RESCUERS' STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 67, 21 March 1938, Page 7

RESCUERS' STORY.

BROADBENTS MISHAP. Located After Few Hours , Search Along Coast. TASK OF SALVAGING 'PLANE. (Received 12 noon.) BATAVIA, March 20. The Government steamer which took part in the search for the Australian airman, Mr. H. F. Broadbent, who made a forced landing on Thursday morning on the coast of Flores Island, north-west of Timor, when on the last stage of an attempted record-breaking flight from England to Australia, radioed that the 'plane had been found in the mountains. This will make the task of salvaging it a difficult one. Activities were commenced immediately, however.

In the mean time, the Qantas 'plane which first spotted Mr. Broadbent, was expected at Batavia yesterday morn- ' ing- I The pilot of the Qantas 'plane had ' heard that Mr. Broadbent was missing J when in the Timor-Kupang area on I Saturday and had returned to search I for him along the Timor coast. Within a few hours he had located Mr. Broadbent on the coast of Flores Island, where the mountains rise suddenly above the sea-level. The 'plane was apparently only slightly damaged. The Qantas pilot threw out cigarettes and a message of congratulation to the airman. The Qantas 'plane carried also a Mr. Dismore, assistant general manager of the Imperial Airways, who added to the pilot's story: "Mr. Broadbent's 'plane was distinctly visible at 11 o'clock on Friday morning between Torokerita and Nangalele, against the slope of Mount Amaredo. Mr. Broadbent's green shirt could be recognised. The 'plane apparently had only one propeller damaged." j An earlier cable stated that Mr. Broadbent was brought to Bima, Sumbawa Island, by a Dutch naval machine. He later travelled to Sourabaya in another Dutch machine. The airman hopes to be able to continue his flight after procuring a propeller for his aeroplane. Apparently Mr. Broadbent made . a forced landing on a native path leading to the mountains. IMPERIAL AIRWAYS. AUSTRALIAN SERVICE IN JULY. (Received 12 noon.) BATAVIA, March 20. Mr. Diemore, assistant-general manager of Imperial Airways, who was in the Qantae' 'plane which first spotted the missing Australian airman, Mr. H. F. Broadbent, stated that flying-boats to Australia were commencing their regular service in July. Another trial, flight would take place at the end of March. BRITISH AIR RACE. KING'S CUP EVENT IN JULY. British Official Wireless. (Received 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 20. The King's Cup air race on July 2 will be more spectacular than usual. The race covers 1000 miles in 20 equal laps,, starting and finishing at HatihfcL