MOIR'S 'PLANE MISSING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19623, 20 May 1929, Page 9

MOIR'S 'PLANE MISSING.

GRAVE ANXIETY IN AUSTRALIA. UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH. AIRMEN HOPED TO COMPLETE PLIGHT. (Received May 19th, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 19. Neither cable nor telegraph offices have received any word about Captain Moir and PlyingOfflcer Owen. Deep concern for their safety is felt in all the capital cities of Australia. The Defence Department was in touch with Darwin all day without results. Sir Keith Smith, who was also closely identified with Moir's flight, has received no advice as to the aviators' whereabouts. The authorities state that the Naval Department reports that Moir's 'plane was over Koepaug at 11.30 on Saturday morning, and disappeared to sea, headed for Darwin. There is little doubt that the aviators were then bent on completing the last stage of the flight to Darwin before dusk.

Captain Grosvenor, A.D.C. to the South Australian Governor, to-day searched in his 'plane for 400 miles along the coast on either side of Darwin, and went a considerable distance out to sea without finding sign of the aviators. Captain Grosvenor, who is flying round Australia in leisurely hops, happened to be visiting Darwin, and announced on Friday that he intended flying to meet the aviators and escort them to Darwin.—Australian Press Association.

MAY HAVE LANDED ON TIMOR. (Received May 20th, 1.14 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 19. Captain Grosvenor intends exploring the coastline to Wyndham to-morrow for the miss'ng aviators. There is still a chance they may have landed at Atamboe, Timor, as it would not have been possible to land at Koepang, and some time would elapse before communication could be received in Australia.—Aostralian Press Association.

LAST SEEN OVER TIMOR. NO FURTHER REPORTS. (UVITBD PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTaiC TELEGRAPH—COPTBIOHT.) | (Received May 19th, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 19. Grave anxiety is felt at the failure of Captain Moir and Flying-Officer Owen, in their Vellor 'plane, to arrive at Darwin. A Darwin message sent at midnight reported that the 'plane was seen over Koepang (Timor) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, since which time it has not been reported. Darwin states that the failure of Moir and Owen to arrive is causing alarm. They were warned by the aviation authorities not to attempt a night landing, but apparently the warning was not heeded.

A large number of people gathered and waited patiently till midnight. The sky was clear and there was a bright moon. Flares were lighted and there was an L-shaped scheme of bonfires along the waterfront. Every precaution was taken for the fliers' safety, but there Was no sign of them. It is quite probable that they decided to land at Atambola. where Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith landed before reaching Darwin instead of persisting on the 900 miles Bima-Darwin hop. A report from Bima on Saturday, signed by Moir, stated: "We left Sourabaya at 7 a.m. yesterday and landed at Bima at 1 p.m. on the first actual day of fine weather. The Dutch authorities and the British Consul were both in touch with Koepang concerning our landing there, but the landing ground is impossible, so we must go from here to Darwin direct. We leave at 5 a.m. and expect to make the crossing in 13 hours. Our speed is cut down considerably, as we had to fly through rain practically from Akyab to Batavia, spoiling one propeller. We are now using the other spare, which has a smaller pitch; consequently we are cruising at least 10 miles slower than our higher cruising speed.'' A Weltevreden message sent at 11.5 a.m. on Saturday stated that Moir and Owen had departed from Bima for Australia.—Australian Press Association.

j Moir and Owen, of the Australian Air Force, were Hurley's companions on his attempted flight from Australia to England, which ended when his 'plane crashed at Athens. Moir and Owen proceeded to England, where they secured the loan of the Vellore from Tickers, Ltd., and l°ft Lympne on March 19th. On March '-2nd they made a forced landing at Mersa Matruk, en route for Ramleh, but the 'plane was repaired and the flight continued at the end of April. The 'plane, a " Vickers-Vellore-Arm-strong-Siddeley-Jaguar," is the biggest that has ever attempted the flight from England to Australia, and the enterprise derived special interest from the fact that it is a new type of freight carrier, designed to carry an exceptionally heavy load in proportion to power. It is a single-engincd machine, and was specially- designed for the British Air Ministry for allocation to Imperial Airways. It had a cruising range, with special fuel arrangements, of 2250 miles, and a cruising speed of 90 miles an hour. Its insurances totalled £12,000. The distance from Bima to Darwin is approximately 950 miles, and from Koepang to Darwin the flyers would have to cover about 580 miles over the Timor Sea.

PILOT BRAIN MISSING. A CRASH FEARED. (Beeeived May 20th, 12.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 19. Pilot Brain, of the Queensland Quantas Aviation Service, who found the Kook3bnrra, is now missing. fl e left Brisbane yesterday with a passeneer for the Sydney-Melbonrne rail express, but has not arrived. It jj fearMt that he crashed in the bush.—Aujtralian Press Association. «•*»•»