Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-26
GRoNAU EXPLAINS SECRECY.
Withheld Plans 10 Save Reputation ~
pilot IF Ocean Flight Failed.

GRONAU EXPLAINS SECnLOA'
withheld Plans 10 Save Reputation ~
Pilot If Ocean Flight Failed.
ny CAPT. wOLFGANG Won GRoNAU.
in Germany by Ullstein A. @.
All rights reserved
BY Radio to The star.
HALIFAX, Noca Scotia August 49,
Many have wondered why l nave KEPT
reason was that such flight Is neces-
sarily involved in complications that
may prevent a happy end. and did not
want nv name as q pilot should De
blamed IL the formerly announced plans
were not carried out successfully.
The object of the fight was to get
q training In long-distance night tor
Vsrkerhs Fieger schulz and for some
of my pupils that belonged to the crew:
ON such q flight 1t Is possible to md
out q lot of experience in aerial avi-
alton and wireless, direction finding
and instrument flying.
We took OF from the most northern
island OF i Germany, List on Sylt:
weather Conditions were rather good
when we started, after having waited
three DAYS for o heavy storm TO clear,
but as soon as we were near Shetland
Islands we came in depression. Here
we met & strong wind and heavy rain.
This rain lasted until we came to the
Faero Islands, so that it was difhcult to
find the entrance to the small harbor
where we wanted to refuel. Only the
circumstance that ! had been there a.
get In. we alighted there in the midst
Of torrenial rains and we could not 40
anything but cover the engines and the
plane to prevent 1t from being SoaK~~+
Continue to Iceland.
Next morning it seemed rather fair
weather and we went on to Iceland,
but hardly had we left the port when
we met thick fog and clouds reaching
up to 5000 feet. We had to ny the
whole time in fog or over the CLOUDS.
The wireless stations and steamer
were telling us that they had low clouds.
but good visibility, but II we went down
we found always the fog lying over the
water IKE = great blanket, ana we nae
each time to work back into the SKY.
Only when we were directly over the
Iceland coast we found that suddenly
the wind went In the opposite direction
and we had then q marvellous outlook
on the majestic snow mountains OF that
wild and grand island. Our reception
in Iceland was very warm ana every
body wanted to know where We were
bound for. We always told that we
wanted to 20 to Bergen In Norway, as
we did not want to let out our secret
before we had passed the perilous reg
ions Of the North.
Shortly after our arrival there the
weather got bad again and we could not
20 on, but had to wait another day. We
had left Germany on Tuesday ana IL
was Friday when we took on for Green
land.
Now we were on the most hazardous
flight OF the whole trip, aS we were
travelling In an old plane, q plane IN
fact which had been used In the nortnS
land by AmundSen and we had not Q
large supply Of fuel, and further IN this
region we were flying over the great
waste lands of the North ice ana SO
with no ships below to cheer u, ana
only the thought that II we had TO de"
scend 1t would be to death.
Had to Fly Low.
All the time there ragged heavy
storm and the water below was rough.
AS it was raining nearly the whole way
we had to ny very low and had time
enough to see well the mountainous
waves. Because we could not do any as
Economical observation and could not
get any bearing we had only to trust
feeling for the drift. With numerous
cliffs and fjords the flight along the
west coast OF Greenland Is . banning
journey, but when we rere approaching
the coast the weather cleared so that we
could see the vast areas OF drifting ice.
Coming TO the west coast we had
marvellous visibility an dit was not 30
very difficult to find the place where we
had our fuel stored for us-Ivigtut, in
the Arsuk Fjord. 1t was just good luck.
for the place Is very small and we were
worried for b time.
Next day the weather was clear, but
hardly had we taken on when we we're
again confronted with our old enemy,
the fog, and before we had flown very
lar we were IN another storm WIN
heavy rain. Nevertheless, we got, after
seven hours flying, the wireless sta"
ton Of Cready, Labrador, right ahead.
From there we had only few minutes
to our refueling base, Cartwright Har-
Dor. and we found It a very suitable
plcce for stopping q plane.
Next morning early we set out for
Halifax and we had O fine flight along
the Labrador Coast and wanted to pay
q visit to Greenley Island, where the
first German plane crossing the At
flve minutes before we had reached this
point came the notorious Newfoundland
fog and we had TO and our safety in
climbing UP, as wireless messages told
us that visibility was better on the
West Coast of Newfoundland. We went
over there and then along the coast
to Sydney, which we recognized by the
huge smokeStacks OF the steel plants.
Weather reports from Halifax told US
that weather conditions were bad on
the south coast of Nova Scotia, with
fog and rain around Halifax. Never
thelesS, we tried to 60 there, but did not
succeed, IS we were always in danger
of crashing on rocks which were looming
up below. Therefore we returned and
brought down the plane at Queensport,
which Is in GuySboro County.
Here we waited until the next morn
ing and then set out for Halifax. Fog
doomed up again and we were forced
down at the beautiful little village of
Marie Joseph. still 100 miles from the
CITY, but q small plane from the Hall
fax Aero Club came to our assistance
and led the way 10 the city.
And here we are, mighty glad to be
In America and feeling that the worst
part Of our trip is over. Tomorrow we
leave for the great New York, about
which we have heard so much. There
we must await orders from our govern
rnent. While our flight has yielded all
we had hoped for ana more In expert
ence and the education we sought, we
do not feel like returning the same way,
as arrangements for fuel in the north
land are not easily made We may 70
on down the coast. We do not know.