MISSING PLANE

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1936, Page 6

MISSING PLANE

FOUND ON A REEF Was It Misdirected ? DABWIN RADIO BLAMED (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SYDNEY, October 9. The discovery of the overdue Monospar aviators, who are now aboard the Nimoda, was received with the greatest relief by their friends in Melbourne, and Sydney, and also in aviation circles generally. Amalgamated Wireless (Australia) Ltd., received the following message from its Darwin radio station: "4.50 p.m. from the steamer Nimoda, bound for Durban: ‘I have just taken the crew of the missing Monospar oil a native fishing eraft. Their machine is on Seringapatam reef. I am bound for Durban. The message is signed by Ihe master. The position of the vessel at 5 p.m., was 462 miles west of Darwin, proceeding to Durban.” Messages reached Sydney to-day, from Darwin saying the Quautas aeroplane searched the south-east coast of Timor Island, where it expected to find the men, but there was no sign. Radio signals were flashed by searchers during the morning, in the hope to be picked up by the missing fliers. At noon, the Quantas landed at Koepang to refuel, and in tne afternoon continued the search of the hilly country on the west coast of the island.

It will be recalled that tne steamer Nimoda struck the reef, and w'as herself in grave peril. FAULTY DIRECTIONS GIVEN. LONDON, October 9. General Aircraft has just received a message from Crocombe, who was the designer of the Monospar, and one of the party in the aeroplane:— “Bitterly disappointed by the Darwin wireless bearings. The errors were ineomprehensive. We are only alive by the merest chance. We consistently received 288 degrees, when the real bearing was 260. Have asked our agent at Melbourne to investigate." The general manager of the company told the Associated Press that 28 degrees means a difference between making a landing and sending men straight out into the Indian Ocean, far beyond fuel range of any aeroplane. The reef on which the plane landed was the only available spot of solid ground between them and death. It is amazing such an error could emanate from one of the most important wireless stations on the Empire air routes. For the benefit of aviation generally, it seems a case for full inquiry," he added. MESSAGE EROM MONOSPAR PILOT (Received October 10 at 11 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 10. In a telephone conversation with Australia early this morning, Mr Noel Brown, the London Secretary of the General Aircraft Company, said that the first message which he received from Crocombe read: "Landed on Seringapatam coral reef on Wednesday at 9.15 a.m.. owing to lack of fuel. The wireless bearings from Darwin were all wrong. The machine was not damaged, but it was impossible to salve anything except the instruments and equipment. We were picked up by a native fishing boat and were taken off by the Nimoda bound for Durban at 3.30 p.m. There is no intervening port of call." OCEAN TRANSFER PROPOSED SYDNEY. October 10. Mr H. Bigby, the Melbourne agent of the General Aircraft Coy., was advised by the London office that the company desired the fliers to return to Australia, and not to go on to Durban. It was hoped to arrange to transfer the fliers in the Indian Ocean from the Nimoba to the Orion, which is bound for Fremantle. Inquiry Ordered LANDING A CLEVER FEAT. SYDNEY. October 11. _ Further radio details- received Sydney of the adventures, of the < roy don Monospar plane from Pilot Wood state; "We were m'sfcd by the wireless bearings from Darwin. We located the Coral Reef after 32 hours’ fly ing. We reconnoitred over the rec' until our petrol was a’ra-st exhausted. Then <we successfully landed cn the rock strewn reef at Scr'nganaUiTn We damaged tail wiie-.l en ting, whd’e taxiing out of Ihc renter to a higher part of the reef. A wid Q a mit'c through largo pools infested w th giant clams and small sharks to p native fulling boat. We spe-t nW’* r>r the day trying to persuade the native to take us aboard. They were, unable to understand English. We finally persuade tjicm." SYDNEY, October IS, The Minister of Deface., _S : r A ParkhW, lias ordered a full inouir’into Pilot Crocombe’s allegations that incorrect wireless b'nrings wer • received from the Royal A. t For.Directional Wireless Slaton, which seriously doubtddDUTCHMEN’S AUSTRALIAN TOUT. SYDNEY October Lt. The Dutch airmen arrived at Mascot Aerodrome pt 230 t in to-day n continuance of their fl ght round Australia. They were cordmllv wo'comed by the New South Wales Aero C'ub. ’Frisco-Hong Kong Service TO START THIS MONTH FROM ’FRISCO. LOS ANGELES. October 9. Pau American Airways to-day .announced 'that an. air service between San Frtine'sco and Hong Kong connecting Asia and North Amerrna fa” the fir.-t time; is to sta’fi on October 21.