SOUTHERN GROSS DOWN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20218, 1 April 1929, Page 9

SOUTHERN GROSS DOWN

, [FLIGHT TO ENGLAND. FORGED LANDING MADE. [MISHAP ON FIE ST HOP. (RICHMOND TO WYNDHAM (LONG WAY FROM GOAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received March 31, 11.13 p.ru.) SYDNEY, March 31. The four airmen who flew across the fTasman on September 10-11, 1928, have ■begun a flight to England from Australia, hut have met with a mishap on tlie first stage. Squadron Leader Kingsford Smith, Flight-Licuuenant C. T. LTm (pilots), Mr. H. A. Litchfield (navigator), and Mr. T. H. McWilliam {wireless operator), left the Richmond aerodromo at. 10.50 a.m. yesterday in the monoplane Southern Cross, for Wyndham, on the north coast of Western Australia.

A wireless message from the airmen at o a.m. to-day said they expected to arrive at Wyndham between 9 and 10 a.m. Later, however, came the news that tho Southern Cross had made a forced landing at a point believed to be about 150 miles from Wvndham.

Several hundred people were present at Iho departure from Richmond yesterday. They gave the airmen a cordial send-off Each made a brief speech, which was per jTiancntly recorded. Smith expressed confidenco that they would win through and achieve something toward linking up tho Empire's air communications. He said tho flight was purely <if a business nature and no attempt at record breaking was intended.

Tho monoplane,* carrying 800 gallons of petrol, rose slowly in a heavy atmosphere, but once sho was aloft sho soon disappeared toward the north-west. Tho machinywas accompanied for sonic distance by Air Force Moth aeroplanes.

POSITION A MYSTERY.

SCANTY NEWS FROM FLIERS. MESSAGE WHILE DESCENDING. NO NEWS SINCE RECEIVED. (Received April 1. 12.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 31. Tbe actual situation of tho Southern Cross is wrapped in mystery at a late hour to-night. The only definite knowlcdgo is that at 12.20 p.m. to-day a wireless message from the airmen stated that tho petrol was running out and the fliers were descending.' It was reckoned that the airmen, then were 150 miles from Wyndham, but there is no certainty about that. There is nothing further to throw light on how the landing was effected. A wireless message was broadcast last evening from 2BL Sydney, and IYA, Auckland, announcing the forced landing r>f the Southern Cross. It stated that this had been made in rugged country.