Trans-Pacific Airmail Inaugurated
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
But Plans for British Section Dislocated by Outbreak of War
THE first complete step in the inaugu ration of the South Pacific airmail service (Australia-North America) was taken on August 30, when the new British seaplane “Aotearoa” (22 tons, wing-span 114 feet), which had been flown from England by Imperial Airways, met at Auckland, N.Z., the new Ameri can Boeing seaplane “Californian Clipper” <42 tons, wing-span 152 feet), which had been flown from the United States by Pan American Airways.
It appeared that the two great national corporations would co-operate in pro viding the new trans-Pacific service imperial Airways to supply the link be tween Sydney-Auckland, and Pan Ameri can Airways to immediately commence running Auckland - Noumea - Hawaii-
U.S.A.
But. four days later, on September 3, war broke out; and the future is obscure.
It is expected that Pan American Air ways immediately will inaugurate a fort nightly service between San Francisco and Auckland, via Honolulu, Canton Is-
The large English company—lm perial Airways—have announced that they have obtained from the French Government authority to use Noumea as an aerial base for their trans-Pacific aerial service, Sydney-New Zealand-Fiji, and thence to Canada, which is now being organised.—“Bulletin du Com merce”, 26/8/1939.
land and Noumea; but, since the out break of war, and the necessary rear rangement of shipping and airmail ser vices, British intentions regarding the opening of the Sydney-Auckland service have not been disclosed. It originally was intended to open the service about the end of September.
The first three flights of the Pan American seaplane will be largely experi mental. After that, it will begin to carry mails, cargo and passengers (up to 70 or 80). Passengers will be accommodated over-night at Honolulu (ordinary hotels), Canton Island (special hotel, now being built of materials brought from Hawaii, and staffed by Chamorros from Guam) and Noumea (ordinary hotels).
The “Aotearoa” flew from England to Sydney without incident, and, on August 28. from Sydney to Auckland in 7 hours 48 minutes—making 12 days from Eng land.
The “Californian Clipper” flew 8,000 miles, from San Francisco to Auckland, without incident, except that she was held up for one day (August 29) at Canton Island, owing to the non-receipt from Suva (Fiji) of expected weather re ports.
She left Noumea at 7.58 a.m. on August 30 and made a survey cruise around Norfolk Island, and settled down beside the “Aotearoa”, in Auckland har bour, at 2.20 p.m. The first to greet the American officers and their 23 passengers (mostly officials) were Captain Burgess and the officers of the British seaplane; and Mr. Harold Gatty, the P.A.A. repre sentative in Auckland—who, for four years, has fought stubbornly, in the face
of much discouragement and many diffi culties, for the inauguration of this ser vice.
The “Californian Clipper” left Auck land for Noumea on September 4, circling Suva twice en route, and returned safely across the Pacific.
The “Aotearoa”, during the week ended September 11, made a survey flight from Auckland to Suva, and returned to Auck land,
Nouville Airport
MUCH activity took place at Nouville — the old notorious He de Nou, in Noumea Harbour—in late July and early August when the New Caledonian authori ties learned definitely that Pan American Airways would send a flying-boat south to New Zealand late in August, and the building programme was accelerated.
The old military wharf has been re modelled and lengthened and the wooden piles replaced by concrete pylons.