Famous Airmen “Fail Out”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 13

Famous Airmen “Fail Out”

Flying Friendship Broken Dispute Over Return to America Bg Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. FOLLOWING on the decision of Levine, the airman who accompanied Chamberlin in the flight across the Atlantic to Berlin, to take a Frenchman with him on a return flight to New York, a breach of friendship between the intrepid airmen has been disclosed. In addition the French press seems to know what is wrong with French machines, and notes that other nations are flying ahead of France.

Reed. 12.50 p.m. LONDON, Friday. \ TLANTIC flights are very much in . the air, and out of the welter of project emerges a deep French chagrin, which is centred around the question, “What is wrong with French machines?”

The French Press extols American, Italian and British flights, including Cobham’s to Australia, and then asserts: —“We have got brave and intrepid airmen, but where are our airplanes?” The commentators ask: “Should Nungesser and Coli have been allowed to go to their fate?” It is pointed out that Saint Romain was permitted to embark in a machine that was totally unsuited to liis flight. Now the general depression is heightened by the decision of France’s outstanding airman, Maurice Drouhin, to pilot Levine back to New York in the “Miss Columbia.” Drouhin jettisoned his plan to fly a French machine, and accepted Levine’s invitation to pilot him.

Herein rests an interesting story. There have been rumours of a disagreement between Chamberlin and Levine. The former, arriving at Croydon, took refuge in non-committal phrases, such as “I want a homeward steamer; he wants to fly. I am going by steamer he is going by air, so everything is all right.”

Thus the two intrepid airmen part company, and Levine faces a new difficulty. He cannot speak a word of French, and Drouhin cannot speak a word of English. The question arises, “How will they fare during a 36-hours’ fight across the Atlantic?”

Levine says that he is going to learn a few essential words of French, sufficient to enable them to understand each other.

In the background, it is reliably stated, lurks Chamberlin’s doubt as to the practicability of bridging the Atlantic from the European side. Chamberlin says: “We have accomp shed what we set out for. It is unnecessasry to take further chances.”

Levine says: “Chamberlin may have his own reasons for not taking the “Columbia” to America. That is his business. We have, I suppose, ended our associations, but there is no reason why we should not remain friends.”

“It is curious to note the difference between Chamberlin’s and Linbergh’s reception in London. Only a few gathered at Croydon to welcome the “Columbia,” which arrived with an escort of two trans-Channel airplanes. It is certainly regrettable that the two airmen should close their journey amid such disagreement. —A. and N.Z.