MISSING PLANE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1931, Page 6

MISSING PLANE

A GREAT SEARCH

(Australian Press Association.)

MELBOURNE, March 23

The whole north-eastern portion of Victoria is being scoured by air and land parties for the missing plane, “Southern Cloud.” Fourteen planes and one hundred persons in land parties are now engaged in combing the mountainous country.

A farmer living a mile outside Ve a reported that at 4.30 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, be saw a plane flying exceptionally low over densely wooded hills in blinding rain, and in a wind of hurricane force. A FLA RE SEEN.

Another farmer in the same district has reported that at nine o’clock on Sunday night he saw a flare, and what lie thought >to he Morse signals in the hills seven miles away.

Pilot Allan, flying the “Southern ■Moon,” has scoured four hundred square miles of the country round Yea. He said that' the missing plane could not possibly be within the area which he had covered. The “Southern Star,” on arriving from Tasmania., has also been pressed into the search.

Four “Wapiti” planes made an un'puecessfid search of the country around Flowerdale and Glenbum. Owing to there being excellent weather, these were able to fly low, and at time’s tliey were just skimming the tops of the mountain trees. Some of the most experienced bushmen in the North East have left Mansfield,: in the Yea district, in cars following on the appearance of what seemed like distress fire signals in the hills near Warrenbayne, west, on Saturday night. Hundreds of people kept watch for further signals last night, but none were sent. The Wapiti planes failed to discover any signs of fire. The country in this area is entirely unsettled. It is broken up by gullies that are hundreds of feet deep, with sheer sides, overgrown ferns, scrub, and stunted trees. A farmer, Mr Byrne, who saw the signals, intends to ride to the spot today. He says that he can locate it.

ANOTHER MISHAP. KINGSFORD SMITH CRASHES. SYDNEY, March 23. Kingsford Smith in the “Southern Sun,” left Mascot this morning in blinding rain. The conditions were so bad at the aerodrome that three Moths were unable to take off. Smith decided to alight at Holbrook. His landing there was a- sensational one. Striking swampy ground, the wheels of the big plane were buried nearly two feet, and the “Southern Sun” dived on her nose. Only flic masterly manoeuvring of the famous airman prevented the machine from toppling over. Site came to a stop almost : at right angles with the ground. The passengers on the plane rushed to the rear cabin to prevent the machine from going over on its back. The centre of the propellor was buried in tile ground. The plane was damaged. The machine will be unable to take off until a new propellor arrives.

FURTHER SEARCHERS. SYDNEY, March 23. Miss Lyle, a member of the Aero Club, left Melbourne at midday for Holbrook, with a spare propellor strapped to the side of her machine. For several hours before the accident, Kingsford Smith had been searching for the missing plane, and he covered hundreds of miles of country. Another searcher was Captain Holden. He- was forced to bring bis Moth plane down at Mifctagong, in New South Wales, owing to engine trouble, j Holden , was flying in formation with I Charles [Jim and another plane. The three machines landed. Holden then' joined Ulm’s crew. KINGSFORD SMITH OFF AGAIN. SYDNEY, March 23. Regarding the missing plane, a new propellor for the Southern Sun has arrived, and .Kingsford Smith has re- ! sumed his search for the Southern ' Cloud. SOUTHERN CLOUD. STILL MISSING (Received this day nt 8 a.m.) MELBOURNE, March 24. Up to a late hour there was no news of the Southern Cloud. Every available machine was despatched from Essendon Aerodrome and joined in the search. In all twenty planet are scouring heavily timbered country. The Southern Cloud has no signalling apparatus and nothing in its equipment could be used to make the signals such . ae were seen by Yea farmers.