AVIATION EPIC

Southland Times, Issue 21219, 21 October 1930, Page 7

AVIATION EPIC

KINGSFORD SMITH ROYAL RECOGNITION FLYER CONGRATULATED ACT OF SPORTSMANSHIP ttJaited Press Assn.—-By Telegraph—Copyright.) • (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 19. A telegram has been despatched from Sandringnam requesting Lord Somers, acting Governor-General of Australia, to convey the King's congratulations to WingCommander Kingsford Smith. Mrs Hill, interviewed, asked a journalist to congratulate Kingston! Smitn on his splendid flight. The newspapers give prominence to Kingsford Smith’s record. -Major Turner, in the Daily Telegraph, says that as a feat of endurance and airmanship the flight stands among the greatest in history. Neither he nor Flight-Lieutenant Hill were in the best of health when they started but determination carried them through. Kingsford Smith, apart from the fact that ms machine was faster, was better fitted by experience for such an undertaking. Such a great achievement may not be repeated for a long time, but it brings closer a regular air mail service to Australia. The obstacles are formidable unless the service is to be merely a short season affair. Tropical conditions, the present structural and other problems are not 'yet completely solved.

The Press also emphasizes Kingsford Smith’s chivalry in sacrificing time through consideration for his unlucky rival.

The Daily Express, in an editorial, says: “It was an act of sportsmanship, entirely in keeping with Kingsford Smith’s nerve, grit, modesty, and generous camaraderie. Men do not act like that, after nine days’ consecutive flying, at a crucial moment in a desperate struggle, unless they have the right stuff in them. The whole Empire hails this Ulysses of the Air not only as a great aviator, but as a great gentleman.” Sir Alan Cobham says that Kingsford Smith’s feat ought to be an excellent example to the public. He hoped that it would impress upon the people of England the possibilities of flying. Providing that the organization was sound there was no earthly reason why any flying men, with the necessary fitness and stamina sufficient to withstand the strain and monotony of sitting in a machine for 10 to 12 hours a day, should not do likewise. Kingsford Smith’s wonderful flight would be wasted if the public failed to recogifize this. Sir Alan Cobham is of the opinion,, however, that a seaplane should have been used between Calcutta and Australia.

Kingsford Smith’s small single-seater Avro-Avian machine with its 120 horsepower Gipsy engine is the latest model of the same type used by Mr Bert Hinkler on his Australian flight. It has given him not a moment of anxiety on the long journey. ’ • Kingsford Smith has made possibly the most remarkable long distance flight in the history of aviation. When he left England he was suffering from the effects of an operation and was advised by the doctors not to fly. In disregarding their injunctions ho ■ added another record to the many achievements to his credit. These include flights round the Australian coast, across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and a flight round the world. The Prime Minister, Mr MacDonald, and Lord Amulree, Air Minister, have sent telegrams to Kingsford Smith congratulating him on his magnificent flight. KNIGHTHOOD SUGGESTED •AUSTRALIAN PRESS TRIBUTES. MOST OUTSTANDING INCIDENT. (Rec. 9.15 p.m.) Sydney, October 20. The Australian Press pays warm tributes to the flights of Wing-Commander Kingsford Smith, Captain Matthews and Flight-Lieu-tenant Hill. i The Evening News, suggesting a knighthood for Kingsford Smith, refers to his achievement of circumnavigating the globe whereby he brought a high honour to Australia. The paper adds: “Other airmen are just as brave and as resourceful, but the potentialities of those are his achievements.” Colonel Brinsmead, Controller of Civil Aviation, comments that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find fresh words of praise for Kingsford Smith. His action in turning back to Atamboea on Saturday night stamps him as pre-eminent... It was the most outstanding incident in his flight. A less highly skilled pilot might have attempted to get through to Darwin that day. A SPOUTING ACT. OFFER TO ASSIST HILL. OWN FLIGHT DELAYED.

Darwin, October 20. Wing-Commander Kingsford. Smith left Darwin at 6.30 this morning and Captain Matthews half an hour later. Speaking on his flight, Kingsford Smith said the most difficult portion was that from Rangoon to Singapore and at the' latter place he landed under the most difficult conditions, being aided by flares. From there everything went well. The plane had behaved perfectly throughout. As great as Kingsford Smith's victory is the poignant story of how two Australians stood beside a wrecked plane at Atainboea and proved the courage of one in adversity and the grief of the other in victory. Kingsford Smith was flying from Sourabaya to Atamboea when he saw a machine apparently dismantled 50 feet from the aerodrome. He flew low, saw it was wrecked, so landed to see if he could be of any assistance and met Hill. His sporting action naturally delayed his flight to Darwin all Sunday. “There is deep sorrow in my heart for Hill,” said Kingsford Smith to-day. "It Was pitiful to see his machine sinashed up and the gallant pilot lose all he had fought for so pluckily. His ‘was a flight infinitely more difficult and therefore is a finer achievement than mine. He told me he had run his machine the full lefigth of the aerodrome, but it would not lift and the left wing caught on a fence. The machine then overturned, and the undercarriage was damaged, the propeller broken, the two wings smashed, the fuselage wreck-

ed and other minor parts broken. As it - was impossible to have repairs done there I suggested that he should go to Singapore or have his plane shipped home. Although Hill’s face showed bitter disappointment, he met me with a smile. “‘Have you a collapsible boat?’ he asked. ' •“I told him that I had not. ‘Then take mine,’ he continued. ‘I don’t want it now.’ I had to look away to hide "my emotions. J take off my hat to Hill.” ’ SPLENDID TAKE-OFF DEPARTURE FROM DARWIN. (Rec. 8 p.m.) Darwin, October 20. A number of local people farewelled WingCommander Kingsford Smith and Captain Matthews, both of whom had an excellent takeoff.

Kingsford Smith’s parting words were: "I (to sot care whether Bert Hinkler beats

my record. I will not make a yearly event of it.”

In the early stages of his flight to Australia, Kingsford Smith saw the wreck of RlOl near Beauvais and passed over it. He described it as a heart-breaking sight, and added: “I never liked gasbags.”

ARRIVAL AT CLONCURRY

LANDING MADE IN DARKNESS.

SOME ENTHUSIASTIC ADMIRERS.

(Rec. 1.70 a.m.) Cloncurry (Queensland), October 20.

Wipg-Commander Kingsford Smith arrived in darkness at 7.15 p.m., two hours overdue. The headlights of a hundred cars flooded the aerodrome and the Southern Cross Junior made a perfect landing.

Kingsford Smith, who was given a rousing welcome, said he encountered strong head winds for the whole of the 907 miles from Darwin, the trip occupying 124 hours. He had dropped in at a small store in the, Northern Territory for a packet of cigarettes. He was the guest of the Shire Council at a dinner to-night, and leaves for Brisbane at daylight. He hopes to reach there at 6 p.m. Kingsford Smith’s Avro-Avian has a petrol capacity of 113 gallons and a flying range of 1,700 miles. He stated that the petrol consumption averaged only 6| gallons an hour during the whole flight. His main difficulty en route was fighting a desire to fall asleep. One of the first messages of congratulations he opened on arrival in Australia was from Mr Bert Hinkler. Another was from the Diggers of Parramatta, stating: “Is he any good?” A message from the former actress Nellie Stewart stated: “I knew you would do it. My wonder man.” Kingsford Smith sent a message forward appealing to Brisbane and Sydney people to refrain from fuss or functions, as he was greatly in need of a complete rest. NO WORD OF MATTHEWS. . (Rec. 11.10 a.m.) ' Sydney, October 20. Captain Matthews has not been reported from Daly Waters. WARM CONGRATULATIONS' MESSAGE FROM NEW ZEALAND. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, October 20. The Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) has sent the following message to the act-ipg-Governor-General for communication to' Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith: “New Zealand congratulates you most warmly on your latest triumph, completing a series of memorable achievements.—-Bledisloe, Gov-ernor-GeneraL.”