A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 126, 23 May 1932, Page 3

A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT

Woman’s Solo Flight ACROSS THE ATLANTIC BEATS A 13 YEAR OLD RECORD By Telegraph—Copyright —Press Assn. HARBOUR GRACE, May 20. Mrs Amelia Earheart Putnam hopped off for Paris at 4.51 p.m. eastern standard time, on Friday. Tho weather was ideal. Mrs Putnam lifted the heavily laden craft skilfully from tho field and the red and gold plane disappeared eastward over the same route that she travelled four years ago, when as a passenger of Wilmer Srunz and Lou Gordon, she became the first woman to cross tho Atlantic by air. Mrs Putnam’s plane has a 600 horsepower Wasp motor and a cruising speed of 140 miles an hour. FACED A VIOLENT STORM LONDON, May 21. Mrs Putnam landed in Londonderry. She flew the. last ten hours in a violent storm. A broken petrol gauge necessitated her alighting. American naval exports estimate Airs Putnam’s time at 15 hours 39 minutes and British air circles at 14 hours 56 minutes. Sorry Didn’t Make France “I’ve done it, but I am sorry I did not make France,” said'Mrs Putnam, who is acclaimed a heroine. It is woman’s noblest triumph in aviation. She celebrated the anniversary of Colonel Lindbergh’s flight by creating three records —viz.: being the first w’oman to fly the Atlantic alone; the first flier to cross the Atlantic twice, and having completed the distance in the fastest time, 13 hours 15 minutes, according to her own computation, beating Alcock and Brown’ record which has stood for 13 years. Mrs Putnam’s arrival was as dramatic as the flight, which was notable for combating dangerous machine troubles for ten hours in storm and fog. She alighted in a field near a farmhouse two miles ’from Londonderry and was gretted by Mr Gallagher the owner, who was amazed to recognise the red and gold body of the planp, of which ho had just previously read a description. Story of the Crossing Mrs Putnam hurried to Londonderry to announce her arrival. She said that three hours after the start her altimeter stopped functioning at a height of 1200 feet. Thereafter she flew lew till the weather forced her up. “Four hours out I saw flames sheet from the exhaust. I thought: ‘That’s done it.’ I found that the exhaust manifold had burnt out, but tho engine stuck it. . “I had 1000 miles to go. The weather was good for a space and then became worse, with many thunderstorms. I found ice forming on the wings owing to tho height. Later rain came and some fog. Finally a petrol gauge in the ■cock pit broke. I felt petrol running down my back and began to fear that the fuel would not last the journey. I only \ saw one vessel a tanker, off the coast of Treland, which. I circled, hoping the ship would radio my whereabouts.’ ’ Mrs Putman said that storms curtailed her speed. She aimed at Valencia, but hit the middle of Ireland and flew north looking for a town, but fearing fuel shortage she landed when she found a suitable field. Mrs Putman is receiving world-wide congratulations. Flyers Killed ENDRESZ AND BRITTAY END THEIR LIVES IN CRASH ROME, May 21. While the world is acclaiming Mrs Putnam’s flight, George Endresz, acr companied by Brittay, wireless operator, flying the plane Justice for Hungary, with which they last flew over tho Atlantic non-stop, crashed when arriving to attend Signor Mhissolini’s meeting of international air pilots. Both were killed. English Fatality IN CROSS-COUNTRY RACE ONE COMPETITOR KILLED LONDON, Last Night. ' The “Morning Post’s” cross country air race from Heston to Norwich and back, 500 miles, was won by F. R. Walker in a Puss Moth, averaging

105.5 miles an hour. Grierson, Gypsy Moth, was second, and Miss Minifrcd Spooner, Puss Moth, fourth. Lieutenant Frank George Giobons of the Air Force, crashed on top of an oak tree and was killed. ITALIAN PLANE’S RECORD OF 466 MILES PER HOUR ROME, May 21. During recent tests of a new Italian Schneider plane on Lake Garda, Lieutenant Neri, an Italian Air Force officer is unofficially stated to have attained 466 miles per hour. The Air Ministry, Signor Baldo, says such progress has been made in aviation speed that 600 miles per hour will be attained within ten years. COX LEAVES FOR THE AZORES ST. JOHNS, May 21. Cox left Holyrood Harbour at 3 a.m. for the Azores. Four hours later he -as 300 miles east-south-east of Cape Pacel