AIR LINER LOST.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 255, 28 October 1929, Page 7

AIR LINER LOST.

INDIAN FLYING BOAT.

Seven Lives Lost In Gulf Of

Genoa.

r DISASTROUS GALE.

(United r.A.-Elcctric Telegraph-Copyright)

f i (Received 12.30 p.m.) '? LONDON, October 27. Imperial Airways officially announce the loss of the Indian mail flying boat, City of Rome, during a gale in the Gulf of Genoa. Four passengers and three of a crew were drowned. A Genoa message says it is learned that the tug Familia on Saturday evening found the Indian air liner safely riding the waves off Spezia, that all were well aboard and that she took the aeroplane in tow, but owing to a rough sea the rope broke. The Familia left the 'plane and rushed to the shore to get help., A destroyer went out and searched for hours, but fruitlessly. To-day seven Italian 'planes co-operated with a number of destroyers in combing the seas, but no trace of the air liner was found. When wireless signals ceased from the City of Rome anxiety increased hourly. To-night a destroyer reported coming ashore with Pilot Birt, commander of the air liner. There was no further rtews of the rest of the crew and passengers. Terrific Weather. Imperial Airways further state that the occupants of the City of Rome were: —Pilot Birt, Flight-Engineer Pembroke, Wireless Operator Stone, and four passengers, Messrs. Turney, Ritchie, Robinson, and Miss Bromford.

The City of Rome was an all-metal flying boat driven by three engines, developing 1500 horse-power, similar to the machine- in which Sir Alan Cobhain flew round Africa. The 'plane was used for the stage, from Alexandria to Genoa, and ran into terrific weather at Leghorn. The wind was blowing-at 68, miles an hour and the machine was' forced down ten miles off Spezia.

.Vain Searches. Imperial Airways add that the City of Rome's wireless operator sent out the S.O.S. before the machine' was forced down. The Italian tug Familia managed to get three ropes to the City of Rome and towed her for 90 minutes, hut the seas were so terrific that all three snapped.

The City of Home was riding well when the Familia went to Spezia, where the captain boarded a destroyer and went back but failed to locate the seaplane, as also did the aircraft, tugs and destroyers from Genoa, Spezia, and Leghorn, which set out to search.

At dawn a destroyer brought in the body which is at present unidentified.

THRILL OF? AVIATION

Prmce.Of Wales' Health Benefits

Greatly.

TAKES PLACE OF HUNTING,

LONDON", October 27

The progress in aviation made by the Prince of Wales has excited ' keen interest among pilots of the Royal Air Force.

The Prince has secretly spent much of "his leisure in practising landings in company with his pilot at the. Northolt .Aerodrome. He had made as many as 15 landings in an afternoon. It is particularly noticeable that since he began to take an interest in flying His Royal Highness has enjoyed better health than for years past. The new interest has completely removed the pang which followed upon his abandonment of hunting.

READY FOR TESTS.

RIOO TO LEAVE , HOWDEN. . , (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 27. It was definitely stated yesterday that Britain's second giant airship, RIOO, which has been built at Howden, [Yorkshire, will leave her shed for trials at Cardington mooring tower within the y liext month.

HISTORIC EXHIBIT.

SCHNEIDER TROPHY 'PLANE,

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, October 27. The Supermarine Rolls Royce S6, in which Flying-Officer Waghorn won the Schneider trophy last September, has been placed on public exhibition in the Science Museum, South Kensington.