Flying the Southern Cross by Michael Molkentin

Author:Michael Molkentin [Molkentin, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: National Library of Australia
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Unanticipated delays: refuelling Southern Cross at Naselai beach, 7 June 1928.

Ulm and Kingsford Smith had decided they only needed 3,406 litres (about three-quarters capacity) of fuel for this, the journey’s shortest leg. Nonetheless, man-handling the fuel ashore through heavy surf and up the beach to Southern Cross where it had to be filtered into the tanks through a chamois, took more time than Ulm had allowed. By his nominated take-off time of 4 pm it was obvious, to his immense irritation, that they were not going to get away before the tide again swallowed up much of the makeshift airstrip. Dejected, Ulm arranged for the labourers to haul Southern Cross up to the tree line and cover the engines for the night. Delaying take-off until the following (Friday) morning sounded the death knell to Ulm’s chances of eating in Sydney on Saturday night.

Kingsford Smith, Ulm and Lyon spent the night offshore on Pioneer, enjoying the hospitality, including steaks, pineapples and cold beers, of its captain. Warner remained on the beach with a British police sergeant and his party of native constabulary to watch the aircraft. ‘My election to this post of honour was practically unanimous’, observed Warner wryly. ‘I won by a majority of something like seventy five per cent.’

In the event, the evening provided Warner with a truly unique experience, one that would stand out in his mind as a highlight of the whole journey. Assured that Southern Cross was in safe hands with the police, the sergeant led Warner and a newspaper correspondent to a Fijian village, a few kilometres back from the beach. The chief hosted Warner in his home, at what the American described as a ‘gab fest’ among the village elders. With the police sergeant interpreting, Warner regaled them with the story of his journey across ‘the big water’. It left his audience bewildered; they attributed the humble American wireless operator, who a few weeks before had been a door-to-door salesman, with supernatural powers. ‘It was a humorous night’, reported the journalist, ‘watching the interpreter endeavouring to explain to the bewildered natives the mysteries of radio’. The elders honoured Warner with a kava ceremony and a traditional singing and dancing performance. Following several coconut shells of the brew (‘It looks like mud and tastes like Gregory powder’) Warner, concerned about its potency, asked to return to the aircraft.

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