AIRCRAFT TRAGEDY.

Grey River Argus, 26 April 1929, Page 5

AIRCRAFT TRAGEDY.

ENQUIRY PENDING. Statement by Mr Bruce. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Aasn ) (Received April 25 at 9.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 24. Concerning the forced landings of the Southern Cross and the Kookaburra, Air Bruce has announced that an inquiry will b e held. The tribunal has not yet been decided upon, but it will not be the Air Accident Board. The investigation will be of wide scope, and will probably result in recommendations for aircraft in line with sea law. Mr Bruce also states that instructions have been given to bring the bodies of Anderson and Hitchcock, if possible, to the nearest settlement, in order that they may be taken wherever their relatives desire.

Memorial Proposed. AT SCENE OF TRAGEDY. SYDNEY, April 24. Eaton’s pack-horse party left Wave Hill with thiJ object of interring the remains of the aviators at the spot of the forced landing. Eaton will iiy the Kookaburra back to Wave Hill if possible. Aeroplanes which visited the area again confirmed the opinion that the mound near the Kookaburra was a roughly made gravfX However, in view of the message from, the fcJouth cm Cross that there was no trace of Hitchcock when it flew over Ander son’s pH'ajie, the Air Force officials are inclined to bedievej the mom might come from a hole which the men dug for water. Several ©tin holes dug show the desperate efforts the airmen imjade to find watrk. Also several wheel tracks on the ground indicate that the airmen tried to take off. The Southern Cross, Canberra and Atalanta will leave Ntwcastle Waters to-day for their respective homes, having been released from the search. Air Force machines take over th* responsibility of aerial reconnaissance over the Kookaburra to-day. The Prime Minister said that the Fcder'al Government was consid' 'ring the advisability of asking the Air Accidents Beard to investigate the circumstances of the forced landing of the Kookaburra. Mr Bruce added it woull be fitting to er'ct a memorial near the scene of th; tragedy to perpetuate the sacrifice of Anderson and Hitchcock.

WOMAN’S ENDURANCE RECORD. (United Service.) NEW YORK. April 24. Elinor Smith landed ihis afternoon creating a women’s solo endurance record of fifteen hours eighty-one minutes thirty-two seconds. DISTANCE FLYING RECORD. R.A.F. ENTERPRISE. (Received April 25 at 5 p.m.) LONDON, April 24. A British attempt to break the world’s non-stop long distance air record betraii., when a Royal Air Fore monoplane, with a single 45 hup. engine, left Cranwell Aerodrome for Cal cut a. It is piloted by Squadron Leader Jones-Williams and Flight Lieutenant Jenkins. LATER. Tn connection with the non-st&p flight to Calcutta, Flight Lieutenant N. H. Jenkins combines the services of navigato r and second pilot. The route selected is five thousand three hundred miles.