JEAN BATTEN’S FLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 253, 25 October 1937, Page 7

JEAN BATTEN’S FLIGHT

ARRIVAL AT NAPLES EARLY DEPARTURE FOR LONDON (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Oct. 24, 8 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 24. Miss Jean Batten arrived at Tatoi from Damascus at 11.20 a.m. local time and resumed her flight at 12.35 p.m. She arrived at Naples at 3.45 p.m. G.M.T. and will leave again at 5 a.m. on Sunday for London. The Evening News Damascus correspondent states that when Miss Batten left Damascus she was bright, full of life and smiling after ten hours’ sound sleep, and Miss Batten said her ’plane performed excellently without a single mishap. The most critical moment was the crossing o! the equator between Batavia and Singapore, where the weather was very unfavourable for night flying. She left Karachi in glorious moonlight but approaching Basra the heat became unbearable and continued as she flew across the Syrian Desert. The Daily Mail states that Miss Batten passed over Damascus heading seaward when the radio picked up the message: “Nicosia air field unsafe after heavy rain,” so she turned back. AVIATRIX TIRED BATTLE AGAINST STORMS WORST EVER EXPERIENCED Received Oct. 24, 8.15 p.m. NAPLES, Oct. 24. Miss Batten said: “I am dreadfully tired after battling against storms since Damascus. They were worse than any I previously experienced. The wind gusts were sometimes of gale velocity. I saw water-spouts in the Mediterranean. The engine is running beautifully.” The Aero Club president’s opinion is that Miss Batten was unlucky to encounter the worst day of the year. It was so bad that the Dutch liner on the journey eastward turned back after crossing the Alps. Miss Jean Batten retired immediately after her arrival here, intending to have a good rest before departing on the final lap. The course which she will follow depends on the weather forecast. Prospects at present are poor, there being widespread gales. Miss Batten was expected in London this afternoon (Sunday), but she has until Monday to beat the record. DEPARTURE FROM NAPLES Received Oct. 24, 11.50 p.m. NAPLES, Oct. 24. Miss Batten took off at 5.26 a.m., Greenwich time. ARRIVAL AT MARSEILLES Received Oct. 25, 12.15 a.m. MARSEILLES, Oct. 24. Miss Batten arrived at Marseilles at 10.52 a.m.

BROADBENT FORCED BACK

NIGHT SPENT AT ROME DEPARTURE FROM TATOI Received Oct. 24, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 23. Messages describing Mr Broadbent's progress announce that he has been forced back owing to bad weather and spent the night at Rome, resuming his journey to Cyprus at 6 a.m. local time. He landed at Tatoi at 1.35 p.m. local time and took off for Baghdad at 2.45 p.m. local time. ARRIVAL AT ROME ROME, Oct. 22. Mr Broadbent arrived at 3.40 p.m., G.M.T., and left for Cyprus at 4.30 p.m. The weather conditions are had for his flight. The regular service between Rome, Milan and Turin has been suspended. DEPARTURE FROM BAGHDAD Received Oct. 25, 12.35 a.m. BAGHDAD, Oct. 24. Broadbent arrived at Baghdad at 8 a.m. and took off again at 10 a.m. for Basra. NOT OPTIMISTIC ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA RECORD Received Oct. 24, 5.15 p.m. ATHENS, Oct. 24. Interviewed, Broadbent said he was not optimistic of breaking the record owing to the delay at Rome, He thought seriously of going bad to London and starting again but h 0 disliked returning-