AIR: Arnold’s Ride

The Army announced last week that a new Australia-to-U.S. flight record had been hung up: 35 hours 53 minutes from Brisbane to San Francisco in a C87 (transport version of Consolidated’s Liberator bomber). The 7,000-mile trip takes up to four weeks by ship convoy.

Commander of the flight was Army Air Chief Lieut. General Henry H. (“Hap”) Arnold, whose trip to Australia was unannounced until his return. Previous recordholder: Lieut. General George Brett, who made it on his return from U.S. Air Forces in Australia last month.

When Hap Arnold arrived at Washington’s Boiling Field, Assistant Secretary of War for Air Robert Lovett seized on the chance to decorate a good man, met the plane with a D.S.M. for the general and Air Medals for his crew.