File:Charles Kingsford Smith in the cockpit of Percival Gull "Miss Southern Cross".jpg

English: Upon successfully completing his record-setting flight from England to Australia on October 14, 1933, The Courier Mail wrote of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith:

Cheering thousands of men, women, and children, and blaring motor horns greeted Air Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith when he arrived at Archerfield Aerodrome at 4.45 p.m. yesterday.

In this joyous greeting the citizens of Brisbane paid homage to a distinguished native of the city, who has been acclaimed the world's greatest airman. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith had flown from England to Wyndham, in North Australia, in 7 days 4 hours 43 minutes, or 1 day 16 hours 1 minute faster flying time than that achieved by Mr C W A Scott

He left Wyndham at 8.7 a.m. on Thursday, and after battling against headwinds all day landed at Camooweal on Thursday night. He left Camooweal at 5.45 a.m. yesterday, passed Longreach at 11 a.m., and arrived in Brisbane at 4.45 p.m., after another battle against Headwinds

Progress reports of the flight from Camooweal across the western plains of the State indicated that the aviator should arrive soon after 4.30 p.m., and a number of Queensland Aero Club aeroplanes flew out towards Toowoomba to meet him

Like a Flashing Bird.

A brief period of suspense followed. Then the blue and silver monoplane, Miss Southern Cross with the setting sun gilding its graceful lines against a background of dull grey clouds, flashed out of the west like a swallow on the wing.

After circling the aerodrome the veteran aviator made a perfect landing, and taxied across the grounds to the accompaniment of deafening cheers.

"Do you want a corkscrew, Smithy?" called a friend in the crowd as the aviator experienced difficulty in getting out of the closed cockpit. "No, a match!" was the characteristic reply, as the lean, hatless head emerged with a cigarette thrust between flashing teeth. It was a typical "Smithy" incident. Here was the man whom neither honours nor trials could change. Here, indeed, was a man of the people and a national hero.

Brief speeches of welcome were made from a handy lorry. The president of the Queensland Aero Club Dr F. A. Hope Michod) read messages of congratulation from his Majesty the King and from his Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Isaac Isaacs) on the success of the great flight

The Premier (Mr. W. Forgan Smith), on behalf of the State Government, congratulated the aviator. The achievement he said added lustre to an already great fame. They were justly proud of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith as a Queenslander and an Australian

"You have made a habit of astonishing the world said the Lord Mayor (Alderman J W Greene), addressing the aviator, and now you have done it again

The Queensland manager of the Vacuum Oil Company (Mr N. F Langdon) said " Whatever "Smithy" undertakes to do he does well. We appreciate his courage and ability.”

The Premier called for cheers "for the world’s greatest aviator " "And one for his baby!" cried a man in the crowd. So the aviator and the baby shared the cheers.

"Life in the Old Dog."

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith said he was glad to have broken the record by way of indicating "there was life in the old dog yet."

It was a source of pleasure, too, that the record time had been established once more by an Australian.

"It is not easy," he added, amidst much laughter, "for a grey-headed man in his declining years to do such things. This is the city of my birth, and I am proud of it, but I cannot stay, as I have a family waiting further south."

View the original image at the Queensland State Archives:

Digital Image ID 22338