MISSING PLANE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVII, Issue 23, 11 January 1937, Page 7

MISSING PLANE

Sighted in Kaimanawa Ranges FLYERS WALK OUT Ten Machines Engaged in Search To-day LOST SINCE FRIDAY iB Twlpffrupb—Ptuas Asaociation.) PALMERSTON N„ Jan. 11. Advice has been received at the Nilson aerodrome .by telephone . from Karioi that the missing Moth aeroplane from Wanganui has been located in the Kaimanawa - ranges. It appeared to have made a forced landing, but was in an upright position. There was no sign of the occupants, who apparently had left the stranded machine and struck across country. Ten planes are continuing the search for them to-day, using Palmerston North and Karioi as bases.

Mr. W. Potaka, aged 25, pilot, with his cousin, Mr. Pine Potaka, as a passenger, set out at 2.40 on Friday afternoon from Wanganui for Palmerston North with 19 gallons of petrol, sufficient for three hours. The plane did not arrive at Palmerston, but one answering the description was seen over Waiouru at 3.45 on Friday. Mr Potaka had made previous cross-country flights in the Raetihi district, and as it was known he had relatives at Taihape it was

thought he might have changed his mind and decided to pay them a visit. Mr Potaka is an experienced airman with several hundred hours’ flying to his credit. He is a member o£ the Wanganui Aero Club. Planes searching yesterday made an intensive coveiage of the area from the Main Trunk eastward to the Kaimanawas and over the southern slopes of Ruapehu. The area covered extended north over the Rangipo Desert as far as the southern shores of Lake Taupo. The three planes engaged on Saturday were unable to do much on account of bad weather, only one entering ths area where tho missing machine was thought to be.

LOCATION OF PLANE Difficult Country to Find Way Out Of (By Telegraph—Press Aswciation.) PALMERSTON N., Jan. 11. The missing machine was sighted during tho early-morning reconaissance .by Major L. McGaffin, of the Manawatu Aero Club. It was sitting upright, apparently not badly damaged, in the bed of the Waipakihi river, about 15 miles east of the mouth of Ngaruahoe, at an altitude of 4000 foet. On receipt of this advice at the Karioi base, two machines set out to drop food beside tho stranded plane, though there was still no sign of the two occupants. It was also arranged to send two machines to Tokaanu, as a ground party is being organised there. The other machines are remaining at Karioi in the meantime. Tho position of the stranded plane is five miles east of a prison camp. It is intended to fly members of the ground search party over the spot to enable them to view it before setting out across country. It is considered that the missing men might have grave difficulty in finding a way out unassisted. The search is expected to prove arduous, as the country is very rugged and heavily timbered.

H.B. PLANE SEARCHES

Flight in Vicinity of Te Pohue Two members of tho Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club left Hastings this morning at 10 o ’clock to take part in the search for the missing flyers from Wanganui. The searching plane was piloted by Mr Stan White, and Mr W. Bateman acted as observer. They covered a 10-mile strip of the ranges in the vicinity of Te Pohue and further inland, but saw nothing of the missing plane. The weather was good for the search, but the conditions were bumpy, though visibility was good. Close on two hours were spent in cruising about the ranges before returning to Hastings shortly after mid-day. It was upon their return that the information was given them of the finding of the plane, y