AIR EDITOR RETRACTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 674, 28 May 1929, Page 9

AIR EDITOR RETRACTS

SAID SMITH’S LANDING WAS PREARRANGED FINDING OF KOOKABURRA MELBOURNE, Monday. John Hart, editor of the magazine "Aircraft,” told the Committee of Inquiry today that he unreservedly withdrew all statements he had published suggesting that the forced landing of the Southern Cross had been prearranged. Lieutenant-Colonel Horace C. Brinsmead. Controller of Civil Aviation, said Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Ulm had little to learn about long-distance flying and aviation. The authorities at no time were anxious about their safety. He regarded Kingsford Smith as quite an exceptional pilot. Witness said he had no statutory power to stop the flights of the Southern Cross and Kookaburra. He was convinced, however, that the safety of machines carrying passengers and mail should be protected by every means in the department’s power. The responsibility for purely spectacular, experimental flights, and for rescue operations, should! rest upon those who undertook or encouraged them. Proceeding, Colonel Brinsmead said that when the Tasman /flight was announced he sought statutory power to stop it in the belief that it would be suicidal. However, that power was not granted. It was believed that the flight could be stopped by indirect means.

Witness expressed the opinion that when aviators embark on flights to North and Western Australia they should carry not only axes, but other implements. Yet they should not load themselves with all manner of things. The Southern Cross flyers, also, should have carried more emergency rations. Witness admitted that the preparations for the flight of the Southern Cross showed the greatest care and competence in organisation. WRECKED COMPASS Flight-Lieutenant Charles Eaton told the story of the finding of the late Lieutenant Keith Anderson’s body and miscellaneous papers around the Kookaburra. He also referred to Anderson’s rough diary written on the fuselage. Witness said one document found on Anderson's body was a contract between Anderson and John Canter, hotelkeeper, Sydney, who had agreed to pay the airman £SOO to search for the Southern Cross. Progress reports were to be sent to Mr. Canter in the utmost privacy.

Scraps of Anderson’s diary were produced by witness. These referred to the forced landing and the airman's inability to prepare to take-off again owing to increasing debility due to thirst. There were other unintelligible entries.

Anderson’s machine seemed to he all right, but the compass was completely wrecked. There was plenty of petrol. The inquiry was adjourned.