Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), Saturday 28 October 1944, page 14


Smithy's Plane To Fly Again

SYDNEY.— Sir Charles Kings-ford Smith's famous mono-plane. Southern Cross, now 20 years old, is to fly again in Columbia's film version of the airman's life story. Director Ken G. Hall, of Cine-sound Productions Pty. Ltd., will direct the film at Cinesound Studios. A Royal Australian Air Force spokesman said tonight that the plane which flew the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea was being reconditioned by the Air Force. It had not been flown since Sir Charles handed it over to the Commonwealth Government in 1935. The plane was reported to be in good shape, but extensive re-pairs would be necessary to make it airworthy. Probably a Royal Australian Air Force pilot will fly the plane in the making of the picture.