AVIATION

Southland Times, Issue 20220, 4 July 1927, Page 7

AVIATION

BYRD’S GREAT FEAT

TERRIBLE NIGHT FLIGHT OVER FRANCE FAILING PETROL FORCES DESCENT (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, July 2. No story of aviation had a more dramatic ending than “Miss America’s” illustrious flight over thousands of miles of the Atlantic in fog and rain with freezing winds, only to be hopelessly lost in blinding rain and fog over France and then forced to descend in the Channel 200 yards from a tiny village, virtually wrecking the < aeroplane. The mysterious and dramatic five hours’ night flight around France, often within earshot of the goal, has not yet been cleared up and may never be so because Byrd and his companion were shut off from the world. Their compasses became irreparably disordered and they just flew blindly seeking the light and the beacons denoting a refuge. It is believed that they passed over Paris and Le Bourget and then unwittingly flew south. Meantime the confused wireless messages from the air were so blurred as to be untranslatable.

At midnight on Thursday the Havre station requested transmission to cease in order to let Havre concentrate on the aeroplane “Miss America,” which did not answer. The airmen were steering from their real goal (Le Bourget) towards Havre when suddenly they saw the beams of the Versurmer lighthouse. It was then 3.2 a.m.—five hours after they should have landed—and the petrol was running out and the central engine was stopped. It was then decided to make a descent.

The force of the impact shattered “Miss America,” the fore part of which broke. The sea was running high and dense darkness prevailed, while showers of rain fell. Byrd and Neville were the most exhausted of the party. Byrd nearly fainted when he was taken to the village while the others went to notify the lighthousekeeper. “Miss America” was half submerged. The landing gear was smashed, the petrol tanks perforated and the propellor broken. The airmen slept well till three o’clock after which Byrd enjoyed a meal in the Mayor’s house at Versurmer.—A. and N.Z.

BYRD INTERVIEWED. London, July 2. In an interview Byrd stated: “We lost, as soon as we reached France, the use of the compass which so ably served Lindbergh. It would not work and rain, fog and darkness shut out everything. We were flying, lower and lower, and it was evident we couldn’t continue,” said Byrd in describing the end of the journey. “I feared for the lives of my men and when I saw the lighthouse I determined to land, whatever happened. We grounded sooner than we expected, tearing off the wheels of the landing gear. The cabin began to fill with water. We salved valuable scientific data and everything else of importance.” In telling of the voyage Byrd said: “After leaving America we did not see either the sky or water. Our watches stopped at two o’clock.” The flight lasted 43 hours 16 minutes, and it is computed that the aeroplane covered 3,812 miles, compared with Lindbergh’s 36 hours and 3,610 miles and Chamberlain’s 41 hours 35 minutes and 3,790 miles. The unfortunate loss of direction ends the possibility of a return flight. Byrd nevertheless says: “The flight under appalling conditions established valuable facts. For instance it established for the first time the height at which an Atlantic aeroplane encounters most favourable weather and we secured data of clouds which were encountered during nineteen hours. In one way I am not disappointed that we landed on the water as it dispels doubts as to how a lifeboat would work. Ours proved launchable in great haste, but we descended solely because we had to. It would have been too dangerous to risk night landing among villages, hence I resolved to sacrifice the aeroplane. It depends on its condition whether we shall rebuild the ’plane and take it home.” —A. and N.Z. LANDED IN COLLAPSIBLE BOAT. London, July 1. It is reported from Versurmer that a fisherman, when making for the shore as a result of finding an abandoned aeroplane found Byrd and Neville asleep on the beach at 3.45 a.m. The most conflicting reports are pouring in as to how they reached the shore. The men are now sleeping at the Lighthouse where orders were given that they were not to be disturbed. The monoplane is anchored close inshore and is awaiting the fall of the tide to enable it to be salvaged at 1.30 this afternoon. The extent of the damage has not yet been ascertained. It is hoped that Byrd will personally superintend the landing and the party will then motor to Paris after a reception at Caen. Another account says that Byrd and Neville were quite cheerful and inquired their whereabouts when found. They said they had had a terrible night and half the time had not the slightest idea of their whereabouts. Acosta Balchen, who is also at the lighthouse, said that they were over Paris at two this morning, but after that they were utterly lost. The villagers of Versurmer heard a ’plane but did not investigate. The aviators personally superintended the safety of their machine before they consented to eat or sleep. Byrd cleared up the conflicting accounts of how they escaped by saying that they attempted to land on a sandy coast, but the wheels collapsed in the sand. Therefore he skimmed out to sea, and then, getting out a collapsible boat, made for the shore.—• A. and N.Z. BYRD REACHES PARIS. RAIN DOES NOT DAMP WELCOME. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Paris, July 2. In the pouring rain a huge crowd welcomed Commander Byrd and his companions who were little the worse for their experience. They subsequently attended the Elysee and were received by President Doumergue. The machine is being packed at Versumer for conveyance to Le Bourget.—A. and N.Z, and Sun. AVIATORS INJURED IN LANDING. (Rec. 1.23 a.m.) Paris, July 3. It is stated that the jolt of landing in the sea injured Byrd’s chest and fractured Acosta’s collarbone. Both were treated by the surgeon. Byrd hopes to set out for the South Pole in October from Punta Arenas, finishing in Australia. —A. and N.Z. UNIQUE SCIENTIFIC DATA SECURED. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, July 2. In a statement to the Press at Versurmer, Byrd said he was gratified to be able to save his notes and scientific observations on the requirements of a regular air service between the Old and New Worlds. These he believed would be unique documents, describing air currents, altitudes and temperatures. The engines were wonderful until the fuel ran out.

The airmen were not fatigued. They stopped only because they were compelled. The reception of wireless messages was hindered by the atmosphere also by overzealous people setting up communication. He declared that the hardships of the Polar flight were light compared with the anxiety and mental attention required when they were lost and helpless at the most

critical stage of the flight. He believes that the protracted flight made a mileage of 4200.—A. and N.Z. MAKING LONG DISTANCE LANDING EASIER. START AT NIGHT URGED. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Paris, July 2. The newspapers generally conclude that much remains to be done before the landing of long-distance ’planes is safe. The Petit Journal urges a start at night to avoid the darkness and difficulties when the airmen are fatigued at end of the journey.—A. and N.Z. OTHER WORLDS TO CONQUER. SOUTH POLAR FLIGHT. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Paris, July 3. Byrd says that the high winds will necessitate a three-engined machine for the forthcoming South Polar flight, which will be at an average altitude of ten thousand feet. As a precaution it will be accompanied by high speed one-motor planes which can dash back for help if there should be disaster.—A. and N.Z. MAKING THE SEA ROUTES SAFE. AMERICANS SUGGEST BIG UNDERTAKING. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) New York, July 1. Speaking at Rapids City, President Coolidge stated that such progress in the transoceanic flights had been made that he believed the time had come for international co-operation in mapping oceanic courses, which would be lighted and protected bp radio communication, along with a reasonable number of sea landing places. The President said that Government experts were already considering the subject, and that efforts will be made to interest American capitalists to invest in such undertakings. He believed the next Congress would propose treaties with other Powers bordering the Pacific and Atlantic to facilitate trans-oceanic aviation.—A. and N.Z. FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA BEING ARRANGED. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) San Francisco, July 2. Consequent on the successful army ’plane flight to Honolulu and Commander Byrd’s trans-Atlantic dash, the chairman of the San Francisco Citizens’ Committee plans to arrange a race across the Pacific. It is suggested that the proposed flight to Honolulu be lengthened to a San Fran-cisco-Australia flight. A purse of 50,000 dollars for a prize is being raised. It is stated that the flight would strengthen commercial friendships between the United States and Australia.—A. and N.Z. DARING BRITISH FLIGHT PROJECTED.

(Rec. 1.23 a.m.) London, July 3. Two best-known daily cross-Channel pilots, Lieut-Col. Minchia and Captain Barnard, hope in the next fortnight to fly a Fokker monoplane with a British engine from London to Ottawa, rest for eight hours and then fly back to London.—A. and N.Z.