WAS BEST EQUIPMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 11

WAS BEST EQUIPMENT

“SOUTHERN CROSS” RADIO SKILLED OPERATOR’S VIEWS Press Association WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Mr. Stannage, who was wireless operator for Captain Les Holden on the airliner Canberra, when he rescued Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, is now wireless operator on the Manuka at present in port. Interviewed with reference to the forced landing of the Southern Cross, he said it was very disappointing that the Australian public did not stand by its heroes. He characterised the wireless equipment of the Southern Cross as the best, with nothing its equal in the Southern Hemisphere, and said that ; Kingsford Smith was right in putting ; the emergency transmitting set off the plane to save weight in such a venture. As regard to the lost aerial, he could not understand why Smith did not say at the fhquiry that the Southern Cross could not possibly have received any message as it was impossible to cut out the noise of the firing sparkplugs. Smith knew perfectly well that no message could be received on ! the Southern Cross. Mr. Stannage emphasises the quality of the set on the Southern Cross and the fact that Captain Holden pre-. dieted from the messages from the party in their flight, that they would be found where they were found.