ARCTIC FLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20128, 23 April 1928, Page 7

ARCTIC FLIGHT

WILKINS' VENTURE . Reported Arrival at Spitsbergen Causes Surprise PREVIOUS UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS (By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright J Received April 22, 11.20 p.m. (A. & N.Z.; WASHINGTON, April 21. A message from Detroit states that a radio message from Captain W’ilkins at Svalbard announced that he reached Spitszbergen in 20$ hours flying lime. H e experienced five days bad weather. Two previous attempts were unsuccessful. Captain Winkins’ reported arrival caused surprise here. Although the plane carried a radio, complete silence envelojjpd his activities from time. He was expected to take off from Point Barrow. Pilot Eielson, who accompanied Captain Wilkins, is a native of Hatton, North Dakota. He is 30 years of age, and studied at the State University. He enlisted in the American army air service during t.he war and won his first lieutenancy. He became a commercial aviator after the war, and m .1923 he undertook for the Post Office Depax: moot the solution of the proMem ol the Winter air mail delivery to Alaska. His work brought commendation from Mr Coolidge. The airplane in which the flight is being made is the smallest craft which has been used in an Arctic exploration. It is a Lockheed-Vega, and compared with the Dorni-Wals used by Captain Amundsen and Commander Byrd’s triplaned Fokker, this monoplane appears insignificant. It is, however, extremely speedy. It is intersting to note that the American Geographical Society received a message from Captain Wilkins, “No foxes seen.” This was the code arrangement by which the explorer indi« catd that ho had seen no land in the Polar region. Comment is uanimous that Captain Wilkins’ flight is epochal, and official and aviation circles in the United States have joined in congrat .lations to the aviator, hailing his persistence and courage as making him one of the outstanding figures in exploration and aviation. Mr Kellogg ha-s cabled Captain Wilkins and Pilot Eielson, “Heartiest congratulations on your splendid flight; it is a wonderful accomplishment.” Commander Byrd said: “I have nothing but admiration for his persistence in the face of discouragement. His flight is of great scientific vain® and his navigation is worthy of the highest praise. I congratulate him most heartily. Commander Douglas Jeffrey, who with Captain Wilkins accompanied Shackleton, said. “We felt he would pull through. He is a resourceful sort of fellow’.” Dr. Stcffansson expressed delight at tho success, and said that Captain Wilkins was the best man they had in their Canadian arctic expeditions oi 1913 and 1918.