New Britain herald., 1930-06-25
Kingsford- Smith And Companions Fly for Hours In Blind Belief They Are Over Land Compass Goes Bad, Gas Supply Low.
by Wireless En- able Men to Find Airport Plane Will Be Flown From Landing Spot to New York, Then to San Francisco.

Harbor Grace, \. F. June 25 LP-- The airp!ane Southern Cross landed here early today after spanning the Atlantic ocean from Ireland and the fiers immediately made plans for flying to New York, thence to San Francisco. Such a flight would vir- tually complete an around the world flight for the Southern Cross which previously had been flown from San Francisco to Australia and England,
 Will beaye Tomorrow
 The plane will leave at daybreak tomorrow for New York.
 The fiers experienced almost per- feet weather until they approached the Newfoundland coast when the trip almost came to an unfortunate end as fog enshrouded the plane. For more than an hour the aviators flew blindly during the night and but for radio stations providing them with directions, they might have been lost.
 The fiers, Captain Charles Kings ford-Smith, Evert Van Dyk, J. Pat rick Saul and John W. Stannage. were in good condition and excel lent spirits when they landed here at 5:57 a. m., (E. s. IT.
 They talked briefly of the dangers they had encountered and they all sought sleep.
 The landing field here was in ex- cellent condition to receive the flyers. A large supply of fuel was also on hand and kingsford- Smith, captain Of the flight, immediately wired the sponsors of the venture to authorize his taking aboard 400 gallons of petrol and 12 gallons Of oil.
 Plan to Sleep for Time
 After making sure that their plane had been safely quartered the avia- tors immediately sought sleep. They said they would rest but short time as they wanted to supervise the re- tueling and check on the motors.
 A beam wireless proved of great assistance to the fiiers. Van Dyk, CO., pilot with Kingsford-S Smith, Naviga- tor Saul and Radio Operator Stan mage all said that but for the beam wireless at Belle Isle the plane never would have been able to reach liar bor Grace. All stressed the impor- tance Of the radio, The broadcasts from the Cape Race station provid- ed the flyers with the necessary bearings when 1t seemed almost hopeless for them to find their way in the fog.
 The beam from the Belle Isle sta ton guided them safely toward Har- bor Grace and directions from the Cape Race station. which was al- most in constant communication with them. enabled the flyers to To- cate the landing field here.
 Tell of Newest Plan
 II was evident that during their passage over the Atlantic or before hopping of from Ireland the men had talked Of future plans, plans which depended on a safe landing on this side of the ocean. But short time after landing here they made known their plan to hop from San Francisco to New York. They did not say whether or not they would land in New York or be re fueled over that city and continue on to the west coast Of the United States.
 Kingstord- Smith credited the radio with having saved himself and his companions. but said a shortage of gasoline was responsible for their having failed 10 reach the United States. New York was the original goal of the tliers, but when the weather conditions led them to doubt they would reach that city they set their hearts on at least landing n American territory. By so doing they have surpassed the dis tarce record of the German Bremen tlisrs or the first successful west ward crossing Of the Atlantic by air plane,
 Makes Brief Comment
 kiuEstord- Smith was brief in his comments. He said.
 Only for the wonderful wireless radio we would never have been able to land here. We had rotten night We flew over this territory almost all night waiting for q chance to land. We were in the air more than 32 hours and experienced very roggy weather and trouble with the com pass. These caused delay. We will leave for New York at dayhreak to- morrow after refueling. We were hoping to reach New York without a stop but shortage Of gas prevented this We will fly to San Francisco after reaching New York thereby completing an around the world flight