STILL NO SIGN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 26, 12 November 1935, Page 5

STILL NO SIGN

THE MISSING AVIATORS. SEARCH BY FLYING BOAT. FLIGHTS OVER ISLANDS AND BAY. (United Press Association—Copyright) SINGAPORE, November .11. Flying beats took off at dawn to search all the islands and the coast between Rangoon and Victoria Point. C. J. Melrose is searching the place where he thought he saw the Lockheed Altair in the Bay of Bengal. NO SUCCESS MET. AIR FORCE CRAFT AT RANGOON. SINGAPORE, November 11. The Royal Air Force flying boats sent a wireless message that they fcsul arrived at Rangoon after, a. thorough search of the Bay of Bengal; with no success. The Vfldebeeste ’planes and Melrose searched the coast. and all the islands westward of Siam with nO' success. All are resuming the search at dawn. The flying boats will make a wider sweep oyer the route. The Australian Government sent a message to Air Commodore Sidney Smith, warmly thanking him foi 1 the search efforts. Air Commodore Smith says the search will he continued while tho faintest hope remains. The Commonwealth Government also authorised the use of the Quahtas (D.H. 86, which is now at Singapore and the air liner is taking off at dawn for Mergui. “TERRIBLE CONDITIONS.’' KINGSFORD SMITH’S ATTEMPT. LONDON, October 25. When Sir Charles Kingsford Smith returned to Croydon after starting for Australia officials said that they had not seen a machine in worse condition and still flying. He is well and, although disappointed, will take off again as soon as the aeroplane is fixed up and the weather forecasts justify a start. Sit- Charles said that when they were in mountainous country near the Gulf of Corinth they could not see 10yds. He flew round for 15 minutes in terrible conditions, then decided to make for the nearest aerodrome which was Brindisi. There was grave danger of the torn wings and ice formation making the machine uncontrollable on the way back. TT , A Visibility was almost ml. He had to fly oyer water, not knowing the exact whereabouts or whether he would be permitted to land, but he trusted the Italians would understand his clire necessity. He reached Brindisi in darkness to find the aerodrome unlit, tie flew round, announcing his desire to land. Italians obtained motor-cars, their headlights enabling him to land safely.