VICTORY CLOUDED WITH DISASTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20540, 5 October 1936, Page 9

VICTORY CLOUDED WITH DISASTER

AIR RACE TO AFRICA SINGLE 'PLANE TO REACH GOAL MISS JEAN BATTEN’S NEW VENTURE United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright JOHANNESBURG, October 3 Owing to the tragedies associated with the Centenary air race, the Aero Club banquet and presentation of prizes has been cancelled. BID FOR SECOND PLACE NEW ZEALANDER'S RESUMED FLIGHT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright JOHANNESBURG, October 2. Flying-Officer Clouston will leave Entebbe at dawn for Abercorn, whence he will fly non-stop to Johannesburg, where he hopes to arrive at 5 p.tn., on Saturday. LIGHTING THE WAY LLEWELLYN'S BAD LUCK United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright JOHANNESBURG, October 2. All the aerodromes are being lighted to-night in expectation of Flying-Offi-cer Clouston’s resumption, in the hope of finishing on Sunday, to qualify for the handicap prize. It is revealed that Flying-Officer Llewellyn was four hours ahead of Mr Scott when he crashed owing to shortage of petrol, due to a leak, while searching for a landing place, after inability to find the Abercorn aerodrome. The 'plane hit trees, overturned, and was completely wrecked. BID FOR SECOND PLACE FAILS FLYING OFFICER CLOUSTON CRASHES NEAR SALISBURY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 5, 12.30 a.m.) JOHANNESBURY, October 4. Flying-Officer Clouston crashed at Gwelo, 130 miles south of Salisbury. The machine was wrecked Clouston and his passenger Tasker were not Injured. Owing to engine trouble FlyingOfficer Clouston had been able to make only short hops, but he covered 1400 miles on Saturday, landing safely at Tabora, Abercorn and Mpika, before he was forced down at Otoko, where ae took 12 gallons of petrol and restarted for Salisbury. His non-arrival caused great anxiety and every available plane started at mid-night to search for him An earlier message from Entebbe reported that Flying-Officer Clouston left at 3.30 a.m. for Johannesburg, by short stages. He reached Mpika, and resumed on the way to Salisburg. Smith, after another delay left Cairo for Khartoum, where on arrival, ne announced his retirement from the race. JEAN BATTEN’S PLANS FLIGHT FROM ENGLAND TO NEW ZEALAND United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 2. Miss Jean Batten told the Associated Press: “I hope to break my record of 338 hours, of 1934. I will follow the same route and will use the machine in which I flew to South America. It is just a year old, but is running as sweetly as ever. I am looking forward to seeing my home country again. You do not know how much I long for a glimpse c! the New Zealand countryside and New Zealand faces. I know it will be a happy moment.” Miss Batten confessed that preparations for the trip imposed an immense strain, especially fuel arrangements. She is likely to be charged 6/- a gallon for petrol in Italy. She plans to stay a short time in Sydney for the overhaul of the machine before taking off for New Plymouth, from where she hopes to go on to Auckland. Mrs Batten plans to follow in a steamet a few weeks after seeing her daughter take off on her record dash. Conspicuously painted on the rudder of the 'plane is a large New Zealand flag. Since the Atlantic hop the ’plane has also been fitted with a selfstarter. Miss Batten will probably leave at dawn on Monday from the Hatfield aerodrome, in an attempt on a record flight. Two extra petrol tanks, installed in the Percival Gull, will give it a range of well over 1300 miles. Miss Batter, will carry a letter from Mr W. J. Jordan for Mr Savage. She hopes it will be the quickest delivery on record in the longest Empire flight, and is limiting the halt at Sydney to a very short period.