FURTHER WRECKAGE FOUND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 12

FURTHER WRECKAGE FOUND

Fate of Missing Aeroplane CLOTHING WASHED UP ON BEACH Clothing ami further pieces of aeroplane wreckage east, up by the sea yesterday along the shore within a mile of Oliati Point, near Maltara, indicate almost beyond doubt that the Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club's missing Gypsy Moth machine crashed into the sea last Tuesday week, and that I lie pilot, Mr. Arthur Smith, and passenger, Mr. J. Hamill, both of Pmigareliu. were either killed or trapped in (lie plane and drowned. To-day is flic ninth day of the search ami, from the appearance of the wreckage now being found, the aeroplane is breaking up.

Because of rough conditions, yesterday’s search was restricted to a beach patrol. The articles of clothing found were a pair of pyjamas and a navy blue suit coat believed to belong to the passenger. ami a waistcoat thought to be the pilot's. The wreckage consisted of two propeller covers, two cockpit covers, four small pieces of aeroplane wood, and two portions of the underpart of the wings with the respective numbering and lettering, “DH No. 22222 A” and “H No. 27951’A RII." Another find was that of a section of a flying map of the locality where the machine is thought to have crashed and where the search is now in progress. According to Flying Officer .1. M. Buckcridgo, who was approached by “The Dominion” last night, the lettering oji the wing wreckage would be sufficient to establish identification.