Low Cloud Foils Supply Drop

Press, Volume C, Issue 29556, 4 July 1961, Page 15

Low Cloud Foils Supply Drop

(tn.Z.P.A .-Heutei—Copyright I HOLL ANDI A, July 3. Low cloud last week foiled a Dutch airline’s attempt to drop food to a party of New Zealand mountaineers in the rugged Cartensz Mountains, West New Guinea.

A Kroonduif ' Airlines spokesman said today that the attempt was made on June 27. The chief pilot of the DC3 supply aircraft, Captain J. Vintges. suggested the party return to make exaci arrangements for air-drops, the spokesman said. The party set out after declining the airline's offer to make air-drops. But soon after, the party asked for an air-drop on June 27 above the Cartensz Mountains snowline. Kroonduif Airlines said the DC3 searched up to altitudes of 16,000 ft and failed to find the party because of low cloud. Captain Vintges had said there was only a 40 per cent, chance of finding the party by air search. The airline’s spokesman said the party had left its radio transmitter in Haga

valley, from where the party began the ascent. There now was no direct communication with the party. During the ait search on June 27. smoke plumes were seen at foothills level., The members of the air crew said the smoke could have been a signal or smoke from villagers. The mountaineering and scientific expedition left the Haga mission station last week on its way to the Carstensz Peaks. Its objective is the unclimbed Carstensz Pyramide (16.500 ft which is believed to be the highest peak 'on the island. t The expedition is led by C. K. Putt, a New Zealand resident in Sydney. The others are D. E. Cooper 1 (Auckland), T. Barfoot (Auckland), D- B. Dow (Wau. i Australian New Guinea). L. i Crawford and P. Temple i (Christchurch).