SMITHY’S PLANE

Grey River Argus, 26 May 1938, Page 9

SMITHY’S PLANE

wreckage identified On Burmese Island [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] CANBERRA, May 24. The aircraft wreckage which was found on the southern bank of Aye Island, near Burma, in May, 1937, has been positively identified as portion of the Lockheed Altair machine in which Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith disappeared on his last flight from Australia.

This announcement was made today by the Minister for Defence (Mr H. V. Thorby), who said the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation of Los Angeles had identified the markings on the oleo-cyclinder of the salvaged under carriage as being those of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s machine. Investigations of the shellfish and marine growth on the wreckage made b v the zoological department of the Rangoon University disclosed that the remainder of the wreckage would probably be found at the bottom of the sea at a depth not exceeding 15 fathoms close to the spot where the salvaged material was found. Investigations by the Burmese authorities are proceeding in the hope of locating the remainding wreckage. R.A.F. DEMONSTRATIONS. RUGBY, May 24. Nearly four hundred aircraft of the Royal Air Force were engaged _ in mass formation flights over Britain yesterday, to stimulate public interest in Empire Air day next Saturday. Sir S. Hoare, who two months ago appealed for a million air raid precaution volunteers, broadcast an announcement to the effect that they now had about four hundred thousand and were near the halfway mark. They wanted the other half before the summer holidays.

TRANS'TASMAN MAIL.

WELLINGTON, May 24

The Minister for Finance (Hon W. Nash) announced to-day that the Government was awaiting replies from the British and Commonwealth Governments, and when these were received it was hoped that it would be possible to go ahead with the transTasman air-mail proposal.