PLANE MISSING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 304, 1 October 1940, Page 2

PLANE MISSING

FORCED LANDING FEARED. CREW OF THREE ON BOARD. LAST SEEN IN MISTY CONDITIONS (Per Press Association AUCKLAND, September 30. Three members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force stationed at Ohakca are missing in an Airspeed Oxford monoplane which is believed to have been forced down in the Makau district, north of New Plymouth this afternoon. An aeroplane, supposedly the missing one, was last seen flying in heavy mist and rain near the coast, heading south, in the direction of }Vhite Cliffs, Pukoaruhe, and there had been no further trace of it up to a late hour to-night. Those in the machine were: Flying-Officer Harry Nalder Major, single, aged 29, a son of tlie late Mr C. T. Major, a former headmaster of King’s College, Auckland. His next-of-kin is a sister, living at Tuakan. Flight - Sergeant Sheldon Benton Smith, single, aged 25, a son of Mr and Mrs Henry Smith, of Grange Road, Mount Eden, Auckland. Corporal Raymond B. Smithy single, aged 23, whose next-of-kin is a sister, Mrs C. T. Morgan, of Miramar, Wellington. Flying-Officer Major was the pilot. He is an instructor at Oliakea aerodrome, where his companions are members of the ground staff. All spent the week-end in Auckland, and left the Hobsonville air base at 11.45 a.m. Another plane also set out, and encountered had weather and restricted visibility along the west coast as they made south. Flying-Officer Major’s machine was some distance ahead when the other turned hack, and returned to Auckland, where it arrived safely.

An aeroplane answering to the description of the missing Oxford was seen at Molcau about 1 p.m. It was flying south at a low altitude, and according to a young man in the district it was apparently experiencing engine trouble, as an engine appeared to cut out. Later, it is reported, an aeroplane was observed flying northward, and shortly afterward again making south. It seemed to be the same machine. It was last seen about 1.30 p.m., just south of Tongaporutu, on the coast, midway between Mokau and New Plymouth. The machine was very low, flying near the . coast, and heading south in the direction of White Cliffs.

Inquiries made by the police -at Mokau among farmers along the coast failed to give any indication of the whereabouts of the aeroplane, which carried sufficient petrol for about five hours’ flying. A searcli is being conducted in the locality wh‘^ - e the aeroplane was last seen. Smith wfys associated with the Air Force several years ago, and later was employed as anassistant ground engineer by Cook Strait Airways, Ltd. At the outbreak of war he was drafted from the civil reserve into tlie Air Force as a ground engineer. Corporal .Smith has been a member of tlie Air Force for two years.