MR. HAMISH ARMSTRONG

Evening Post, Issue 20, 23 July 1935, Page 10

MR. HAMISH ARMSTRONG

SEARCH OVER WIDE AREA SETTLERS' REPORTS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, July 22. The efforts of six searching aeroplanes and parties on foot have failed to find any sign of the missing airman, Mr. Hamish Armstrong, of Akitio, who left his home at 10 o'clock yesterday morning in a Moth aeroplane, bound for Hastings, and has not been seen since.- All the aeroplanes returgtsiio Hastings tonight, having searcljßef |P the probable places in which a ©rash, might have occurred. The area of the search operations extended from Dannevirke in the south to Kurapapanga in the north, on both sides of the Ruahine Ranges, and also the coast from Akitio to Cape Kidnappers. Visibility was quite good except north of Hastings to Kurapapanga. People in the Origaonga district who heard the aeroplane yesterday morning said the engine was running smoothly and evidently the pilot, having lost direction in the fog, turned towards the Ruahine Range, where it is feared he crashed. The country is very rough and difficult of access. There are a few flat areas, however, on which an aeroplane could be brought down by a skilled pilot. In such an event the pilot would be faced with considerable difficulty in finding his way back to civilisation. Today search parties set out from 6ngaonga sawmill, near where the aeroplane was last heard, in order to conduct a search, while since early morning aeroplanes have been operating. Three aeroplanes from the Hawkes Bay and East Coast Aero Club, one from Palmerston, and two from the Wairarapa arid Ruahine Club have been engaged all day, and from daylight tomorrow morning three other aeroplanes—one from Wellington, one from Palmerston North, and an East Coast Airways Dragon De Havilland—will continue the efforts.

One of the search parties on foot this afternoon, at 4 o'clock saw smoke two miles away over rough country seven miles from Ashley Clinton. Two men have stayed the night in the open, intending to leave at daylight to investigate. They will be joined during the night by other men with provisions.