LONDON TO AUCKLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 246, 17 October 1936, Page 9

LONDON TO AUCKLAND

JEAN BATTEN’S JOURNEY BY AIR AVIATRIX MAKES RECORD CROSSING OF TASMAN GREAT RELIEF AT SIGHTING BELL BLOCK DID NO! SEE MOUNT EGMONT AT ALL STUPENDOUS WELCOME AT MANGERE, AUCKLAND

{Per Press Association] AUCKLAND, Oct. 16. Setting out at dawn from Richmond Aerodrome, Sydney, on the last stage of her flight from England to New Zealand, Miss Jean Batten arrived at Mangere Aerodrome at 5.5 p.m. to-day and received a magnificent welcome. It was a crowd keyed up to a high pitch of excitement tiiat .scanned the southern horizon at Mangere, as live o'clock approached, but when, after one or two false alarms, the outline of a monoplane became unmistckeable in the distance, the previous excitement was as nothing. No soul was but deeply stirred as the smart little machine circled about the aerodrome with its girl pilot visible through the cabin windows, and the moment when, at 5.5 p.m. exactly, the monoplane side-slipped into landing will remain a memorable one fur all present. The silver Percival Gull monoplane looked a picture of speed and grace as it approached the aerodrome with the sun glinting on its Wings and fuselage. It was impossible for an escort to accompany Miss Batten for a great distance owing to the superior speed of her machine. As she circled round the aerodrome, Squadron-Leader Allan brought the sports Avion down to show her a landing, and a moment later the monoplane followed, to the accompaniment of cheer after cheer from the huge crowd, which had forgotten all about the traditional New Zealand reserve. The monoplane lifted to clear the crowd at the far side of the aerodrome and then side-slipped to the ground, landing into the wind toward the clubhouse. The machine bounced slightly, but the wings were grabbed m a moment by the mechanics who were waiting and the monoplane began to taxi to the dais that had been erected at the slope in front of the clubhouse. It had hardly gone a yard, however, before the crowd, which had been held behind rope barriers by the police, broke bounds and began to stream across the ground toward the machine, which was soon practically surrounded. A track was cleared and the monoplane ran right up into the roped enclosure.at the foot of the dais. Renewed cheers burst from every mouth as the girl aviator, looking fresh and charming in her white overalls and flying helmet and as well groomed as if she had been for a few minutes’ flight, undid the cockpit cover and waved to the crowd. She was assisted from the aeroplane and, a moment later, she was in the arms of her father, .Mr. !■’. If. Batten, to the accompaniment of a heartfelt three cheers from the crowd, which plainly showed its relief that its heroine was .it last safe in her native city. She was escorted to the dajs, where the official welcome was held. There were assembled the Mayor, Mr. .Ernest Davis, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. I’. Jones, representing the Prime Minister, Mrs. Jones, Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond, Squadron-Leader Isitt, Mr. !•’. B. Dwyer, of the Internal Affairs Department, and others. PILOT DISPLAYS SIGNS OF EXHAUSTION. Miss Batten, whose exhaustion was shown in the manner in which she staggered occasionally when a hand was put out from the crowd to touch or clasp her hand, granted no interviews at the aerodrome. However, comments to various members of the club and to Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt showed a glimpse of the terrible ordeal which she had endured. “I cannot tell you how pleased 1 was to sight Bell Block, at New Plymouth,’’ she said in reply to one inquiry. “I could not see Mount Egmont at all. It was nine hours 20 minutes from Richmond. Richmond is 30 miles inland from Mascot.’’ At stages of the .journey her ’plane had been battered by rainstorms and, apparently, ft times it was practically on the surface of the sea. Numerals and letters on the side of her machine were practically obliterated when it landed here. She said in answer to a question that it was sea upray that had caused it. “ What a little place this is to land in!'’ she said. “When I saw the field I very nearly turned back to Sydney. .My ’plane requires 210 yards runway. However. I managed it all right, although I thought I was going to knock down one or two men in the field.” When a woman, in handing Miss Batten a cup of tea, remarked again on the anxiety which .New Zealanders had felt for her safety, she sat and laughed. “1 cannot understand that anxiety in New Zealand,” she said. “In Australia they thought, nothing of it. I would sooner any day fly the Tasman in my ’plane than I would fly the Timor Sea in my old fifth-hand Puss Moth. If it were just to hop across to New Zealand I would tackle it any • lay in the week, but after the flight from England I was very tired.” She repeated again. “I cannot tell you how pleased I was to see Bell Block.” Miss Batten had again to show herself to the crowd before she left the clubhouse.