. 5, 11 a.m.)

OAKLAND, Nov. 4,

Completing a remarkable flight in almost 15 hours, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith landed the Lady Southern Cross here at 7.44 o’clock Pacific time, to break all aerial records between the American mainland and Honolulu. Although disrupted radio communications were ' maintained with the plane throughout the night, {he suddenness with which it appeared was a surprise to those awaiting him. At 7 o'clock local time, the Radio Corporation intercepted a message from the plane that it; had sighted land, and at 7.40 the machine was sighted over the city of Berkeley. A few minutes later it landed. * ‘‘Smithy” was in excellent spirits, and did not appear to be very fatigued. He greeted interviewers jovially. . “Everything was 0.K., he said. “We had a west wind most of tho way. I am sorry to disappoint people by landing so soon. Captain Taylor’s perfect navigation deserves credit for our early arrival.”

“Smithy’s” first request after landing was for a cigarette.

ON TO LOS ANGELES

As indicating the ease and efficiency of the flight, “Smithy” revealed that he landed with 160 gallons of petrol. He turned over to well-wishers a Thermos bottle, the remnants of a sandwich lunch, and an unopened bottle of whisky which he jokingly said he.carried in ease Captain Taylor got sick en route. “I guess this is allowed here now,” he added.

After signing clearance papers for a continuation of the flight to Eos Angeles “Smithy” retired to his brother’s homo for a few hours’ rest.

Captain Taylor informed the Australian Press Association that he hit Hie coastline just north of the Golden Gate, coming in at 7000 ft. to 8000 ft. altitude above the clouds. They encountered a small storm at 10 o’clock last night, but it cleared within a quarter of an hour. Ho was not aware of any trouble with the radio. He thought it was functioning properly throughout tho flight. (Messrs. Lyons and Warner, members of the Southern Cross crew in the 1928 flight, were among those who greeted the flyers. “Smithy” was dressed in a flying suit, and Captain Taylor in a light suit, and tweed coat.

“Smithy” .announced that he was proceeding to Los Angeles, his original destination, at ! p.m. local time. BEFORE THE TAKE OFF

Before taking off, “Smithy” loaded 600 gallons of fuel. He said: “The Oakland hop is just a flea bite compared with the Suva-Wheeler Field flight.” lie pointed out that the hop would he 700 miles shorter with the whole continent to aim at. . When handed the weather report, lie laughed and said: “Well, the devil certainly looks after his own.”

United States Air Force mechanics fix. ed the plane so that the pilot cannot release the wheels or air brakes accidentally, as oil- the flight from Suva. The last test flight was made about noon. Captain Taylor said that he was taking a bee line course and that the distance would be 2408 land miles, because naviga. tion would be easier than when on the great circle. Also they would only have to fly a few miles longer. Mrs. Yarnell, wife of Admiral 11. E. Yarnell, personally provided dates, figs, sandwiches and cookies, whilst Mr. James Dole gave the flyers a jug of chilled pineapple juice. “Smithy” took his ukelelo.

The Coast Guard vessels Telioe, Shoshone, Aurora, and Daphne left/ Sail Francisco as “Smithy” took off. They were to go 1000 miles out to stand by in case of trouble.

Captain Taylor boarded the Coast Guard cutter Itasca at Honolulu and cheeked his chronometer. He was told that the Itasca would stand-by and keep the radio compass oil the plane. It is stated that “Smithy” is coming to Honolulu again in three months for a. vacation, joining Lady Kingsford Smith here.

Sir Charles Kingston! took off at 2.1 b p.m. after a run of 3000 ft., lifting 42601b5. of petrol easily. He banked to keep away from the mountains in passing seaward from Honolulu.

FEW RADIO MESSAGES

High officers of the army and navy and the Mayor of Honolulu shook hands with liiip before lie closed the cockpit after a farewell from friends. The takeoff .point was marked by the army with flags, but it was unnecessary to run as far as these. Ten minutes later “Smithy” radioed “Aloha to everybody.”

The first radio information from "Smithy” after he left Honolulu was picked up by the Globe wireless station at Sail Francisco. According to the Associated. Press, however,, the message broke off before it was completed, indicating the possibility of the sending apparatus being out of commission. It was timed 9 p.m., eastern standard time, and stated: “Our position is latitude 24.14 north longitude ‘s’,” at which point tlie message broke off.

At 11 o’clock “Smithy” had re-estab-lished radio contact with American stations. He was then 444 miles east of Honolulu and reported “All well.” Throughout the evening, various radio stations intercepted fragmentary messages apparently from '“Smithy,” but none, were completely intelligible. One message received at 3 a.m. contained the figures “41,” which might have meant longitude 141, indicating that the hop to Oakland had almost been half completed. At 5 a.m. the. Globe radio reported that, it had not made contact with “Smithy” since midnight. Apparently ho had ceased sending temporarily.