MISSING

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1937, Page 5

MISSING

SOVIET PLANE I — On Polar Flight [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l SEATTLE, August 13. The first messages intercepted from the Soviet aeroplane which took' off at 6.15 p.m. (Moscow time) from Moscow on Thursday to fly non-stop across the North Pole to Fairbanks, Alaska, stated that the machine crossed the North Pole at 4 a.m. New York time. The temperature was 35 degrees below zero. Adverse 60-infles-per-hour gales were being encountered, bub the machine was functioning flawlessly. The pilot of the machine is Sigismund Levanevsky, the Soviet air ace. The machine is fitted with four engines and carries a crew of seven After reaching Fairbanks, Levanevsky intends to continue his flight to Edmondton, Chicago and New York. NEW YORK, August 13. A message from Fairbanks , states: —Five hours after being due here for refuelling, considerable anxiety is felt for the Soviet plane, which was scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m. (New York time). No word has been received from the plane since it wirelessed it had cro.ssed the North Pole. It is believed the plane has encountered storms, but weather here is ideal. ANXIETY AT MOSCOW. (Received August 15, at 7.30 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 14. Concern is felt over a fifteen hours’ silence on the part of the ■ Arctic fliers. It is known that one of their four engines failed soon after passing over the Pole. A message from Fairbanks stated the fliers were ten hours overdue at 4 a.m. New York time on Saturday. SOVIET SHIP TO SEARCH. (Received August 15, 7.45 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 15.

It is believed that the North Polar aviators were forced down in the Arctic icefield, owing to ice accumulating on the wings of the aeroplane. The ice-breaker, Krassin, has been ordered to explore the Cape Barrow area, with three aeroplanes.