Around the World via... Newtownards

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On 9 August 1947 a pair of modified Piper PA-12 Super Cruisers departed Teterboro Airport, NY, heading east on the start of a four-month around-the-World tour.  As they neared the end of the eleven-hour North Atlantic stage from Iceland they found Prestwick to be fogged-in and so diverted to make a Moonlit landing at .... Newtownards.

Both aircraft subsequently continued their flights and landed in a further 28 countries or regions before arriving back whence they had started on 10 December.  Total flying time was 275 hours 25 minutes.

They were registered NX8671M and NX2365M, the 'X' indicated that they were registered in the Experimental category as they were 25% overweight on account of the 100-gallon fuel tanks replacing the rear bench seat.  8671M is still airworthy, as far as I can tell, having been restored by the Piper Museum in the late 1990s.  2365M hangs at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington and wears an Ulster flag upon its flank...

[ Edit: better profile photo ]

https://airandspace.si.edu/webimages/collections/full/A19500101000cp02.jpg

[gadwall58]

Nice one.  Bit of aeronautical nostalgia with a local twist.

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Here's one online account of the flight.  Little wonder I didn't find it in a search, 'Newton Yard' indeed!  First solo-piloted aircraft to cross the Pacific.

http://www.soloflights.org/truman_text_e.html

Attached is a photo of the pilots meeting President Truman, from 'Polar Bears and Other Scares' by Ron Truman.

Some footage of the pair:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-QKDmBKSJE



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Found a write-up on the front-page of the 30 August 1947 issue of the Newtownards Chronicle .  Mostly fluff about the pilots but some interesting sections:

It was shortly before midnight on Wednesday [ 27 August 1947 ] that they took off for Prestwick, in Scotland, but when they got near the aerodrome and the mist was too heavy they decided to make for Belfast.

"The journey across the Channel was so delightful and your airport was so beautifully green we at once decided we would land here," said Evans.  "It is a splendid little airport and we are glad we put down here."

Their arrival at the airport was something of a shock for the staff and officials and when the little red and green machines touched down and their occupants stepped out they were greeted with inquiries of various kinds.

When the airmen reached Newtownards that had still petrol to carry them to Rome.

...

The propellors were completely "smothered" with the signatures of well-wishers in Florida, Iceland, Labrador, Greenland and Hollywood - and we might add that the signatures were increased during the stay of the planes in Newtownards.

On the door of each of the machines -- which are named "City of Washington" and "City of Angels" -- is painted the name of the pilot and on the fuselage are painted the flags of Iceland, the Greenland Base Command, and the R.C.A.F. aerodrome at Goose Bay, Labrador.  During the time the Americans were having a meal and an interview with the Customs and Immigration authorities, Mr Walter O'Prey was hastily summoned from Newtownards, and before the planes took off the Cross of St. Patrick with the Red Hand of Ulster had been added to the decorations.

Walter O'Prey of Balfour Street was a painter & decorator, one of many in succession in that family.