Over Unknown Papua: Two Notable Aeroplane Journeys Provide Valuable Geographical Information

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Over Unknown Papua

Two Notable Aeroplane Journeys Provide Valuable Geographical Information IN the course of the search in northwest Papua, in December, for the patrol led by Messrs. Ivan Champion and Adamson, a 3-engined Ford aeroplane, owned by Guinea Airways Ltd., was employed; and two flights were made which deserve a place in the history of tropical aviation.

In the first, on December 15, the plane was continuously in the air from 9.34 a.m. to 2.23 p.m.; and in the second, on December 17, from 6 a.m. to 1.45 p.m.

These flights were over wild, unexplored country, where there was no emergency landing-ground within hundreds of miles.

Their successful completion is a tribute to G.A. pilots and mechanical staff.

Much credit for the flights must be accorded Mr. L. H. Ross, the skilful young pilot in charge. With him on the ’plane were the Papuan officers, Messrs. Speedie and Middleton (examining the country through which they expected to lead a search party) and Mr. Lewis Lett, an observer.

The data gathered on the two flights has great geographical value, as it should assist the Papuan authorities very much in filling in their maps of this rich, thickly-populated and unknown region.

The following notes of the flights have been supplied to bur Port Moresby correspondent.

First Flight

WE took off from Morgei aerodrome (near Mt. Hagen) at 9.34 a.m. on Monday, December 15.

The Ford 3-engined ’plane was very heavily loaded with a ton of extra fuel and oil in addition to the pilot and mechanic and three passengers. But she rose from the rather soft surface of the ’drome with a score of yards to spare, circled and climbed, and at 9.40 was on her course at 141 degrees (S.E.S.).

We were over the hills that rise slightly to the west of the landing ground. Houses and gardens were below us, but these gave way within the first five minutes to rugged hills, thickly covered with scrub, and a very scattered population living in small clearings on the rough hill-sides.

At 9.55 we crossed a large creek running N.E. towards the Wahgi valley.

Country rather* lessi rough, but uninhabited, and jungle very dense.

At 10.0 a.m. we crossed the border into Papua; and at 10.5 saw below us a big stream of very muddy water running S.W. through a deep gash in the line of hills.

At 10.7 a big group of steep, timbered ridges, gashed and scored with vertical gorges a thousand feet deep, showed to the south and at 10.10 open grass country opened out to the south-east.

By 10.12 we were above it. A wide and shallow valley extending round two sides of a mass of steep hills that rose to 8000 feet. A big population, living in separate houses, each in its own plot of cultivated land.

We flew to the north of the hills, still over inhabited country, till 10.20 when the populated area ceased abruptly in very rough country. At 10.22 we saw below us a big stream flowing N.E., and followed it among precipitous hills to its junction with the Purari.

Following the river down, we passed over Gleeson Islands at 10.35.

Bevan Island was reached at 10.50, and we flew very low and circled twice, searching for Chance’s camp. There was no sign of it, and we turned back towards the valleys.

Then we saw Chance’s camp on the hillside above the river, and on the river itself we saw a canoe, and dropped quickly to examine it. It contained four police and half a dozen paddlers—obviously Chance’s men returning from a reconnaissance upstream.

For half an hour we flew over the river and beyond it to the west, over extremely rough country, which culminated in a fantastic group of hills 8000 feet high, and cut up into pinnacles and sheer ravines many hundreds of feet deep.

Four minutes later we were over populated country again—the same valley that we had crossed at its northern end during the outward trip. At five-minute intervals we passed over four more valleys where the population was very thick; the last of them being in extremely steep country where the gardens were cleared on the sides of sharp spurs and on ridges 25 Pacific Islands Monthly, January 22, 1 937 Month IMPORTS 1936 Quality Fishing Tackle and Firearms 143 Elizabeth Street, SYDNEY (near Market, Street).

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where small torrents foamed five hundred feet below them.

Our objective was Mt. Gilua, where we would crcfss the range to land again at Morgei. But the range was buried in cloud. The peaks of Hagen, Gilua, and lalibu were buried in black rain-cloud and there was certainty that the landing ground would be obscured. There was nothing for it but to turn again and run for Port Moresby, 300 miles away; for there was no landing nearer.

We turned at 11.50, and reached Port Moresby at 2.23 p.m.

Second Flight

ON December 17 we took off from Port Moresby at 6.0 a.m.

At 8.6 a.m. \ye were over the Aure- Purari junction, and at 8.16 over Gleeson Islands. 8.22; A big creek joins Purari from the east. 8.31: A big rough hill to the north, with long winding spurs in all directions, like the arms of an octopus. 8.34: Populated valley, with very many clearings among the scrub. 8.40: Country rougher, population more scattered. 8.42: Big muddy creek flowing S.W. No population. 8.45: Fairly extensive clearings below an abrupt peak. 8.49: Moderate-sized creek, running S.E., joined by another from N. Isolated clearing at junction. 8.55: Un-named mountain, 9000-10,000 ft. high; very steep rocky sides; a few miles to the N. 9.0: Big creek running S.E. 9.2: First of the really big population.

Cultivated area extending N. up wide slope, towards Gilua-Hagen pass. 9.5: Flat open valley to W. and S.; many small winding creeks; many gardens. No scrub. Houses in loose groups or isolated. 9.8: Turned S.W. 9.10: Circled above valley full of small lakes. 9.16: Country flat and well-watered.

Garden beds now round, instead of square.

Population not quite so dense. 9.20: Small hills intruding; small patches of scrub; but population still very dense. 9.23: Big clear creek running S. 9.28: Big patch of scrub, with new clearings eating into it on all sides, 9.29; Very dense population. Limestone boulders and low cliffs beginning to show.

Circled over rather deep valley with white cliffs bordering stream. 9.32: Limestone pinnacles thickly scattered. 9.36: Big creek running E. End of population. Very rough and steep limestone hills, uninhabited. 9.42. Wide flat valley extending W.

Clear creek from lake flows into very muddy creek from N. and flows away S.E. Canoes on creek. 9.45: Moderate population on extensive flat in lake valley. 9.53; Head of lake, 2 miles wide. Many low promontories and small islands. Very deep. Islands, promontories, and shore inhabited. A few canoes drawn up on banks. Houses rectangular; a few villages with houses in neat rows. 10.0: End of lake. On along valley to W. 10.5: Turned, Cleared areas below us at turn. Population extending N.E. along valley, into which spurs intrude from E. and W. Easy country towards Tari- Furoro. L. Murray Mt’s. cap hidden in rain-cloud. 10.17: Over hills. Valley below us again. Good visibility. Population very dense. Flying about E.N.E. Very many grass fires —all native. Examined them.

Obviously signals, but no connection With patrol. 10.45: Fairly big creek flowing E. through small ravine 200 ft. deep. 11.0: Keeping rather to south of populated areas. Flying between limestone ridges thickly timbered. 11.18: Over Purari river again.