MISSING LAUNCH LOCATED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24868, 7 May 1946, Page 4

MISSING LAUNCH LOCATED

SUCCESSFUL SEARCH BY AIR

SIXTY-FIVE MILES OFF RAGLAN (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 6 Alter an intensive search the launch Annie, missing from Raglan since last Friday morning, was located this morning some 65 miles west of Rae lan by a Hudson aircraft of the T?N7. AV frnm Whpnnanai Th-

K.iN.ri.A.J?. irom wnenuapai. The two men aboard, L. K. Kjeldsen, aged 52 married, and J. D. McGlashan, aged 19. single, waved to the crew of the aircraft, and appeared fit. The launch was drifting before a 20 knot wind, and in a broken sea. which made landing by a Walrus fly-ing-boat impracticable. With a launch on its way from New Plymouth to make contact with the Annie if possible, and the motor-vessel Clansman instructed to attempt a rescue on her way from Onehunga to New Plymouth, the safety of the two men appeared assured, and as an additional precaution aircraft maintained contact with the launch throughout the day. When the Hudson was nearing the limit of its endurance it was relieved by a Ventura aircraft from Ohakea and returned to New Plymouth th refuel. It later flew to Ohakea to load emergency equipment intended for dropping to the men in the launch. A Thornaby bag, a stout container holding flotation gear to give it buoyancy, and carrying rations, flares, and other emergency gear was loaded into the Hudson, and a “Gibson Girl” radio a small semi-automatic transmitter sending a help call, was also suitably packed for dropping and taken aboard the aircraft. The Hudson left Ohakea shortly before five o’clock. It was a race between the aircraft and approaching darkness, which would effectively conceal the launch. As the Hudson arrived over the estimated position of the launch after nightfall, it was not possible to drop the food and emergency gear, and the aircraft returned to base. Another aircraft will leave from Ohakea at dawn to locate the launch and to drop the equipment. The position of the craft was given to the motor-vesse] Clansman before her departure from Onehunga for New Plymouth this afternoon, and an attempt to find it was to be made when the vessel reached the area late tonight. As the Clansman has no radio equipment the result of her search will not be known until her arrival at New Plymouth to-morrow afternoon. •