TRAGIC LAST FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 9

TRAGIC LAST FLIGHT.

CAPTAIN HOWELL'S FATE.

VAIN QUEST FOE LANDMARK. 'A. and N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 18.

The British Naval Attache at Rome has telegraphed to the Admiralty confirming the loss of the Martinsyde aeroplane and its crew off the coast of Corfu. He states that the aeroplane fell into the sea at eight o'clock at night. Fishermen on a naval motor-boat hastened to the spot, but found no trace of the airmen. The machine was later located, and seems salvable.

The Australian Press Association's representative interviewed the manager of the Martinsyde Company, who said that Captain Howell's last journey must have been crud and heartbreaking. Possibly his log now in possession of the British Consul at Corfu, will throw light on that voyage. Captain Howell left Taranto in the highest spirits at noon for Athens, a 400-mile journey. The machine, with a cruising fpeed of 100 miles an hour, should easily have made Athens before dusk, but according to the weather reports the day was misty.

There seems little doubt that the pilot lost his way, and probably seesawed backwards and forwards across his course hour after hour, hoping to pick up a landmark. Darkness meanwhile was rapidly Coming on, and the petrol tanks were steadily emptying. It was not likely that the tanks would be filled at Taranto in view of the short flight contemplated The strain on the airmen must have been tremendous, but ic was more than likely that the cause of the machine falling into the sea within 150 miles of a d'rect line from the starting point was the exhaustion of petrol rather than fatigue of the pilot.

Further light would be Jirnvn on this when the machine, v-hioh will be salved, is examined.

A message has been sent by wireJess to the medical officer on the Orsova, asking him to break the news to Captain Howell's wife. The log will be handed over to her.