PILOT’S TRAGIC STORY.

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1929, Page 5

PILOT’S TRAGIC STORY.

ig the Kookaburra. SYDNEY, April 26. Pilot Brain, describing the finding of the Kookaburra, say.*: —“We left Newcastle waters on Sunday morning and headed for Wave H.ll. We came over desert coun:ry, with wild timber, flying along at 80 miles per hour. The conviction grew on me that here the Kookaburra had been lo t. Suddenly I saw a faint column of smoke about 60 miles to our south-west. My com panion also saw the smoke. The Atalan t a came down to-200ft, and we all watched while I turned «he machine 1 from side to side to look carefully underneath. “When within twenty, miles of the smoke, we discerned a big area smouldering, and a chill struck into my heart. No ordinary chance could set the scrub afire, as there is not human life in this locality except niggers, who may come along in .he wet season. Suddenly I discov •red Bomething which did not seem to belong to thrs desolate bush, and I 'jumped to the conclusion that here lay *s plane. After continuing further three miles, I saw the lying there, and a radio message was immediately sent out. The engines were shut off, and wo came low over the Kookaburra. My feeilngs ■were of pride a id exultation. I thought I had arrived to re cue the two men, both personal friends. Wc circled round; and looked for signs of life. The machine swooped, ajid I saw a Oman’s figure lying in the shade of the.wing. He lay as if asleep, but he was dead. I realise 1 the tragedy when the drone of the plane failed to move him. He was dead, and had ifeeen for some days. I cannot forget the inert silence of this sad figure After circling round ten times, I became certain that it was Anderson. We skirted round the burning area > searcbl’.tg for Hitchcock, but saw no dign. Thinking,’ however, that he might be in the vicinity, supplies were .dropped by paSaehntes. A landing would have been excessively dangerous and of -in use. Exultation had been our first emotion on sighting the Kookaburra, but we returned t 0 Wave Hill with hearts full of sorrow for the crew’s certain death.” The Atlantic, which had left Wave Hill for Brisbane, was diverted a. Lo-igreach, and covered the thousand miles from there to Sydney yesterday. Advices sta'e that a pack-horse partv is making excellent progress to the Kookaburra, at the rate of thirty-six ile9 a day. Air Force machines under Ijieut Eaton, are supplying food to the party. They will also direct the nartv to the water holes, and the bringing baek of the bodies, although there is yet no definite tidings of H T C he f Amalgamated Wireless report that the Southern Crosa left Alice Springs at 8 in the morning, and landJl at 3 P-m- a 1 Boolo ° Downs > and wlll reach Sydney to-morrow morning. The Canberra air-liner had engine trouble and was delayed, but arrived nt Charlesville this evening. pilot Brain and Radioman Stevens fl ew from Brisbane to Sydney in the Atlanta., and arrived to nightMare Leaves England.

ON FLIGHT TO N.Z. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) , ‘ LONDON, April 26. The airman Maze has started for New Zealand. He left at 6.15 am. today iw fine weather. BAGHDAD, April 25. Jones, Williams and Jenkins on their 5,300 mile non-stop flight to Calcutta, passed over Baghdad at a 2Xit Wight at 1 pan. Greenwich 1 A ~