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Taking Off the Air Mail
[[image of two men with three mail bags]]
[[caption]] Receiving mails after the arrival of the Yankee Clipper, yesterday, at Foynes. [[/caption]]
Botwood to Foynes
Historic Flight of the Clipper
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REGULAR SERVICE WILL START NEXT WEEK
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(" Irish Independent " Special Representative.)
Foynes, Wednesday.
INAUGURATING the North Atlantic Air Mail Service, the Pan-American Airways flying-boat Yankee Clipper arrived here from Botwood at 2.55 p.m. to-day, and the crew and State officials on board were welcomed by Mr. de Valera.
The flying-boat took off again for Southampton at 6.4 p.m., and landed at the Marine Base at 8.37. She is expected back here on Friday.
.Mr. Julian Trippe, President of the Pan-
American Airways, told me that July 8 is the date fixed for the beginning of the regular weekly
service for passengers and mails on the Botwood-Foynes route.
Out in mid-Atlantic at dawn today, while the Yankee Clipper was only half-way on its 2,000 miles' ocean flight, the pilot, Captain Harold Gray, was asked what time they would reach Foynes. The questioner who told me of the incident was Colonel Edgar Gorrell, who pre-
sides over the joint association of all American air services. Captain Gray replied, after a brief calculation: "About five minutes to three."
At about 2.48 the clipper was sighted at Foynes, and she alighted on the Shannon between Foynes
island and the Clare shore at 2.55 p.m. The flying-boat took off at 6.4 p.m. In the interval there had been the usual Customs formalities; 14 sacks of mail had been handed over and dispatched to Limerick; the 20 passengers and crew of 11 had been landed and welcomed by Mr. de Valera, and entertained to luncheon.
AN OCTOGENARIAN.
The personnel who arrived on the Clipper added much to the lustre of the occasion.
First up the gangway was 81-years-old Mr. R. Walton Moore, who occupies a position which
corresponds to our Secretary to the Department of External Affairs.
He was greeted by his old friend, the American Minister, Mr. Cudahy.
Among those who followed were:
Mr. Juan Trippe, President of the Pan-
American Airways; Col. Edgar Gorrell, who, at the age of 28, commanded the U.S. air force in France during the war, and now presides over the U.S. air lines joint board; General D. C. Emmons, who commands the American air force headquarter's station; Mr. Stephen Early, President Roosevelt's secretary; two U.S. Senators and two Congressmen.
When the passengers had landed they were entertained to luncheon, at which Mr. de Valera presided, with Mr. Moore on one side, and Mr. Trippe on the other.
Mr. de Valera's Welcome
Mr. de Valera expressed the welcome of the Irish Government and the Irish people for the enterprise which had been properly brought to a head that day. He had been fortunate enough to be present on a previous occasion and to welcome Capt. Gray on his pioneer flight.
COMMERCIAL SUCCESS.
He was even more fortunate to be at Foynes to see the completion of the trials, which showed that the enterprise had come to last, and commercial success.
They were glad to see the links between Ireland and the United States brought together.
Mr. Moore, replying, said he could say on behalf of President Roosevelt that it had been a severe disappointment when Mr. de Valera cancelled his visit to the United States. They would all be looking forward with interest to his next visit.
On behalf of the Foynes Improvement Association Rev. Michael O'Grady, C.C., Shanagolden, presented a piece of silver plate to Capt. Gray, in commemoration of the flight. fl
In addition to Mr. Moore and Mr. Trippe, the Clipper's passengers were:--
Congressman C. Mapes, Michigan; Senator Chavez, New Mexico; Senator Lundeen, Minnesota; Congressman Cannon, Missouri; Mr. Stephen Early, Secretary to President Roosevelt; Admiral Waesche, Coastguard Service; Mr. Clinton Hester, Administrator of Civil Aeronautics Authority; Brigadier General Emmons, Commander-in-Chief of the American Air Force; G.H.Q. Col. E. Gorrell, President Air Transport Association of America; Col. J. Cone, Manager Atlantic Division Pan American Airways.
CLIPPER INSPECTED.
Mr. de Valera, Mr. Traynor, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs; Mr.Cudahy, and others made a trip out to the Clipper after luncheon and were shown over it by Pan-American officials.
Regular Service Next Week
July 8 is the date fixed for the beginning of the regular weekly service for passengers and mail on the Botwood-Foynes route, Mr. Trippe told me.
He had planned this trans-Atlantic service ten years ago, he said, before he had planned the trans-Pacific service, but the latter had come into being first because America had possession of all the bases needed on the Pacific route.
In organizing the Atlantic service, they had been delayed by first negotiating with other Governments besides their own, but he was now satisfied that it would be possible to run a regular Atlantic service during the summer.
Mr. Trippe celebrated his 40th birthday on board the Clipper last night.
He learned his aviation with the U.S. Navy during the war, and in 1926 organised the first Pan-American service from Florida to Cuba.
THURSDAY, IRISH INDEPENDENT 'JUNE 29, 1939.
