AIR FLIGHT TO HONOLULU FAILS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LV, Issue 9535, 16 July 1927, Page 3

AIR FLIGHT TO HONOLULU FAILS

SMITH COMPELLED TO • DESCEND AT SEA SHIPS HASTENING TO RESCUE. By Tel.—Press Assoc.— Copyright. Rec July 16, 8.5 a.m. San Francisco, July U Smith sent a message at three p.runs follows “ Have not heard shore wireless signals for half-an-hour. Still foggy, going strong.” Smith indicated that his ’plane had travelled three hundred miles, unless the signals were misunderstood. At this rale the fliers cannot beat the Army time record. The failure to hear land wireless signals from the beacon which Hashes continuous radio beams, as a guide, is ascribed to the atmospheric conditions, but is considered only temporary. —(A. and N.Z.) .SMITH FORCED DOWN AT SEA. Rec. July 10. 9.20. a.m. Honolulu, July 15. Ernest -Smith radioed that he was landing on th© water owing to shortage of petrol. A later message staled that Smith came down on t,be water at 7.30 this morning, about 400 miles from Honolulu. Steamers are rushing to his aid. Tile nearest is the Wilhelmina, which is seventy-five miles away. When the last S.O.S. was received, Smith flew 1700 miles in twcnly-onc hours five minutes. Reports from the monoplane are conflicting, making it uncertain whether it possessed enough petrol to remain in the air for one hour or four hours. The position, when the Huai message was despatched, was about 500 miles northeast of Paimiaui. Several ’planes, including on© piloted by Captain Lowell Smith, the round-the-world flyer, will assist in the search for Finest Smith. Bronte’s request was broadcasted to all vessels within a GOO miles radius to keep a look-out. The chief danger is believed to be from sharks, which infest tlies© waters. The airmen carried sufficient emergency rations for three days. The weather bureau announces that HWfe is no danger from rough weather.—(A. and N.Z.) A REPORT DISCREDITED. St. Johns, Newfoundland, July 15 The report that Nungesser’s plane was found is discredited, Ernest Smith, pilot, and Emory Bronte, navigator, look off from Oakland in a monoplane named the 'City of Oakland’ at 10.30 on July 14 for Honolulu and intend to make a return flight. The objects o fthe flight are threehold: (D to be the first civilians to make the flight to Hawaii; (2) to , make the first round trip flight; (3) No lower the time of twenty-five hours forty-nine minutes made by the army aviators. Maitland arid Hegenberger. By Tel.—Press Assoc.—Copyright. Bee July IC, 8.5 a.m. Sydney, July 10 Captain Kingston! Smith, Lieutenant Keith Anderson, and C. Ulm departed by the Tahiti yesterday. They plan a flight across the Pacific from San Francisco to Australia. A fund has been opened in Sydney to supply the necessary money lor the flight.—(A. and N.Z.)