My flight from List, Germany, to Chicago, via Greenland and Labrador, was made in July and August of 1931. I had previously made a similar flight to America in 1930 when I chose the south point of Greenland and became very much impressed by this magnificently interesting country. Ever since that flight I had a strong desire to explore this country more closely. My desire for a second flight became acute when we, in Germany, received the first reports of the British Arctic Air-Route Expedition, under the leadership of Mr. Watkins.

Their weather reports for our prospective flight were very favourable and I immediately set to work to organise my second venture.