Saturday
June 5
1926

Everyone was up bright and early[,] for the plane was to commence its first flight today darrying [sic, = carrying] food and supplies to Batavia Camp. Breakfast over[,] Hans and Prince went to work servicing the ship. The food had been selected by Captain Posthumus and weighed 321¼ kilos. Prince was to accompany Hans on the first trip to assist in the landing at Batavia Camp. Seven soldiers, ten Dyaks and a few convicts are in charge of that camp. Soon the roar of the motor was heard throughout the camp. They were tuning her up to see how she ran. From the sound of the motor it was perfect. Everytime the aeroplane is scheduled for a flight everybody in camp drops whatever they are doing and gather[s] on the shore line to watch it take off. As both the motor boats are at Batavia Camp anchoring to the boom will be more difficult. Finally they shoved off and after taxing [sic] slowly up the stream he gave her the gun and they were off. It was a good take off and everyone was pleased. However, when he reached the turn in the river Hans turned around and came back. We looked over the mountains and it appeared that the clouds were too low for safe flying over the rapids. He landed and taxied up to the float. No assistance was necessary and the Ern was soon tied to shore alongside the float. It can be landed without the motor boats. That’s a good demonstration of handling the plane on the river. Hans knows his stuff. Something was not working quite right with the tail assembly and they had returned to see what it was all about. Flying an aeroplane over New Guinea jungles is not the easiest thing to do and one should be certain that the plane is working well in all {F1.47} respects. They were puzzled for they could find nothing wrong. Hans, however, said that everything was not right back there. We left them studying it over. In about an hour, however, while we were sitting talking things over[,] the motor hummed and again they were off without a word to anyone. They had evidently found the trouble and fixed it. They took off in the same manner and were soon in the air. They made another turn and circled the camp. Evidently they were testing it out for after they came back they continued straight up the river and turned to the left in the direction of Batavia Camp and were soon lost to our vision. It is plainly evident that outside of Leroux and possibly Hoffman and Jordans, the rest of the army outfit and the Dutch personnel are not willing to give the plane any chance at all. I honestly believe that they would chuckle with satisfaction if she cracked up. They didn’t want the plane to succeed in the first place and now that she is doing well under the most impossible conditions they are not so well pleased. If they were they would be anxious to co-operate with us. No one asks us if there is any help we need or takes an interest in the plane[’]s welfare. To get down to the plane we have to slide down the bank through the mud and everything. When we wanted coverings for the pontoons we had to ask for it [sic]. They sailed it around the Dutch Indies for more than a month on the back of the steamer before they brought it to the mouth of the river and everything looks as though they are trying to help the climate and the unfavorable conditions affect it all that they can. It can’t do this and it can’t do that is their attitude and they don’t even want to be shown. On our initiative we have done everything we could to make the place for the plane as good as possible. We got the canvas covering after asking for it. Posthumus has been an observer and like everyone else who has flown as a passenger a little he looks upon himself as an authority on aeroplanes. (We got our Dyaks to {F1.48} build the boom and the motor shop after we asked for it)[.] He can say it will do this or won’t do that, but if he were to be asked to fly it off the water without a load he couldn’t do it. Hans and Prince working against all odds are doing something with an aeroplane that has never been done before and won’t be done again for some time if it is up to the Dutch to do it. If we could get some real whole hearted co-operation[,] and with the boys[’] abilities[,] the plane would be a great help. They don’t want it to though. Of course, anything we do with it will be appreciated and recorded but they possible cannot [sic, = cannot possibly] be blamed for not getting as enthusiastic over its performance as we do. It would be a good thing if the Dutch also had a plane here. That comparison would be some comparison and it might give them a better idea what Hans is doing when he flies the Ern out of here. It is plainly evident that now is the time to do the flying before the climatic conditions beat us for the cards on that score are stacked for any length of time. I think that both Hans and Prince took a big chance on that last hop for they were determined to fly it regardless of cost to Batavia Camp after they had started. It is hard to have them cry “I told you so” when you have a little trouble. Trouble scares them easily[,] not only with a plane but with anything else. They are the greatest people in the world to tell you it can’t be done and can find more reasons why it can’t (and almost convince you) than any other people in the world. That’s why great portions of Netherlands New Guinea is [sic] unexplored and unknown. It isn’t easy to do it but it takes hardships and sacrifices in addition to just plain “guts” to get into this country. They returned from the second trip safe and sound and to save the motor as much as possible Hans landed up stream and came down with the current. Landing the other way uses the motor to taxie [sic] against the stream. Hans is not overlooking anything and is watching even the {F1.49} finest points. That will aid the life of the motor materially. In one day then we had transported 643 kilos of food to Batavia camp. That is[,] conservatively estimating, the load that three prows would take up there in five days. Five Dyaks are used to transport one prow. Two men and the plane therefore in one day did the work of fifteen Dyaks which takes them five days of hard work to accomplish. It would be possible to add 130 more kilos more to these two trips if Prince were to stay behind. However, he is necessary to assist Hans in landing and starting. It might also be possible to make three trips in one day.

Everyone was elated over the performance of the plane, with the possible exception of some of the Dutch army men. Leroux said [“]fine work[”] and he meant it. The others were rather silent. We sent a message to the committee (Van Leeuwen suggested it give him credit for that) telling of what had been done. That telegram had to have a sentence added to it, however, that it was impossible for the plane to do that work to Head Camp. Otherwise their telegrams of wanting and asking for more Dyaks (60) would look rather strange. However, the telegram should impress those in Java with the fact that the plane is not broken down and cannot do anything [sic] which we are certain have been sent. If it can continue its good work – and barring accidents it can – it will transport a good amount of food to Batavia Camp in short order and will facilitate our getting inside.

As I’ve said before it’s just one darn thing after another so on top of our joy over the plane’s work, we were informed that they haven’t enough gasoline and oil for the motor boats. It seems that there has been a mix up on this matter and our shirts are in the wash again. The first plan stated we would pay for the motor boat gasoline and oil[,] in addition to paying the two motor boat men. That was suggested by Leroux to make our part balance with the Dutch. {F1.50} We agreed. Then, however, after the second plan was enlarged upon and the third one greatly enlarged by the army before they would accept[,] we were given to understand that the navy would pay for it. The navy is furnishing the motor boats and oil. They brought 100 cases of gasoline with them and some oil. However, whoever had charge of looking after that detail fell down. If we were to do it it is strange that they would bring 100 cases of gasoline in the first place. Now there isn’t enough gasoline for the motor boats and oil to get the transports to Motor Camp before the Albatros can arrive. We are helping out with our oil and our gas for we have plenty of gas and believe we will have enough oil to spare them. Hans says that the motors in the boats (they are U.S. marine engines Kermath’s made in Detroit) are rigged up to burn kerosine. They have no kerosine. Our gas will burn in their motors but it won’t last long or go far. It is still in the air, but the good part of it is that we can furnish enough to get the transports there. It appears that we are not the only ones who have made mistakes. It is our first trip here. They have had motor boats here many times before and they don’t even know how much oil they burn. They also overestimated the load of the canoes and goodness knows they have been using canoe transports here for many many years. The last expedition over much of the same territory spent 2½ years getting into the Swartz Valley. With all that experience they surely aught to know what a canoe will carry.

I told Van Leeuwen about the telegram I had received from the Postmaster and showed it to both him and Posthumus. Posthumus said that he hadn’t received any notification that they had decided that I could send Press telegrams and have them paid for upon delivery at Weltevreden. It is strange that that one telegram should have been lost in transit especially as the operators get an O.K. from the receiver before they sign off. They don’t just shoot them out blindly in the air. They are numbered and if the number isn’t right {F1.51} the operator asks the sender about it. Van Leeuwen is agreeable to me sending press telegrams but as long as I can send the details to the Indian committee in English as I have been doing it goes that way without charge and is available to the press also. It is a difficult problem for if I send something it will be in the Java press before the committee gets it and that isn’t polite either, on ordinary routine I’ll do it that way. However, when something big develops, I’ll send it direct so I know for sure that the A.P. in New York gets it. So far everything has gone through the way I want it. It is just the plain details for in an official report one can’t put the color into it. However, that will be done, I am confident[,] when it gets in the newspaper man’s hands. Anji visited us again and talked about the aeroplane. All of the Dyaks are enthused over the two trips, and the big load that it carries. Tomalinda[,] the other Dyaks[’] chieftain, on the return of the plane the second time asked if he could fly sometime. Posthumus was sitting there. He asked me so I couldn’t understand him and asked Posthumus what he said. Posthumus said he wanted to know if he could fly with the plane. I told the Dyak chief he would have to ask permission of Posthumus and the Birdman which is Hans. He had probably been told in the past about the danger of the plane and the probability of its falling but the demonstration of today sold him on it and he wanted to try it too. The Captain didn’t look particularly pleased with his actions. Anji and his Dyaks are closer to us while the other Dyak leader has been lined up with Posthumus[,] having been with him in Boreno [sic]. He is always ready to help and I believe like all of the Dyaks he has horse sense enough to use his own judgment of the plane and not be influenced by those who try to influence him against it. They are thinkers, these Dyaks[,] and there is no getting away from that. While Anji was visiting us Tomalinda was seated with the Captain and was engaged in a long conversation. What was going on of course we {F1.52} could not even guess.

The discussion of the experiences and thrills on the trips was interesting in the evening. On the second trip, Hans and Prince had cleared over the large range beyond which lies Batavia Camp. As they did so, Hans cut the motor and glided down for he knew the layout and it wasn’t necessary to circle. Consequently they glided in noiselessly and came upon a Papuan canoe in the river. When they saw the plane heading for them the last man stood up and paddled for all he was worth and then quickly one by one the others followed suit. Prince and Hans had a large laugh for they paddled as they probably have never paddled before. They are lazy and do not exert themselves unless they have to. It must have been amusing. When they taxied up to the bank at the camp the sergeant and 12 men were there to help them unload the food. The first time he sent one man believing there couldn’t be over a couple of tins at the most. They gasped with surprise when they saw Hans pull out 24 tins and two packages which is the regular load. Most of it is rice. The second trip had a tin of fresh bread from the bakery and the men were pleased with it. They also brought back a note to Posthumus, which Prince delivered in military fashion.

Now that it is all over, it is will [sic, = well] to analize [sic] the performance. The Ern carried on one trip a useful load of 800 pounds of food, and counting Prince. In addition to this she had tacked on to her 800 pounds of pontoons, 450 pounds of gasoline (75 gallons enough for three hours) making a total load of 2,050 pounds exclusive of the Pilot. Exclusive of the gasoline[,] the total load carried was 1600 pounds. That is not a bad figure when one is looking over loads carried in the United States with wheels. It must not be overlooked that this is being done in New Guinea, off fresh water, light air conditions, with practically no lift and hills and jungles on all sides. In Java they discount a plane’s performance 15 per cent {F1.53} because of climatic conditions in the Indies.