AIR FORCE SEARCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 80, 1 October 1940, Page 8

AIR FORCE SEARCH

WIDE AREA COVERED

NO NEWS YET

Machines of the Royal New Zealand Air Force commenced a search for the missing aircraft at dawn today. Two Oxfords from Hobsonville carried out a parallel track search from Hobsonville to New Plymouth, landing at the R.N.Z.A.F. station, New Plymouth. From here Air Headquarters, Wellington, was telephoned for further instructions, and the two Oxfords were ordered to continue on round the coast to the R.N.Z.A.F. station, Ohakea, where they landed at 11.35 a.m. without discovering any trace of the missing aircraft.

An aerial search also began from

Ohakea at dawn, when three DHB9's were ordered to search the area between Ohakea and New Plymouth from the coast to visibility distance inland. These aircraft reported on their return that visibility was so bad that a search over land was impossible. They had therefore searched the coast as far as New Plymouth and back to Ohakea.

The search was resumed at midday, when visibility conditions were reported to be improving. Two Oxfords, two DHB9's, and one Vincent left Ohakea. The Oxfords were ordered to search an area about 15 miles in from the coast from Ohakea as far as Strathmore, and then onward along the route to Hobsonville. The two DHB9's were ordered to search over the sea between Patea and the Rangitikei River, while the Vincent carried out a search along the coastline between Wanganui and Patea.

Up to 2 p.m. there was nothing to report. The search is still continuing.