GREAT FLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 164, 14 July 1933, Page 5

GREAT FLIGHT

ITALIAN SEAPLANES NORTH ATLANTIC CROSSED ICELAND TO LABRADOR .By Telegraph--Press Association—Copyright) Received Julv 13, 5.5 p.m. VANCOUVER, July 12. The Italian seaplane squadron under General Dalbo, Italian Minister of Air, arrived at Cartwright Harbour, Labrador, from Reykjavik, Iceland. They covered the distance of 1500 miles in 101 hours. The vanguard of the squadron arrived at 1.30 p.m. (Atlantic time). By 2 p.m. sixteen had turned up, six more hove on the scene at 5 o’clock, and with the arrival of the remainder at 5.30 the squadron was •complete. GENERAL BALBO’S STORY SAFETY OF MASS FLIGHT Received July 13, 11.55 p.m. LONDON, July 13. General Halo Balbo, from Cartwright Bay, sends the following:— We are over the Aatlantic—over the North Atlantic this time, and for the second time Fascist air armadas have demonstrated that oceans can be flown in mass formation. There now remain inly the last stages of the journey to Chicago, completing a 7000-miles formation flight and adding further prestige to Fascism. This formation flight from the old lo the now world, has been conquered to-day under conditions of the greatest peril. Starting off in our 24 ’planes early on Wednesday from Reykjavik, Iceland, wo encountered crosswinds and bad atmospherical conditions. Visibility was very low for the first few hours and wo were often obliged to fly blind with onlv the aid of our instruments as we skimmed the waters if the Atlantic. The bad conditions kept absolutely against us until we 'came abreast of Cape Farewell nn the southern tin of Greenland, which we passea 50 miles on our right. Then for two solid hours we navigated through wide banks of dense fog. Here wo encountered peril of a ve.rv real <haracten ns a result of ice formin gnn the winfs and metallic propellers. The last 750 miles was flown in real tranquility. During the first throe-fourths of the eight, contrary winds limited the average speed to 124 miles per hour. The fleet divided into units three entering the fog and clouds. The formation was altered as previously arranged bv widening the formation, controlling the preMoss hv radio gonimeters aboard each ’plane, the orders going from group to group. Immediately the ’planes on each side of the cent-al leaders (each forming a “V”) described a deviation of 45 degrees to the right and l°ft respectively, then taking up the p-enoral course. When emerging from the fog and clouds tho ’plane's resumed their original positions. At Cartwright. each unit! landed separately in perfect fnrmat'nn. taking their positions hv buoys already pro-n.a-ed and marked. We are the guests of the "Hudson Ba” Company, whose governor in London T thanked for his aid in making thn wav easier. Tt is important tn point nut that this of the flight is fully confirmed hv the theory that mass serial formation can alwavs flv every course and every route, especially with 85 welltrailed men and ermines ns undoubtedly are our Tsotta Fraschin’ motor o . ''Convright hv nniver al service: King Features Syndicate TneA TIMES OF ARRIVAL. CARTWRIGHT. July 12. Sixteen Italian seaplane o arrived hero at 4.10 p.m.. six at 5.5 p.m., and the last two at 5.30 p.m. The snuadron of 24 large seaplanes led by General Ttaln Balho. Italian Minister for Air. left Lake Ortebello on Julv 1. for Chicago via Great Britain and Greenland. The seaplanes were delayed at Londonderry Av bad weather and reached Iceland on Julv 6. There is a total of 100 Bitch Shirt flying men in the expedition, for which preparations have been in train for over a year and a-half. A course in English has been part of the special training to which the aviator-- hate been subjected. The expedition plan® to make a double crossing nf the Atlantic. the homeward flight, after fifteen days in the United States, being via Nowfoundlai (1. Valentina, and Ostia near Rome. This means a. non-stop journey of 2000 miles over the Atlantic. Eavh machine carries two pilots, a wireless operator, ami a mechanic, and every third machine has a navigating office. The machines, while of improved type, are similar to those which flew to South America in 1930, also under General Balbo. They are fitted with engines developing more than 1800 h.p., and can easily take off with a load of 11J tons, carrying Lons ot fuel, and allowing a margin of half a ion lor the longest hop from Random Sound to Valentin, without allowing for the wind, which is expected to be favourable. Almost all the flyers accompanied General Balbo on his mass flight to Bralil in 1930. On that trip they piloted eleven seaplanes from Bolama to Natal in a single jump. While most of the men are only in their thirties they have crammed enough experience inti their brief careers to fill several volumes of thrillers. While General Balbn is in charge of the flight and gives the word to start, go on, or turn back, the actual com-mander-in-vhief is General Aldo Pellegrini. At 44 ho is probably the oldest officer in the group. He is director of the Government’s aerial navigation school for sea flyers, a graduate of Leghorn Naval Academy and saw naval service in the Turkish War of 1911-12 and in the World War. Ho turned to flying while the conflict still was on, and came out of it with silver and bronze medals won by personal valour.