SOUTHERN CROSS AGAIN

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 84, 25 June 1930, Page 5

SOUTHERN CROSS AGAIN

OFF ON ATLANTIC HOP MONOPLANE LEAVES IRELAND SMITH CERTAIN" OF SUCCESS LONDON, June 23. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith Started his flight across the Atlantic at 4.30 a.m. Cheering crowds on the beach included the Governor-General of the Free State (Mr James McNeill). When the Southern Gross hopped off, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith said: - "We do not hope to get across; we me icerthin.''

There were doubts as to whether the raachjne would'lift the seven ton load bu< it rose gracefully and eas ; !v find the t'planr was out of sight within DO Beconds of taking off.

ROUSING SEND-OFF

LIFEBELTS AND RATIONS

LONDON, June 24

Five thousand people waited for three hours at Port Marnoek beach and accorded the Southern Cross a rousing send-off. Soldiers with fixed bayonets guarded the monoplane night-long. The engines were started at the hour of pre-departure and the macL'.ne took off after travelling 1500 yards. Then the 'plane dipped in salute and headed seawards, •

Each occupant is equipped with' a collapsible pneumatic lifebelt and each has rations consisting of six sandwiches', a piece of cheese, half a pound of chocolate, a quart of coffee and a flask of "whisky. Squadfon-Leader Kingsford Smith carries a mascot gold plaque in £h.e form of a four-leaved shamrock, the gift of the .GovernorGeneral's wife. The machine crossed the coast seacard at 6.35 a.m. ITJNFAVOTJRABLE WEATHER METEOROLOGIST'S REPORT NEW YORK, June 24. (Doctor James Kimball, meteorologist, stated that the weather conditions in the North Atlantic were unfavourable for, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith's flight, with no indications of helping Winds. j "The situation has not cleamd to

any appreciable extent," states Dr. Kimball. "There is a dense fog off ' Cape Race and Sable Island and winds in the western half of the ocean are generally westerly to south-west. Probably the conditions for landing here will be bad to-morrow night." Dr. Kimball's detailed report stated: "From Longitude 35, clouds; 42 degrees to 60, showers; 45 to 57, fog; 57 to New York overcast, winds at

2000'feet; from Longitude 35, fresh westerly; from 45 fresh to strong westerly; from 60 to New York, south-

west- '/ Persons interested in America attempted to persuade Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith to postpone his flight further, but an interchange of communications revealed that the aviator iefused., so, delay longer. Steps were taken to send the refuelling 'plane to Portland Maine immediately.

MESSAGES FROM 'PLANE

SIGNALS FADING BADLY

(Coypright in Now Zealand by the Australian '■ Press Association; World Copyright by the New York Times).

NEW YOKK, June 24.

The first message of direct cominunication arrived at New York Times' radio station at 2.31 a.m. and read as follows: "All 0.K., but strong head winds. Signed VMZAB." - The second message was received at 2.40 a.m.: "Head winds very strong, "but good conditions. Signals fading badly because this wave too short for ij this tim.e VMZAB." ■ I The third message at 2.55 a.m. read: "Southern Cross just passed over a number ,of trawlers. Very cheerful to see other people out in this waste* Everything going O.K. Air speed 100 miles an hour, revolutions 1730 per minute, altitude 500 feet, air temperature 48 degrees, estimated ground speed 75 miles an hour. 3.21 a.m.: "Just been having a look at the chart with Paddy. Seems everything is breaking our way as there are plenty- of ships on the course from which we can confirm our position." 4 a.m.: Head-winds still of fair fetrength. However, we tanked for a 88 hour petrol supply. ' SIGNALS FROM PLANE (Received 9.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 24. The New York Times received continuous i signals from the Southern Cross. It was 61.15 this mornin* when the signals faded out. It is expected, however, that the aero. plane will shortly be in communicatoin again.

A message from Chatham Massachusetts states the Radio Corporation of America at 7 o'clock local time,