MISSING AIRMAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 23 July 1935, Page 5

MISSING AIRMAN

SMOKE SEEN UP CREEK INVESTIGATION BEING MADE WIDE AREA SEARCHED (By Telegraph -Press Association) DANNEVIRKE, This Day. When returning to Palmerston North from a search for llamish Armstrong, Squadron-Leader White, with Mr Brian Armstrong, saw smoke up a creek about 20 miles due west of Norswood between two ridges. The ’plane circled and lost the smoke. It was reported at Takapau about 12.50, and two ’planes immediately left to investigate. MACHINE SIGHTED OVER RUAHINES HASTINGS, 22nd July. Three machines from the Hawkes Bay Aero Club manned by FlightLieutenant Gerrand, Flying-Officer White, late of the R.A.F., Mr ’Stanley White, the England-Australia fiver, and Mr Maurice Field, a member of the club, set out early to make a search in the Takapau district and along the Ruahines and Whakararas for they have been out since early morning but had found no sign by noon to-day. It is ascertained that a young man out shooting near Ongaonga yesterday morning saw an aeroplane but lost sight of it a moment later.. It seemed to be circling to find a way over the Whakararas. Suddenly, the young man says, there was a strange sound and then silence. WAIPUKURAU, 22nd July. There is no further news of any consequence of Llamish Armstrong and Hie Moth ’plane. 0. Gosling, of Gardiner and Yeoman’s sawmill at Wakarara who heard a ’plane at 11 o’clock yesterday morning, states that two pig hunters at a spot about 2£ miles above the mill heard a machine circle and, they thought, proceed toward the range, later making a peculiar noise. Three ’planes name from the direction of Hastings between 7 and 8 o’clock this morning while later five an'ived overhead from Takapau where they are refuelling. The weather is intermittently foggy, proving troublesome in the search along the ranges. STILL NO SIGN EXTENSIVE SEARCH MADE HASTINGS, This Day. The efforts of six searching aeroplanes and parties on foot have failed to find any sign of the missing airman llamish Armstrong. All the ’planes returned to Hastings, having searched all probable places in which the crash might have occurred. The area of the search operations extended from Dannevirke in the south to Kurapapanga in the north, on both sides of the Ruahine ranges and also the coast from Akitio to Cape Kidnappers. Visibility was quite good except north of Hastings to Kurapapanga. FURTHER PARTIES ORGANISED PALMERSTON N„ This Day. In connection with the search for Hamish Armstrong arrangements are being made at Palmerston North to mobolise members of the Rangiwahia Ski Club to proceed to Kimbolton and from these strike across the hills and comb the Apiti and Rangawaliid ranges. Local police have been notified that two search parties have left Mangaweka. It is believed the constable at Kimbolton is organising settlers in that area to conduct a search. EXPERT PILOT NO UNNECESSARY RISKS - MANY ’PLANES OUT DANNEVIRKE, This Day. Armstrong is an expert pilot, and never took unnecessary risks. He usually carried food and matches in the aeroplane. If down in rough country it is almost certain he will stay by the ’plane as he has more chance of being seen than a man walking. It is believed Armstrong will have no hesitation in setting the ’plane afire as a last resort. Several ’planes were up before 7 o’clock from the sole base at Takapau this morning. The Moths are working in pairs. The East Coast Airways Dragon is working from Hastings to Palmerston North and back, but had not returned at noon.

Flying-Officer Buckeridge returned at 10 o’clock from a search of the Paliiatua, Woodville and Weber districts, and went along the Ruahines. Ho had nothing to report, but that conditions were better than yesterday. The emergency radio corps from Hastings and Napier have a base station established at Takapau. Two members left early this morning to join the foot search party organised by R. J. MacDonald and others last night in the Whakararas. All are equipped with portable receiving and transmitting sets.

A party is ready at Whakarara mill for instant departure if anything is seen by ’planes. Four other parties are out, chiefly in the Whakararas.

The police organised parties in Apiti, which are also equipped with a portable radio.

An Air Force Moth from Christchurch arrived this morning and another from Palmerston North. This came from Auckland yesterday, piloted by FlightLieutenant Buckley, who searched Mangaweka up to Kaimanawas and Kurepapango and then back to Takapau over very hilly country. It was snowing hard at 7000 feet.

Twelve ’planes are operating from the base at Takapau. Flight-Lieutenant. Gerrand, who is in charge of operations, says it would seem most likely that Armstrong was down back of tiie Whaknraras. ’Planes are now concentrating to the big ridges. There are ground parties also investigating l'idges. Some of this country is amongst the roughest in the Dominion. PLANE REPORTED NEAR NUHAKA CAPE INVESTIGATION BEING MADE WAIPUKURAU, This Day. The six planes operating from Takapau base yesterday were increased to ten this morning in a search along (he Ruahine ranges and the Central Hawkes Bay countryside. A radio receiving station has been established at Takapau under the direction of Tyler and Etheridge, of Napier, with outiying points of contact, with search parties, for whom the Women’s Institute is supplying refreshments at the local depot. Weather conditions are cloudy over the ranges, but there is no fog and visibility is fairly satisfactory and much better than yesterday.

A report that a. Moth ’plane was seen east of Nuhaka Cape at midday yesterday is being investigated. Search parties are operating also along the Wakararara range, including two

from Yeoman and Gardiner’s sawmill. Four ’planes passed over Unit area. The sky was overcast this morning. No hopeful news is yet forthcoming. ITamish Armstrong, who left his home at Akitio about 35 miles from Dannevirke in the direction of the coast at 10 o’clock on Sunday morning in a Moth ’plane hound for Hastings, has not been seen since.