SEARCH FOR JOYITA

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 9

SEARCH FOR JOYITA

R.N.Z.A.F. “MYSTIFIED” BY DISAPPEARANCE

(New Zeaiana Press Association) WELLINGTON. October 20. Wing Commander R. K. Walker, who has directed the Royal New Zealand Air Forc6 Sunderland search for the missing ship, Joyita, said today that he was unable to account for the Com P m P a e n a d a er C Walker's Sunderland touched down at Evans Bay Wellington, this morning after a flight from Lauthala Bay. Fiji, by way of Hobsonville. Auckland. He said he was not in Wellington specially to discuss the Joyita search, but would do so with operations officers at Royal New Zealand Air Force Headquarters. Wellington. „ Tomorrow, he will fly New Zealand’s Air Force and Navy Chiefs-of-are* mystified about the inability to find the Joyita, in that we have covered the whole area in which she oossiblv could be,” he said. , That is providing of course that she went astrav between Apia (Western Samoa and Fakaofo and Tokelau Islands—her intended course.” . The search area had been covered so thoroughly that he was unable to offer any explanation of where the Jo vita might be, he said. The search was “in- abeyance pending fresh clues on the ship’s disappearance, said R.N.Z.A.F. Headquarters this afternoon. However, a Sunderland flying-boat is today on stand-by duty at the Lauthala Bay ready to investigate any fresh leads.