“GREATEST OF ALL”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 6 November 1934, Page 7

“GREATEST OF ALL”

AMEKICA LAUDS “SMITHY”

TRANS-PACIFIC FLIGHT

WONDERFUL RECEPTION

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4.

Fifty thousand greeted Sir Charles Kingsford Smith at the Los Angeles municipal airport as the- Lady Southern Cross, with an escort of three National Guard aeroplanes, landed. The flyers were officially greeted by the Mayor, Mr. Shaw, and a delegation of civic leaders. When the Lady Southern Cross’ propeller stopped, the spectators broke through the police lines and swarmed about the craft. Fifty police were required to escort the flyers from the field through an enthusiastic throng. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, replying to the Mayor’s welcoming speech, spoke briefly over the public address loudspeaker system and patiently posed for newspaper photographers and sound cameramen.

..He said : “I am very glad to see von, tod; much more glad to see you than you are to see me. We had a magnificent flight, although it was without interest. Most of our success was due to the navigation of Captain Taylor. I would be willing to fly anywhere in the world with him. It takes a mighty good man to pick out tiny little specks in the great Pacific, but Captain Taylor did that.”

Captain Taylor, meanwhile stood silently beside ,Sir Charles, shy and retiring, as the crowd applauded.

EXPERTS ASTONI SITED

Although “Smithy’* said lie did not believe the flight Jiad any commercial significance, aviation experts checking over the astonishing statistics, ventured to think otherwise. The elapsed flying time from Australia to Oakland, 51 hours, amazed all observers. “Smithy” and Captain Taylor were then escorted to a hotel in Los Angeles for a banquet, but from this they asked to be excused on account .of fatigue. They, however, were taken to a radio station where “Smithy” spoke briefly over the nation-wide hook-up.

“I think T should, like more than anything else to have a hot. bath, a meal, a shave and some sleep,” he said, “Seriously, I am most grateful for the interest and good fellowship you Americans have shown two poor Australians. We are most fortunate to reach the U.S.A. through the air without mishap, and I want to say that Captain Taylor is far more responsible than I for getting the machine over the ocean.”

Then the flyers were taken to the Clark Hotel where they promptly retired.

“Smithy" said he will remain in Los Angeles for two or three days, after which his plans are indefinite. Senator William Gibbs MacAdoo, presi. dent of the National Aeronautic Association, lauded Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in a formal statement to-night. He said: “The Australian deserves the title of the. greatest of alrannihilators of space since time began.” Senator MeAdoo added that the flight demonstrated Hawaii’s importance as a landing field between the mainland of America and-Asia.