CRASH IN SOUTH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 80, 16 March 1934, Page 5

CRASH IN SOUTH

ONE OF BYRD’S PLANES Four Occupants Shaken WORK: NOT INTERRUPTED By Telegraph—Press Assn —Copyright. (Received 16, 11.30 a.m.) LITTLE AMERICA, March 14. The single-engined Fokker monoplane Blue Blade, one of the four of the expedition, crashed at 12.30 p.m. to-day 500 yards south of Little America. The pilot, Lieuten-ant-Commander Schlossbach, United States Navy, and three passen- ’ gers, including Harry Young, a New Zealander, were severely shaken or suffered slight cuts, but were otherwise uninjured. The plane was completely wrecked. The enine and instruments can be salvaged. The Fokker had just taken off at 20 degrees below zero for a test flight preparatory to a southern flight in company with the Pilgrim monoplane. Together the two planes were to transport to a depot 100, miles south food and stores required for the advance winter base. Admiral Byrd proposed to establish at the Ross ice barrier, approximately 200 miles south of Little America. Tractors now making ready here for the southern advance are to pick up the stores and relay them as far through as time and weather permit. Admiral Byrd was disinclined to let the crash discourage the immediate prosecution of various southern missions. Last week’s three days’ blizzard, overcast skies, abominable visibility and high drift-laden winds have seriously delayed the projected southern excursions. “Good weather is too precious this season to be wasted,’’ he said. “So long as we have good weather —and from now until April 19, when the winter night sets in, it will be rare—we must take advantage of it.’’