MESSAGE BY PIGEON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 6

MESSAGE BY PIGEON

Possible Connexion With Lost Aeroplane ’ The possibility of there being some significance in the message borne by a pigeon which arrived exhausted at Masterton on Sunday, January 25, stating that an aeroplane was down ou Kapiti Island, was mentioned by Mr. IL Smith, Grange Road, Mount Eden, whose son, Elight Sergeant Sheldon Benton Smith, was one: of three Royal New Zealand Air Force members comprising tile crew of a machiue which disappeared in I lie New Plymouth district ou September 30 last. The message was written in pencil on a piece of white paper bag, wrapped iu protective material and attached to the pigeon’s leg by ;r rubber baud. "On Ute day my son wa.s lost, he left home with some sausage rolls given him by his mother in a white paper bag,” said Mr. Smith. “He also had some sandwiches in greaseproof paper round which was a rubber band.” It is felt by Mr. Smith that a thorough investigation of the message is warranted.

With Flight Sergeant Smith in the machine were Flying Officer Harry Nalder .Major and Corporal Raymond Bernard Smith. The signature on the bottom of the message is either F. L. James or 14. L Jones. .Mr. Smith mentioned the possibility of Hie signature being that of a ]>ersoii who had found Hie machine mi Hie island. However, it seems unlikely Hint anyone finding the aircraft would not have communicated the fact to one or other of Hie residents on Kapiti Island, who come regularly to the mainland. The missing aircraft is an Airspeed Oxford monoplane, which was on its wav from Auckland to Oliakea. It was last seen Hying in heavy mist and rain near Hie coast, proceeding south in the direction of I he White Cliffs at I’ukparube. No trace of the machine or Hie men lias so far been round. and Hie Air Department assumes that it fell into the sea.