SOUTHERN CROSS DOWN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6873, 1 April 1929, Page 7

SOUTHERN CROSS DOWN

FORCED LANDING 150 MILES FROM WYNDHAM Actual Whereabouts a Mystery Australian Press Association. Received Sunday, 11 p.m. SYDNEY, March 31. There was no news this afternoon of tho Southern Cross. The latest advice from the ’plane was at three this morning. She was expected to arrive at Wyndham between nine and ton this morning. LATER. The Southern Cross made a forced landing about 150 miles from Wyndham. Received Monday, 1 a.m. SYDNEY, March 31. The Southern Cross’s actual whereabouts was still wrapped in mystery at a late hour. The only definite knowledge is that at 12.20 tc-day a wireless from the ’plane stated that her petrol was running out and the flyers were coming down. It was reckoned they were then 150 miles from Wyndham, bat there was no certainty abont this and there is nothing further to throw light on how the lauding was effected. Wyndham is one of the most northerly points of Western Australia How She Got Away Slow Ascsnt in Heavy Atmosphei/e 1 Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m. SYDNEY, March 31. The Southern Cross, with Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm as pilots, started at 10.46 a.m. on Saturday for Wyndham, en route for London. Her personnel is the same as that of the New Zealand flight. Several hundred people were present and gave the airmen a .cordial send-off. The monoplane, carrying 800 gallons of petrol, rose slowly in the heavy atmosphere, but once aloft she soon disappeared north-westward. She was accompanied for some distance by Air Force Moths. Before the start each man made a brief speech which was permanently recorded. Kingsford Smith expressed confidence that they would win through and achieve something towards the linking-up of Empire air communications. The flight was of a purely business nature and no attempt at record-breaking was intended.