MR. CLARK’S FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 42, 13 November 1936, Page 9

MR. CLARK’S FLIGHT

Weather Still Bad Over Tasman

SEARCH FOR THE VIKING

(Received November 12, 10.30 p.m.) Sydney, November 12.

Mr. L. E. Clark, the New Zealand aviator, has received no communication from the Minister of Defence in reply to his offer to search for the missing cruising vessel Viking. Mr. Clark stated to-day that he could not take a course via Lord Howe Island in flying to New Zealand, as it would endanger his prospects of landing in New Zealand in daylight. The Government Meteorologist reports that the weather over the Tasman is likely to be bad for several days. Mr. Clark has consequently postponed his flight until conditions improve. “UNWISE TO ACCEPT” Plane Unsuitable For Sea Search (Received November 13, 12.30 a.m.) Sydney, November 12. The Civil Aviation Board advised the Minister of Defence, Sir Archdale Parker, that it would be unwise to accept Mr. L. E. Clark’s offer to help in the search for the missing vessel, Viking, in his Percival Gull because the machine was a single-engined land plane unsuitable for a sea search. The Minister announced that the Royal Australian Air Force had no available machines of sufficient range to be of use in the search.

The destroyer Vendetta and other search vessels report no sign of the Viking. The Colonial Sugar Company’s Fiona diverted her course and joined the search.