SECOND COMET IN FOURTH PLACE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19940, 26 October 1934, Page 9

SECOND COMET IN FOURTH PLACE

INTEREST IN CONTEST WANING

difficulties of flight OVER AUSTRALIA

United Press Association—By Electric Tel egraph —Copyrlgnt (Received October 25, 7.0 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, October 25

Ken Waller and Cathcart Jones (England), flying a D.H. Comet, have arrived, being the fourth to complete the journey.

The fliers battled through fierce rain and windstorm in Victoria. Only Air Force officials welcomed them. Public interest in the race having subsided. It is proposed to give all the finishing pilots a fitting combined reception later.

Hard Flight Across Australia

The Comet made a perfect landinglast night at Mount Isa by the light of bonfires, edging the runway, and car headlamps. The ’plane had sufficient petrol to fly to Charleville, but as the fliers were confident of beating Macgregor and Walker to Melbourne, they decided to remain until daylight. Ken Waller said their engines had given plenty of trouble, principally the lubricating system. They had a thrilling experience near Java on Tuesday night. They had to cross u range of mountains, and the engines were giving trouble. A crash into the mountain side seemed inevitable, but just at the crucial moment the engines responded, and they flew over.

Most Difficult Section.

Ken Waller and Cathcart Jones left Mount Isa at 5.30 a.m. and made a quick trip to Charleville, arriving at 8.50 a.m. (local time). Both said that the Comet was the supreme racing machine.

The co-pilot, Cathcart Jones, said that the Darwin-Charleville section of the race was by far the most difficult, because the country was so similar for hundreds of miles, and there were very few landmarks.

Both fliers, while appreciating the splendid performance put up by the Dutchmen, said that Scott’s flight was outstanding.