AN ARDUOUS TASK

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 65, 14 September 1934, Page 11

AN ARDUOUS TASK

SYSTEM QF': THE SEARCH

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day.

An extensive search for .the missing aeroplane in the mountain bush, began at daylight this morning ,whon eighty fully-equipped .Alpino Club members and bushraen. nnd two aeroplanes commenced to explore tho area whore the crash is believed to have occurred.-The locality is known to contain some of the- densest biis)i on the slopes of Mount Egmont, and the task of the searchers will be an arduous one.

Sixty searchers gathered at Now Plymouth at 3>'clock this morning fuUy equipped with food and. medical supplies, ..Thoy.included two doctors. The party, was taken by cars . to the edge of the,bush, and as the dawn broke begfiri < the strenuous tramp towards the; camp of the trappers who heard the aeroplane crash. Meanwhile the party had been joined, by settlers and bushmen,who acted as guides. The camp wag reached at 6 o'clock, and after a-'bas^ihad been .made an intensive search' of-tho bush'began. It was decided not to split into small parties, but to patrol- closely the area, where tho aeroplane is believed to have fallen.

Meanwhile aeroplanes piloted by Flying-Officer Keith and Captain Gibbons had reached the reserve by dawn and had begun an air search. At first the visibility was good, but after tho first hour clouds' so titled down and low flying was necessary. ] Some daring flying was 'S.een as. the aeroplanes flew low investigating every gully ana gorge. They made west to east flights over 'a largo area/ thoroughly examining tho bush, f " ' . . .: . ■ A system of signals by shots y and smoke bombs lias been arranged between the searchers in the bush and headquarters. s*t. jKaimiro,- the settlement: outside.-the bush, and with the aeroplanes. An ambulance is also ready for emergency at Kaiiniro. The. first- two houra of, the search proved resultless, and the parties-set-tled down to an arduous task. Unless the wrecked machine is observed from the air it is expected that the search will prove very long and difficult. SIGNAL FROM THE BUSH. Mr; lan Keith ■ returnod to the New Plymouth Aerodrome and. reported that although he had seen no' signs of the aeroplane ho observed a party waving to him two and a half miles in the bush' in the direction of Alfred Road. Mr.. 'Keith is making a further flight to investigate the area, and messengers have left the main party to link, up with tho Alfred Boad party. , The ,emergency radio corps is aiding in the search and has its base station at New Plymouth, a zono station at the North Egrnont Hostel, and a portable set. with the main party of searchers. The only witnesses of the aeroplane's crash were two trappers, Mr. G. Burrows and his son. They state that it fell with a terrific crash a few seconds after they heard the .engine cut out. They saw the machine first at ah, estimated height of between 4000 and 50QO foot. It appeared to bo gliding .back in tho direction of New Ply? mouth, but lost height rapidly. After it passed out of their vision theyheard tho origino. splutter and stop. This was followed by the sound of the-crash.