SUCCESS OF SOVIET AIRMEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20781, 16 July 1937, Page 9

SUCCESS OF SOVIET AIRMEN

ENDURANCE TEST ECLIPSED FLIGHT FROM MOSCOW TO CALIFORNIA AIR VOYAGERS DOWN IN COW PADDOCK United Press Association—By Electric Tel egraoh —Copyright NEW YORK, July 14. The Soviet airmen. Michael Gromoff, Major A. Yumashex (assistant pilot) and S. Daniline (navigator), w'ho took off from Moscow on July 11 on a flight across the North Pole to San Francisco, landed to-day 90 miles east of Los Angeles. The Soviet fliers were reported over San Francisco about 8.30 p.m. (New Zealand time), when their wireless message broke off in the middle of a sentence. The fact that there was no word for tlie next three hours, induced the Soviet Consul to send up a plane to search around Oakland. A later message states that the Soviet fliers landed 90 miles east of Los Angeles. Fought Against Fogs The Soviet fliers landed in a cow pasture, at San Jacintocal. They fought against fogs all the way to California, and landed at 2 a.m. on Thursday (New Zealand time). They flew non-stop approximately 6262 miles, in 62 hours 17 minutes. The fliers were not aware that there was a large army airport only 20 miles from where they landed. Army planes immediately’ flew to the pasture, stationed a guard over the plane, and brought the fliers to the army field. They estimate that they got as far south as San Diego, but were forced to return owing to fog. Tire petrol line was dented in landing on a bumpy pasture. Pilot Gromoff said they encountered three cyclones en route, and were compelled to use the oxygen tanks for hours, due io the high altitudes. The single motor functioned perfectly. “ADMIRE YOUR HEROISM" OFFICIAL SOVIET CONGRATULATIONS United Prese A.«snctarion —Bv Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received July 16, 1.10 a.m.) MOSCOW, July 15. A telegram signed by Messrs Stalin, Molotov, Voroshilov and other Soviet leaders has been sent to the fliers as follows: “We admire your heroism and skill in achieving a new victory for Soviet aviation. The toilers of the Soviet are proud of your success.” The existing aviation record for a non-stop distance flight in a straight line is held by the French airmen M. Rossi and M. Codos, who flew in 1933 New York to Rayak (Syria), a distance of 5654 miles.