PLANE MISSING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 106, 7 May 1942, Page 8

PLANE MISSING

NELSON NOT REACHED

UNION AIRWAYS MACHINE

(P.A.)

WELLINGTON, this day

Referring to a report that the t-'nion Airways Lockheed plane, which left for Nelson this morning, had not reported at its destination by 1 p.m., the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, said that as far as the Air Force was concerned arrangements had been made for a high-speed launch to go to Tasman Bay and make a search. Aircraft would be available as soon as the weather cleared.

The Lockheed left Wellington at 7.35 a.m. and was due at Nelson at 8.15 a.m. It carried three passengers, Mr. W. H. Moore and Misses A. Farrar and B. Bell. Their addresses are not obtainable at present, but all were booked at the Wellington office of Union Airways.

The commander is Mr. Keith R. Johnston, and the second officer and co-pilot is Mr. William Smiilie.

The plane last reported at 8.17 a.m. up to when it had been in constant radio contact with its base. At that time it was about due to land. The position was believed to be somewhere south-east of Nelson, possibly Tophouse.

It is understood that the plane had petrol sufficient to enable it to fly till 11 a.m. Conditions between Blenheim and Nelson were foggy. A Press Association message from Nelson gave the place of residence of Miss Fell as Nelson. The message added that the commander of the plane was given his bearings at 8.17 a.m. It was then due at Nelson in a few minutes, and its position was somewhere south-east of Nelson