Canton Is. to Sydney

A CATALINA PBY flying-boat made a record non-stop flight across the Pacific early this month when it flew direct from Canton Island to Sydney, a distance of 3,300 miles.

Captain P. G. Taylor, well known for his Pacific flight with the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, in 1934, was navigator, and Captain Russel Tapp, of Qantas Empire Airways was pilot.

The machine was one of a number of giant US-built airboats bought by the Commonwealth Government for long range patrol in Australia and the Pacific.

Previously, late in October, Captain Taylor and Captain Lester Brain, made aviation history by flying a Catalina direct from Suva to Sydney, 2,000 miles.

It is significant that since Australia first took delivery of these huge flying boats, some months ago, there has been no reported activity of raiders in the South Pacific.

Two airmen well known in New Guinea —Orme Denny and Aubrey Koch—are also ferrying Catalinas across the Pacific.