MORE WRECKAGE OF PLANE FOUND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 153, 25 March 1937, Page 13

MORE WRECKAGE OF PLANE FOUND

Further Search at Makara ALMOST CERTAINLY FROM MISSING MACHINE From further pieces of wreckage cast upon the shore near Makara yesterday, it seems to be established that the missing Western Federated (N. 1. Aero Club’s Gypsy Moth aeroplane, which was lost when returning from the South Island aero pageant at Hokitika on Tuesday, crashed into the sea. The pilot was Mr. Arthur Smith, of Pungarehu, near Opunake, and he bad with him as passenger Mr. J. Hamill, also of Pungarehu. At nightfall last night the machine itself had not been found, nor had any trace of the occupants been discovered.

Because visibility was bad from a flying point of view, the proposed aerial search yesterday was not as intensive as it would have been otherwise, but flying along the northern route from Wellington to Palmerston North, Flight Lieutenant A. G. Gerrand, in a Union Airways machine, made as much observation of the area as possible, but saw nothing. Two other Western Federated machines also left Wellington in the morning and surveyed the vicinity in which the missing plane is believed to be, but neither Mr. lan Keith, pilot-instructor to the federation, nor Mr. Cyril Plumtree, New Plymouth, found anything to report. They flew to Wanganui and then to New Plymouth, after experiencing very rough conditions over the Makara district.

More Wreckage Found.

While searching the beach south of Makara at about 7 o’clock yesterday morning, Mr. M. J. Kirkcaldie, Makara, discovered another inter-plane strut, two, pieces of an aeroplane wing, and another piece of material which was identified as part of a plane’s undercarriage. These are probably parts of the missing machine. Though he was unable to say with certainty that the wreckage found belongs to the missing machine, Flying Officer J. M. Buckeridge, who was at Makara yesterday, said the parts were traceable to a Gypsy Moth. On the part of the undercarriage found was inscribed the maker’s number and also an Air Ministry date stamp. Should no further parts of the machine be washed up, it would be necessary to confirm identification by cabling to England. Two mounted police, Constables W. E. Maskill and R. R. Grieg, who left Wellington early in the morning, also patrolled tlie beach, and made a thorough search from Cape Terawhiti to a point four miles north of Te Kamaru Station, but discovered no sign of wreckage or anything to indicate

where the machine might be. They kept a strict look-out for oil patches on the rocks hoping, if traces were seen, by a process of calculation of Tuesday’s wind drift and tide, to work •out the possible direction of where the machine lay. The constables will remain in the vicinity of Te Kamaru as long as is considered necessary. Search by Launch. A search by launch was also undertaken yesterday, Mr. John O. Tait, Island Bay, proceeding to the Makara neighbourhood in the morning. He experienced a very rough sea, with what he described as a fair surf running. He cruised extensively on a patrol about JOO yards from the shore, but his search was unsuccessful. Provided conditions enable a further search, he .will go out again this morning and will be accompanied by Mr. Smith and Mr. Hamill, the fathers of the missing flyers, who arrived in Wellington yesterday. It is likely that other launches will join Mr. Tait. To-day’s Operations. . Until conditions improve, Flying Officer J. M. Buckeridge said last night, a search by air would not be undertaken. lie added that the line of the beach from Cape Terawhiti to Ohan Point had been searched continually by the police, by voluntary helpers from several stations along the coast, and by Makara residents, and this would continue. Up to a distance of about 50 yards from tho shore in the vicinity where wreckage has been found, the sea was reasonably shallow, and if conditions were favourable and the machine was sunk there it would, in all probability, bo located in the near future.

Several land parties intend establishing look-out posts on (lie higher peaks on the coastline to-day in an endeavour to see the plane.