FEARS FOR AIRMAN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 22 July 1935, Page 4

FEARS FOR AIRMAN

Missing on Flight From Akitio to Hastings SEARCHERS FIND NO TRACE j BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS (By Telegraph—Press Association.} HASTINGS, July 21. Fears are entertained for the safety of Air Hamish Armstrong, who left his home at Akitio, about 35 miles from Dannevirke towards the coast, at 10 o’clock yesterday morning in a Moth ’plane boufid for Hastings. He has not been seen since.

Air Armstrong should have arrived at Hastings within two hours after leaving his home, hut no news was received at the Hastings aerodrome of his landing anywhere. Residents of Ongaonga, 15 miles inland from Waipukurau, heard a ’plane pass overhead at 11 o’clock this morning flying towards Hastings, hut it was not seen and its description could not be given.

A few minutes later a ’plane was heard over a timber mill situated on the banks of the Alakarora River on the Whakarara Ranges. The mill is about ten miles in an air line from Ongaonga toward Hastings. Air Armstrong evidently has been forced down in some isolated locality.

Air Duthie, pilot-instructor to the Alanawatu Aero Club, left shortly after seven o’clock to join in the search, which is concentrating in the vicinity of Takapau. A ’plane piloted ‘by Air A. R. C* Claridge flew from Dannevirke this morning practically to Keruru, keep* ing close to the hills, says a Danne' virke Press Association message, B returned without soeing anything of the missing ’plane. Conditions were then becoming worse. Five searching aeroplanes are working ’from Takapau. The Afakarara Hills were closely scanned this morning, but nothing was seen. Three flights were made and one machine went over the Ruahines, another towards the coast and a third in another direction. These have not yet returned. The weather is cloudy, with occasional showers and misty rain.

Settlers in the Rangitbti district, east from Takapau, heard a ’plane yesterday morning, hut it is not known whether it was Armstrong’s. The main, search has been conducted more on the other side. It is ascertained that a young man out shooting near Ongaonga yesterday ; morning saw a ’plane, but lost sight of it a moment later. It seemed to be circling to find a way over the Ruahines, to go thence across the Makararas. Suddenly, the young man s*ys, there was ft strange sound 1 , then silence-