THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR.
A NEW ZEALANDER'S ACHIEVEMENTS.
A London cable message in yesterday's Dominion stated that Mr. J. Hammond, a New Zealander, was proceeding to Australia with two British biplanes, intending to make flights in Australasia. This air-man is a son of the late Mr. Joseph Hammond, formerly owner of the Bulls racecourse, and a grandson of Mr. Matthew Hammond, of "Killeymoon," Bulls, Rangitikei. An English paper states that Mr. Hammond is a New Zealander by birth, who has resided for some years in Seaford, (England). "His mechanical turn of mind," says the paper, "brought him into close contact with aeroplanes, and his ambition to become a skilled aviator strengthened to action, journeying to Rheims. He had no difficulty in proving his prowess to the authorities, who granted him his certificate as Pilote Aviator of the Aero Club of France, which means that he holds the highest credentials, and is qualified to fly as a recognised aviator. . . . The extraordinary aptitude for flying which Mr. Hammond possesses is clearly manifested by the fact that on his second flight he succeeded in flying across the country for over twenty-five miles, at a height of 2000 ft., on his Sanchez-Besa bi-plane. The public press in France are loud in their praise of the young aviator, hailing him as the coming champion of the bi-plane, for not only at Rheims has he been creating a sensation by his skill and intrepidity, but in Bethany, Vitry, etc. Mr. Hammond is the first colonial to pass the authorities as a full-fledged aviator, and holds the record for speed in passing the brevet. He has already been inundated with offers of engagements from all parts of the world, some of which lie has accepted." -Dominion, 15/11/1910.
NEW ZEALAND AIRMAN'S SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT.
IN THE TEETH OF A STIFF WIND.
(By Electric Telegraph - Copyright.) Per Press, Association. Received January 5, 9.40 a.m.
MELBOURNE, Jan. 5.
The aviator Joseph Hammond made a successful biplane flight in the teeth of a stiff wind. He rose 1600 ft.
Mr Joseph Hammond is a member of a commission sent out to Australia and New Zealand in the interests of an English bi-plane company. He is a native of Feilding, and was educated at Wellington. From there he went to a station in Australia and later on to Klondyke. After giving up gold-digging he toured the States for six months as a cowboy in the famous show of Buffalo Bill. Going to Europe, he travelled in most of its countries, and became fascinated by the new art of aviation, and after gaining much experience by visiting the best-known aerodromes in France, he entered the school at Rheims and obtained his certificates with marvellous rapidity. Amongst his best records are a 2 hours 27 minutes' flight at Bethney, during which he covered a distance of over 100 miles, and an elevation flight of about 4000ft. Mr Hammond has been most fortunate, for he has never had a mishap of any sort, and in his own words, "has never broken a pennyworth of wood." He is about 13 stone in weight, and of fine athletic build. -Manawatu Standard, 5/1/1911.
AN AUSTRALIAN INVENTION. LIKELY TO REVOLUTIONISE AVIATION.
Perth. January 11.
Joseph Hammond, the aviator, has inspected a local invention for automatic stability which, he says, will revolutionise aviation. -Pahiatua Herald, 12/1/1911.
An ex-New Zealander about to pay a visit to his native country is Mr Joseph Hammond, who was born at Feilding, and who is now a certificated pilote-aviateur. Leaving Wellington, he first went to Australia to take up sheep-farming; later he was at Klondyke, and next he was heard of in Alaska. For six months he toured in the United States as a cowboy in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Then the aviation fever seized hold of him, and he went to Rheims to take up aeroplaning at the local school, with the result that he gained his pilot's certificate in a record brief time. Mr Hammond is going out to New Zealand via Australia as chief aviator in the "commission" of airmen which Sir George White (chairman of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company of Bristol) is sending out to give exhibitions of flying. Several leading centres of New Zealand are to be visited at the conclusion of demonstrations in Australia. Mr Hammond will use two "Bristol" bi-planes made by Sir George White's Company at Bristol. Mr Sydney E. Smith (manager of the company) is in charge of the commission, another member of which is Mr L. McDonald, who is also a certificated air-pilot. -Otago Daily Times, 17/1/1911.
AIR FLIGHT OVER SYDNEY.
THE CITY CIRCUMNAVIGATED.
By Telegraph — Press Association — Copyright (Rec. May 6, 1.5 a.m.)
Sydney, May 5.
Mr. Hammond, the English aviator, to-day made his biggest Sydney flight so far. In the space of 42 minutes he crossed over the city and harbour to the heads, and returned over most of the suburbs. Thousands witnessed the flight.
Mr. Hammond carried one of his mechanics, and afterwards the other mechanic gave an exhibition. -Dominion, 6/5/1911.
Mr C. Hammond, of Feilding, has received a cablegram from his brother, Mr Joseph Hammond, the aviator, that he has completed his engagement in Australia, and before proceeding to Europe will visit his relatives in New Zealand, leaving Australia in about 10 days' time. -Otago Daily Times, 24/5/1911.
INTERVIEWED.
JOE HAMMOND, AVIATOR.
BACK IN FEILDING.
Mr Joseph Hammond, one of the world's aviators, who was born in Feilding and spent his boyhood days here returned home by the Main trunk express yesterday from Wellington, bringing with him Mrs Hammond. He was welcomed by many of his old mates have who were delighted to see him again and not a little proud of having acquaintance with a real live airman. Mr Hammond has had a wealth of unusual and extraordinary experiences since he went away but he has altered in manner and appearance not at all. He has the same quiet, unaffected style of talking and demeanour, and for all the indication he gives to the contrary, he might have been living the humdrum lite of Feilding all the time. On the subject of flying, he stated to our reporter in a short conversation that he would bring a couple of | machines over to New Zealand if sufficient inducement offered. It was a very expensive matter, and business was business. He proposed staying in Feilding for three weeks, and then returning to Sydney, where he will open an aviation school. He had come to Australia under contract with an aeroplane company, and when that contract expired he was glad to have a spell for a while. Flying, he said, palled after a bit. One was apt to get tired of it, and liked a change. Concerning the price of the machines, Mr Hammond said the best makes could now be bought for £1000. This was a high price, but it was owing to the fact that the engines were in the hands of monopolies. He considered in a few years the price would be down to £500, and flying would become quite a popular pastime. Mr Hammond states that the press interviews in Australia very greatly overdid it. Of course it was natural they should wish to write up the Only Aviator in the Commonwealth, but some of them wrote him up without ever having seen him! One published statement made him 47 years old! Another pressman "interviewed' him at the races, and the fact was he had not been at a race meeting in the Commonwealth. But the man who reported him as having arranged and carried out an elopement bore the palm for "interviewing." Mrs Hammond was approached and asked what she thought of New Zealand but she very courteously declined to be interviewed, saying her practice was to say very little." -Feilding Star, 16/6/1911.
Mr J. Hammond, the aviator of Fielding who returned to his home last week on a holiday trip, was taken on Saturday to a private hospital at Palmerston North, suffering from appendicitis. He was operated on for the trouble the following day, and so far is progressing as well as can be expected. -Patea Mail, 21/6/1911.
There appears to be a strong probability that the flying machine will be seen next year as an attractive draw at race meetings and shows. Mr Joseph Hammond, the New Zealand aviator, who is now recovering from a serious illness, was present at the Hawke's Bay Show, and informed a resident that he would be prepared next year to make two flights at each day of the show, the appearance money to be £25 a day. It is understood that the proposal is to be placed before the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Association.
Scott's Catarrh Cure, a never failing remedy for this complaint; 2s 6d bottle. 17 Princes street. -Otago Daily Times, 31/10/1911.
MR JOE HAMMOND, AVIATOR.
Mr Joseph Hammond, the Feilding boy who went to England and became an aviator, made a trip to Australia and New Zealand, and returned to the Old Country again, is once more to come to his native land. A committee has been formed in England for the furtherance of Imperial aerial defence, one of the immediate results being the presentation of an aeroplane to New Zealand. A school of aviation is to be formed in New Zealand, and Mr Hammond has offered his services for the tuition of pilots. He is just the man for the work, for in addition to the experience which ho has gained in the Mother Country he has made several successful flights in Australia. -Feilding Star, 5/9/1913.
"LOOPING THE LOOP"
AVIATOR HAMMOND PREPARED TO DO IT.
(By Telegraph. — Press Association. — Copyright.)
FREMANTLE, 28th October.
The New Zealand aviator, Hammond, is a passenger by the .steamer Osterley, which arrived to-day. He states that he is prepared to repeat M. Pegoud's aerial acrobatic feats provided the attempt is made worth his while — he will want £1000 a week for the job. The feat, he says, is not as dangerous as it looks. "The monoplane will do the trick itself if let alone." Hammond has brought a Bleriot monoplane with him. -Evening Post, 29/10/1913.
ROTTING.
NEW ZEALAND'S AEROPLANE.
"A PITY" SAYS HAMMOND.
WELLINGTON TO CHRISTCHUBCH IN TWO HOURS.
New Zealand's aeroplane Britannia is rotting in a storeroom at the Buckle Street barracks, Wellington.
"You have a beautiful machine, said Mr Hammond, the New Zealand aviator, to a 'Dominion' reporter, "and it is a pity to see it shut up in a shed month after month. It is fitted with an 80-horse-power Gnome engine, which develops 1200 revolutions per minute and is capable of flying at the rate of eighty miles per hour.
"Given fair weather conditions, I could probably drive from Wellington to Christchurch in about a couple of hours. The machine is quite capable of doing that, and I would be willing to drive her. I don't know whether the Britannia is just the class of machine to send out here for a start. That is to say, I could never teach anyone to drive with it. Eighty horsepower is some power, and she does cut out the pace. For teaching you want an old coach of 40 or 50-horse-power, that only travels at from thirty to forty miles an hour. With the machine travelling at eighty milos an hour, teaching anyone is out of the question. I left here a couple of years ago," said Mr Hammond, "I have been flying all over Europe, and in England. Practically, the whole of last summer I put in at Eastbourne, where, being a lieutenant in the Army Flying Corps, I had the free use of the Army aerodrome. Flying has almost become a national amusement, and though it is expensive there are always plenty wanting to take it on." -Star, 18/11/1913.
HIGH-FLYER HAMMOND
New Zealand's Aviator
Wants £1000 a Week To Loop-the-Loop.
Writing of New Zealand's native aviator, who has earned much fame abroad, Westralian "Truth" says: — Mr. J. J. Hammond, who left upon Fremantle per the R.M.S, Osterley, is the self-same gent, who some three years ago attempted to show Westralians some of the little things the "lighter-than-air-machine" can do. J.J., who is no Jay Jay, in the interim, may have learned a few new stunts, but if he be judged on past performances, he is the juggins flying man who is liable to break his neck any odd time. .What he last showed the mugginses, who paid their good gilt to watch his flying exhibition at Ascot, was not calculated to make any party sit up all night to talk about his exploits. As a matter of fact, the show
WAS A FIERCE FIASCO, for Hammond couldn't "fly" worth tu'pence. But now he comes back towards his native south — Hammond is New Zealand born — he's just sure going to emulate Pegoud and loop the loop on his winged machine. According to Hammond, this looping the looping racket is as easy as falling off a log. We don't doubt Mister Hammond, but, fortunately for log riders, the average log is not so far removed from the earth as is the average aeroplane — sometimes — and, one bounces harder when one touches from the latter than from the former. Still, Hammond may know more about it than we do.
A far-seeing paper like "Truth" naturally recognised the great importance of these air machines, and we recognise that the Pegouds and Hammonds and other blokes of similar significancet, are
DOING A GREAT WORK in helping along the world's progress, and that is why we agree with Hammond when he communicated to our reporter that although the conquest of the air was an accomplished fact, and, discoursing on somersaulting in the air, said: "These aerial acrobatic feats are not as dangerous as they look. At any rate, I'm prepared to do the thing in Australia," (But listen!): "That is, if they are prepared to pay me."
"And what would you want for your show?"
"I would want L1000 per week, and I reckon I'm worth it."
Do you hear, a loud outburst of enthusiasm from the gentlemen who are prepared to
ADD THEIR QUOTA to that thousand quid which will insure Mr. Hammond's family against his instantaneous death; or will those, who, with this scribe, watched his last inglorious flight, prefer to hand their gold coin over to an even more deserving cause. One thousand good gold sovereins would go towards building a branch railway to make a hundred povertystricken families. That same thousand would pay for 200 baby bonuses.
It may be, however, that young Australia, in its large enthusiasm, will pay Mr. Hammond his thousand for the chance of seeing him,
BREAK HIS RUBBER NECK. In every great cause sacrifices have to be made for the ultimate benefit of mankind. Hundreds have already sacrificed their lives in trying to conquer the air. So far, Australia has had little need of air ships, rather does she require ploughs and reapers and binders for her farmers, and we are willing to believe that Mr. Hammond's dream of the thousands he's going to make will end in the use of the return half of his ticket — when he wakes up. -NZ Truth, 29/11/1913.
Mr. J. J. Hammond, the well-known aviator, who holds a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, has made a thorough overhaul of the Government aeroplane "Britannia, which, since its arrival in New Zealand three months ago, has been stored in the Defence Department's building at Mount Cook Barracks. The machine, now fitted with a tractor screw, which arrived by the Tainui, will be despatched to Auckland on Monday next, and will be flown there for the first time in New Zealand shortly after the New Year. Mr. Hammond offered to fly the machine to Auckland in two stages, but the Defence authorities deemed it advisable to ship the aeroplane instead in view of the possibilities of accident. -Evening Post, 27/12/1913.
NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST AEROPLANE.
SUCCESSFUL TRIAL FLIGHT.
(Per Press Association)
AUCKLAND, Last night.
The initial flight in New Zealand of the Bleriot monoplane Britannia, which has been presented to the defence forces, was made at Epsom yesterday afternoon by Lieutenant J. J. Hammond, Royal Flying Corps. For a quarter of an hour he had the machine in the air thoroughly testing it as a preliminary to public exhibition on Anniversary Day, January 29th, he took the machine out again this morning and for about an hour was flying above the city and harbor. Yesterday's flight was made in a strong wind, but without mishap. The commencement of the first flight was witnessed by a small but deeply interested crowd. Nine men held the machine while Hammond climbed nonchalantly into his seat, started the engine and adjusted his goggles. Then he gave the signal and the machine was released and after a short run over the showground it rose sharply into the air. The booming of the engine rapidly diminished as it raced away due west. Hammond circled around seven or eight times at a height of a few hundred feet, rising and falling in a manner that displayed absolute command over the machine. He finished the flight with an easy landing. For a time he travelled at a speed of at least 80 miles an hour.
When Hammond left the hangar the weather conditions were good, and the aviator, who had no course mapped out, thought he would go some way over the city. He circled above the Exhibition and followed down the line of the street to the waterfront. Over the sparkling Waitemata the monoplane soared, and seeking out the warships Psyche and Philomel dipped in her course as a mark of respect to the white ensign. Having also saluted H.M.S. Pyramus the monoplane wheeled city-wards again and flew by way of Mount Eden to the showgrounds, where she made a beautiful descent.
The flight occupied nearly an hour, and in order to let the people see the machine Hammond kept as low as possible. The engine worked perfectly the whole time, but the planes were not answering properly to the controls. The rudder and elevator planes were however acting properly, and Hammond was able to do some pretty evolutions. Once he "banked" the machine at an angle of 90deg., that is to say, he had the wings at right angles instead of parallel with the earth. In the language of airmen this is called "standing her on her wing tip." -Daily Telegraph, 19/1/1914.
AVIATION IN HIGH WINDS
MR. HAMMOND'S OPINION.
(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, January 26.
Mr, J. J. .Hammond commented today upon the misleading messages which appear from time to time about this or that airman making an ascent in a gale of wind. "Any wind blowing from forty to sixty miles an hour is accounted a gale under the Aero Club rules," said Mr. Hammond, "and the man who makes flights in such winds is hauled over the coals for foolhardiness and indiscretion as an aviator. In short, the flying authorities severely discountenance anything in the shape of flying while a gale is blowing, and fines are imposed on any airman who persists in attempting it, while he also runs a lively risk of losing his certificate to boot. Another thing which is tabooed in the Old Country is flying across cities at low altitudes. If an aviator were to fly over a town in England at an altitude less than 2000 ft., he would get into trouble, not only with the Aero Club, but with the police authorities. The reason for this embargo is that, if anything goes wrong while he is above a populated area, he can clear the town by volplaning down, a thousand feet of descent being allowed to the mile. In England an exhibition of aeroplane flying at a place like the Auckland Domain would not be permitted at all."
Mr. Hammond estimates that the velocity of the wind on Saturday was fully sixty miles an hour up above the shelter of the hills, and that this handicap was further increased by the eddies and air-currents caused by the contour of the country. "To have landed in the Cricket Ground," he said, "would have been inviting trouble, and I would not have attempted to rise from the Domain Ground under such wind conditions." -Dominion, 27/1/1914.
Lieut. J. J. Hammond made another successful flight in the Britannia about six o'clock last evening,when the weather was perfect. The machine was in the air for about twenty minutes, and the aviator was accompanied by Miss Esmee McLellan, who thus has the honour of being the first lady in New Zealand to make a flight. In recognition of the event Miss McLellan, who is a member of the Royal Pantomime Co. at present appearing in Auckland, was presented, during an interval in the performance last evening, with a handsome bouquet and the goggles and cap she wore during the flight by Lieutenant Hammond. -Auckland Star, 29/1/1914.
A Whangarei resident, says the Northern Mail, who was conversing in Auckland with Hammond, the aviator tells rather a good yarn about the man. They were watching some motorists cutting out high speeds on the track at Alexandra Park, when Hammond remarked that he would not take on motor racing for £1000 a ride. "Give me up above, where you cannot hit anything," continued the aviator. "What about the ground?" queried his companion. "Oh, no fear of that; and even if I did it would only be once, and bad luck at that," cheerfully concluded the man whose feats have made Aucklanders stand staring open-mouthed and stiff-necked. -Thames Star, 29/1/1914.
THE GIRL IN THE AIR.
EXPERIENCES RELATED.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
AUCKLAND, February 1.
The young lady who flew with Mr Hammond last week has been talking to a pressman on the fascinating subject of what it feels like to fly. This attractive young pantomime artist says: — "It was like just nothing I've ever experienced before, and so it is quite hard to tell a real story about it. Mr Hammond is staying at the same hotel, and I had expressed a wish to go up if ever he felt inclined to take a passenger. The aviator was not quite sure about the Britannia when it came to carrying a passenger, however, and he would make no promise. On Wednesday I went out with others of our party after visiting the Exhibition to see Mr Hammond fly. It was an absolute surprise to me when he said:
'I shall take a passenger; will you come?' I didn't wait to be asked twice, and at once got into the passenger's seat. I honestly didn't feel the least bit nervous; on the contrary, the feeling I was most conscious of was one of pleasurable excitement; and do you know, the first feeling once we got away was how simple and safe it all was. I had somehow pictured aviators as having to be tied in or having to hold on tight. On the Britannia I never even thought about being frightened or of being anything else but comfortable and pleased. The machine left the ground so easily and we mounted into the air so naturally that it somehow seemed actually to inspire confidence. It is surprisingly difficult to analyse now what my sensations were. I only know that I was wonderfully elated, and that I enjoyed every moment of it. I have often looked out over Auckland and thought it the loveliest place in the world, but viewed from an aeroplane at a height of nearly 200ft it was a glimpse of something almost unreal. The city itself looked big enough, but the houses and the people seemed like those Gulliver must have met with on his famous travels. We were travelling faster than I have ever travelled in the fastest express trains, but there was not even the slightest vibration, nor was there any sensation that was other than entirely pleasant. When we can actually journey from one place to another without the fatigue of train travelling or the drawbacks of a sea voyage, how delightful it is going to be. When we descended it was all equally simple and apparently equally easy. I was more elated while in the air than I think I've over been about any first night success at the theatre, and I really think I am more excited about it now when it's all over than I was while I was actually in the air." -Otago Daily Times, 2/2/1914.
MR. HAMMOND WON'T.
A Word on the Whimsies of Aviators.
In Auckland, where the Exhibition rather languishes and the aeroplane is regarded as a prime attraction, the people have not witnessed much actual aeroplaning so far. Mr. Hammond has made one or two successful flights in one or two months; but Mr. Hammond is apparently shy. He was to have made a flight on Monday night last. In the expectation that he would, a big crowd paid for admission to the Exhibition grounds, and a vastly bigger crowd (for Aucklanders love a free show) gathered and murmured outside. But at the last moment Mr. Hammond wouldn't. The night was entirely favourable — clear, dry, with no breeze; but the aviator said that if he brought out his machine he'd get its wings wet; so there was an end of hope.
These aviators are a perverse and uncertain folk. When they will, they will: and when they won't the devil himself can't drive them. Risking their lives, they are beyond reach of argument or discipline. They are experts, and they hang together. Whatever one says, the others endorse. Their craft is still a mystery to the great body of the public, which merely stands and gapes. And if Mr. Hammond is so shy in Auckland, the chances of our ever seeing Mr. Hammond go aloft in Wellington are almost preposterously slender. An ordinary aviator won't do for New Zealand; the Government or somebody should import a daredevil enthusiast for his business. -Free Lance, 7/2/1914.
PERSONAL
Mr Joe Hammond, the well-known New Zealand aviator, left Feilding on Wednesday, en route for England via Vancouver. It is his intention to join the Aerial Corps again. -Manawatu Times, 8/5/1914.
AN AVIATOR'S LUCK.
SCOTLAND'S VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND.
NOT A FINANCIAL SUCCESS.
AIRMAN LEAVING FOR ACTIVE SERVICE.
GOOD CHANCE FOR SCHOOL IN CANTERBURY. (excerpt)
"Oh, by the way," he concluded, "Joe Hammond, who, you remember, flew the Britannia in Auckland, is in the corps at the front. I got a letter from him about a month ago. He just said he was in the corps.
"That's like Joe: an awfully decent chap; if he'd brought down German aeroplanes he'd probably only write and say he was in the flying corps'." -Lyttelton Times, 9/7/1915.
Reuter's Agency telegraphed from Indianapolis on October 3: "The funeral service of Captain Joseph J. Hammond, the New Zealand member of the British Royal Flying Corps, who was killed here when the aeroplane he was driving crashed to earth, was attended by thousands of citizens. Speaking at the ceremony, the Bishop of Indianapolis paid a tribute to Captain Hammond's bravery, and said: 'We bury him not as a stranger, but as one of our own; and by taking part in these services the people of Indianapolis are forging one more link in the chain that is binding closer together the two great branches of the Anglo-Saxon race.' Captain Hammond's coffin, draped with the British and American flags, was attended by United States and British soldiers, including a firing squad of American and British aviation officers. -Otago Daily Times, 11/12/1918.
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