SOUTHERN CROSS REACHES GOAL OF EPIC FLIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1009, 27 June 1930, Page 1

SOUTHERN CROSS REACHES GOAL OF EPIC FLIGHT

KINGSFORD SMITH LANDS I

ATLANTIC FLIERS AT NEW YORK RAPID HOP ALONG AMERICAN COAST BUMPY ALOFT, BUT PLANE BEHAVES

AFTER a rapid but bumpy flight from Newfoundland, down the American coast, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and his three companions, in the monoplane Southern Cross, have landed safely in New York—the goal of their Atlantic crossing from Ireland. The second stage of the flight, between 1,100 and 1,200 miles, occupied 15J hours. The plane left Harbour Grace—where it was forced to land on Wednesday—at 3.5 a.m„ New York standard time, and touched Roosevelt Field at 6.30 p.m. (about 11 a.m. today in New Zealand). The fliers, who preceded their landing by a characteristically spectacular stunt over the huge crowd, were given a worthy reception. They have received a flood of invitations to functions in all parts of the city.

(Copyright in New Zealand by Australian Press Association, t 'World’s copyright by ’’New York Times.”) Reed. 11.15 a.m. NEW YORK, Tliurs. Dispatches from Harbour Grace. Newfoundland, state that SquadronLeader Kingsford Smith, Mr. Van Dyk (co-pilot), Mr. P. Saul, navigator, and Mr. J. S. W. Stannage, wireless operator, resumed their flight to Xew York in the Southern Cross when dawn broke over the historic flying Held. ’

It was then 3.5 a.m., New York standard time. Before nightfall—C.3l p.m.—they were safely landed at New York. The airmen said they expected to cover the distance to Roosevelt field. Long Island, New York—between 1,100 and 1,200 miles—in 12 to 14 hours, in which case they would reach that destination late this afternoon. Th; machine made a perfect takeoff and an equally perfect landing. “WELL; WE’VE DONE IT” Just before the landing the monoplane sent a message from right over the city: “Well; we’ve done it. Gosh; it’s hard to realise though. On our way to Roosevelt Field now.”

Superintendent Kelley, of the Roosevelt Field, had previously wirelessed Kingsford Smith requesting him to bring the Southern Cross down on the western field of the port, “as we can handle the crowds better, and as the reception committee will be there.”

Though he had flown over 1,100 miles today, Kingsford Smith treated the crowd awaiting to acclaim him to a spectacular exhibition of vertical flying before bringing the ship to a perfect three-point landing directly before the throngs massed behind the high wire fence. An hour before the Southern Cross was due to arrive only a small crowd of a few thousand had gathered, but automobiles were then beginning to roil in in progressively greater numbers, giving every indication that New York and vicinity would turn out to welcome the fliers. AUSTRALIA WAS THERE

The afternoon was brilliant and hot and the conditions tor landing were ideal. There were a tew Australians among the crowd, and they proudly indicated their nationality and expressed admiration at their coPatriot.

Mr. Herbert Brookes was on the committee of welcome. Mr. A. Alam. M.L.C. of New South Wales, accompanied Mr. William Saul, brother of the navigator Saul, who is an engineer on a Bermuda-New York boat, and had not known of his brother’s inten-

tion to flv in the Southern Cross. The first three persons to greet the Southern Cross personnel, however, ere Immigration Inspector Olding, uustoma Officer Robinson and Health officer Dr. Shelley. Everything had been put in readi®ess for the arrival of the Southern broßs. An adequate ground crew facilitated putting the plane in its “augar. A special police force of 50 to handle the crowds had been provided. Conditions were ideal for landing, a north by north-west wind prejailing to give the Southern Cross lile necessary lift for an easy landing. MAKING HAY

The crowd was not excited nor apparently extremely enthusiastic, although there was every indication aat it would give the fliers a hearty reception.

scene was extremely colourful, field authorities improved their PPortunity by keeping the rim of the jarge field No. 2, where the Southern ross was due to land, covered with it? Zenß brightly-coloured sight-see- } ng Planes, while huge loud-speakers ,■ euphemistic announce-

ments of the arrival time, approaching the visitor with an invitation to “step right up with your girl friend. It is only two and a-half dollars apiece. Take her up for a ride in the blue. I am not promising, but it is quite possible the Southern Cross will arrive while you are in the air, and you can give her a special welcome.” And young men and women in pairs stepped up every few minutes. SWALLOWED IN MOB The navigator was the first to step out of the fuselage carrying his despatch ease with his navigation papers in his hand. He was at once swallowed up by a mob of men and women. Someone thrust a huge basket of magnificent roses into his hand, and he promptly disposed of them by hanging them on to a projection behind the right motor. Then Kingsford Smith, pulling off his cap and showing his face sunbrowned and lean, climbed out at the left of the machine and sprang down. He was in a fur-lined flying suit, with fur collar, and wore heavy boots, and here it is sweltering hot. The crowd swallowed him up, and after the police had tugged and run their motor-cycles through the jam, it was possible for the diplomatic party of welcome to meet the two fliers. At 7.40 the city welcome committee was given a chance to shake their hands. After Stannage and the as-sistant-pilot had been induced to climb fraom the fuselage, the party was then rushed to a reception in the pavilion, where newspapermen fired questions at four deaf men. It was minutes before they understood human speech. POLICE FIGHT CROWDS A crowd of about 5,000 followed behind the fliers as they were led from the machine, and these surrounded the pavilion, which fortunately was from two sides protected by a stout metal fence. The police cleared the doorway, and a line of automobiles to carry the party back the 20-mile distance to the city was drawn up at the front door, with the police striving to keep the lane open to machines. The Southern Cross, which looked clean and unmarred after its strenuous trip, was immediately hitched to a tractor and towed into the hangar, a large ground crowd keeping sou-venir-hunters off. On account of the late arrival of the Southern Cross, all plans for the reception by the Mayor in New York were cancelled. The fliers went immediately to the Hotel Roosevelt, New York City, to rest, and tomorrow, in their street clothes which were awaiting them at the hotel, they will go to the City Hall in the forenoon for a civic welcome. INSTRUMENTS NOT FAULTY Smith, interviewed by newspapermen, said his condition was excellent, except for deafness, which is usual and not a cause for worry. “I was really in fine shape when we left this morning,” he said, “but now I begin to feel tired.” Asked whether the Atlantic or the Pacific flight was the most difficult, he said: “The navigation of the Pacific was the more difficult, but the weather over the Atlantic -was the greater trial.” Asked to what he attributed his success, he said: “The splendid preparation.” He then added: “It will be better next time,” but declined to explain the next time. He denied his instruments were unreliable during the bad hours over Newfoundland. "The instrument was not altogether bad.” he said. Van Dyk said: “We are going to Chicago on Saturday morning and thence to San Francisco.” Asked whether the roughness of the welcoming crowds frightened him, because he appeared reluctant to leave the fuselage, he said: “I enjoyed their roughness.” After reporters commented on the fliers’ lack of luggage, Van Dyk said, brightly: “We will buy some.” THRILLS EN ROUTE GREETED BY AIR FLEET WHEN PASSING OVER BOSTON WORLD FOLLOWS THE FLIGHT Reed. 10.40 a.m. NEW YORK, Thurs. Messages were received at frequent intervals throughout the last hop of the flight, which occupied 15& hours. I The first was at 5.30 a.m., when the I Mackay Radio Company intercepted a'message from the Southern Cross

stating that they were flying over the j Burin Peninsula, 140 miles south-west of Harbour Grace, averaging approximately 90 miles an hour for the first 85 minutes in the air. HEAVY HEAD WINDS

At 5.37 a.m.: “The head winds are fairly strong. I expect, if they continue, that we will not make New York till about G p.m., New York time. The Southern Cross is better than ever after the night’s rest. “Personally I greatly regret my not having fulfilled my part of the arrangement by landing in the United States, but I do not believe in complaining. Cheerio.” At 6.30 a.m. a message was received saying: “Over for bearings. Flying blind again." The “New York Times” operator explains that probably the message meant the airmen were flying in fog again and were changing over from a 33-metre wave to a 600-metre, or compass radio wave, in order to obtain their bearings by wireless. Having obtained their bearings tbe airmen proceeded to send a long; stream of telegrams and cablegrams to various parts of tbe world thanking persons who had congratulated them. The monoplane sent a request to the Canso Government radio station for bearings, and at 5.47 a.m. the station replied: “Bearing true from Canso 621/2 degrees.” The steamer America wirelessed the position of the plane at 6.44 a.m. to be 200 miles west by south of Cape Race. GOING 100 M.P.H. The station Gloucester, Massachusetts, picked up a broadcast message from the Southern Cross at 7.45 a.m., stating: “We are flying at 2,000 feet altitude and estimating a speed of 100 miles an hovr.” The position was not given. At 8.8 a.m. a message'said: “All well aboard here. We are flying at 1,000 feet above a dense fog and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. “A little while ago Van Dyk and 1 got sick from an overdose of petrol fumes and nearly did the obvious. But we are now O.K. We are in very smooth air and quite warm and pleasant. "Please -publish our thanks to the many well-wishers who send kind messages.” At 8.35 a.m. the coastguard radio received a message: “We are over Nova Scotia.” A message at 8.38 a.m.: “Going to take sight now.” At 8.43 a.m.: “Sight O.K. Am going to have a snack now.” ABOVE THE FOG At 10.40 a.m. the fliers said: “We have climbed to 6.500 feet to get above the fog. There are beautiful masses of heavy, cumulous clouds up here, through which the old ship is steadily flying. “All of us are very cheery and making inroads into the provisions. “Have not seen the ground for many hours, but we should worry, with the lads behind knowing their stuff. “Am keeping a certainty of our position. Everything is grand Cheerio.” Word from Halifax, Nova Scotia, says the Southern Cross passed Musquodoboit Harbour 40 miles east of there at 10.40 a.m.

At 11 a.m. the monoplane was at 1,100 feet passing Country Harbour, Nova Scotia. “On our left the weather is good with the sky partly clouded,” the fliers said. “At 1,200 feet we are setting a

dead-ahead course for Lynn, Mass., over which we will circle once to say ’Cheerio.’ ” A message to Mr. Bemt Balchen and Captain Melville, of the Byrd expedition, said: “Am still waiting for report of the weather from the long-wave stations.” At 11.50 a.m.: “Weather received O.K. Clear to Boston.” Halifax radio station wirelessed that the Southern Cross passed over their station at noon, sending the following message: “It is beautiful country we are flying over. There aro lovely little lakes everywhere and dense forests. We have seen all kinds of wild animals, too.” At 12.10 p.m.: “Pushing into fog again. Have just passed Halifax.” At 1 p.m.: “AVe have nothing but flying clothes. Could you arrange for something of everything from hat to shoes to be available for us this evening. “A’an Dyk is the largest, about six feet, 12st 21b; Saul is next, sft lOin and list 41b; myself next, sft Sin and lOst 121 b; and Stannage is the smallest, sft 6in a,nd about 9st 41b. "Please reply and if possible fix. Cheerio. —Smith.” BUMPY ALOFT A garbled message received at 12.36 p.m., is now corrected; “Air speed 35 miles an hour. Ali well. It suddenly got quite bumpy again.” A message at 1.48 p.m.: "Have just left the coast of Nova Scotia and ara crossing direct to Lynn and on to New York. Expect to arrive there about 7 p.m., daylight saving. Weather is perfect, but a slight haze reduces visibility. All O.K. aboard the ship.’’ Word from Boston, Mass,, says the Southern Cross passed there at 3.40 p.m. At 4.50 p.m.: “We have just passed over Boston, which is a rather wonderful city from the air. • “A flock of machines came up to see us. It is much too interesting to keep pounding the brass. Must take everything in.” “At 5.05 p.m. we passed Boston and expect to arrive at New York at 7 p.m. We will circle the city and land at Roosevelt Field.” The plane radioed at 5.45 p.m : “Passing New Haven. Connecticut. Smith.” FLOOD OF INVITATIONS Many requests have been received by Kingsford Smith from cities throughout the United States to be their guest of honour and participate in entertainment programmes. Many of these he has been compelled to decline.

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