MISSING AVIATORS

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1929, Page 4

MISSING AVIATORS

With the passage of time there is growing a very pronounced fear that two gallant aviators have gone to their death. Flying-Officer Mbir and Artificer Owen have disappeared. No trace of them has been discovered, and the 900 miles of water over which they were making the last ‘' hop ’’ in, a memorable flight are being regarded as their place of sepulchre. That such fears may prove unfounded is the universal hope. The airmen had been subjected to severe trial during the long journey they had made to Bima. On March 18 they left England by aeroplane bound for Australia, in the hope that, with good fortune, they would beat Mr Bert Hinkler’s great achievement of February of last' year, when, flying alone in a. light machine, he covered the distance in fifteen and a-half days, little more than half the time taken by Sir Boss Smith and Sir Keith Smith in 1019. Misadventure overtook Flying-Officer Moir and Artificer Owen early in their flight. They were compelled by engine;trouble to make a forced landing at Mersa-ma-tuh, in the Egyptian desert, on the fifth day of their flight, and , their machine sustained damage. Mechanics were sent from England to effect' repairs, and it was not till the end of April that the airmen reached Cairo, after being delayed for • over five jveeks. Thereafter, however, their progress on their resumed jouney was steady, though the conditions were- by no means favourable. One of their despatches illustrates forcibly the difficulties with which airmen have to contend on such a journey. Thus it is recorded: “Our nine hours’ flight across the Arabian desert was a distinctly trying experience. The heat from the sand was oppressive, even at a height of 5000 feet, to which altitude we climbed in order to avoid the whirling columns of sand. On 'many occasions the sandstorms were almost blinding.” Flying-Officer Moir and his companion pushed on, however, and arrived at Singapore on May 13. There they flew to Bima, in the Hutch East Indies. They had intended to go to Koepang, on the island of Timor, and then take off for Darwin, Being advised that a landing was impossible, they, decided to set out on a. journey of 900 miles across the ocean to Darwin. They were due to arrive on Australian soil on Sunday. They did not arrive. Has another tragedy occurred?