He Flew Home Around The World

THE Pacific Clipper of Pan American Airways, caught midway between New Caledonia and New Zealand by the outbreak of war in the Pacific on December 7, arrived safetly at La Guardia Field, New York, on January 6, after having gone around the world to skirt the trouble zones. It was a secret trip, unreported throughout, states the “New York Times”, but it was a trip packed with adventure.

Captain Robert Ford, who brought the Pacific Clipper through, told about a few of those adventures. He did not tell much, for secrecy was imposed on most details by Army and Navy officials. But as an instance of the sharp watch being kept for enemy aircraft in the ports of the United Nations, the captain told this story.

Suspicions Aroused

THE Clipper was approaching a port in the Far East —either British or pro tected by British arms. There had been a breakdown in arrangements, and the captain’s huge craft was not ex pected by the Royal Air Force control officer. It was daylight and, as he neared his landing place, Captain Ford saw a British fighter aeroplane ascend with great speed. The aeroplane got on his tail and he heard the radio conversation

between the fighter pilot and the control officer on the ground. He could not participate in that conversation because he did not know what radio frequency to use.

“What is she?” the control officer asked the fighter.

“I don’t know, but she’s a big one.

Might be German or might be Japanese.

Wait. There’s part of an American flag on her side.”

“That doesn’t mean a thing,” remarked the control officer. “Any one can paint on an American flag!”

“You’d better send up some help,” the fighter pilot said.

Escorted By Fighters

CAPTAIN FORD saw, a few seconds later, four more British fighters take to the air. In an incredibly short time they were in position to do him very grave harm indeed. And the captain heard some more conversation between the British aloft and the control officer below:— “What shall I do?” asked the pilot of the first fighter.

“Stay on her tail,” ordered the control officer. “If she gets even a little way off the normal course for landing, shoot her down.”

With five fighters having him under their guns, Captain Ford brought his ship to the water. And, he remarked, “we were very careful to use a conservative approach.”

The Final Adventure

THE final adventure of the Clipper took place, fittingly enough, at its final port—New York. The officer on duty in the control tower at La Guardia Field had not been informed that any thing out of the way was expected. And so he was astonished when he heard over the air these words from Captain Ford: — “Pacific Clipper, inbound from Auck land, New Zealand, Captain Ford report ing, due arrive Pan American Marine Terminal, La Guardia, seven minutes.”

The moment the message was received a representative of Pan American arrived at the control tower to tell the officer on duty that he was not hearing things.

But the trials of the Clipper were not yet over. Captain Ford’s announcement of his arrival was received at 5.54 a.m.

That was more than an hour before sun rise—and La Guardia Field regulations are that no Clipper may land before the sun is up. And so Captain Ford—22 days out of Auckland, more than a month out of San Francisco—was forced to fly around in circles until after seven o’clock, when the sun was properly up.