TRAGEDY OF DESERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 11

TRAGEDY OF DESERT.

TWO LOST AIRMEN.

LAND PARTY NEAR SCENE.

IRONY or THEIR EATE.

RESCUER. MAROONED.

LOSS 0E EIGHT DAYS.

(Received April 'JR. 5.15 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 28. Captain Los Ilolden, of (ho air liner Canberra, expresses tho opinion that the body of Mr. R. S. Hitchcock, tho late Lieutenant Keith Anderson's mechanic, will not be found near tho Kookaburra, in the Northern Territory desert. Itwas reported from Wave Hill yesterday afternoon that (ho ground party led by Lieutenant Eaton was then within 10 miles of (ho Kookaburra. In an interview at Narramino Smith said ho flew (ho'Soulhern Cross as low as 15fl. above the Kookaburra. All the members of the crew were qnito definito that it was Lieutenant Keith Anderson's body under (ho -wing. From appearances he had been dead for many days. Captain Mafheson, in tho Goulbourn Aero Club's Moth, arrived at Narramino yesterday. He said that if ho had not been marooned at Duchess ho would havo been flying over the route taken by Pilot Brain at least eight days before tho latter reached the area of search, and would probably have seen the Kookaburra in time to take succour (o its crew.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

CREW BACK IN SYDNEY. EVIDENCES OF HARDSHIPS. (Received April 28. 5.15 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 28. The monoplane Southern Cross arrived at the Richmond aerodrome from Narramino, 300 miles north-west of Sydney, at 10.50 a.m. yesterday. It bad flown the journey in less than two and a-half hours.

A large crowd of people witnessed the arrival and the crew were given an enthusiastic welcome. The engines functioned perfectly, but the fabric and wings of the machine were in a bad stale.

Not only the monoplane but the four fliers presented a changed appearance when they landed. All bore evidence of the hazards and hardships to which they had been exposed in the month since they started oil their attempt to fly to England. "How are you going, Smithy?" shouted someone whose voice was hoard above tlie general clamour made by welcoming friends.

"Wo are just about going," replied Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith. The drawn faces of the men and I lie new lines graven upon tliem told more clearly than words how they suffered on their adventure. Their reunion with their families was of a graver and more touching character than any of their previous ones.

"We have had a pretty tough spin," said Smith. He added that all of them felt numb. That could be understood, as the day, though fine, was bitterly cold on the ground, and it must have been freezing aloft.

.All the members of the crew arc still feeling the effects of their experience on the mud flat in Western Australia and cannot stand the strain of continued effort.

The Southern Cross looks ship-shape (o the ordinary observer, but critical eyes soon discover many things needing overhaul. Smith, however, hopes that the reconditioning will not take long, so that, he and his companions can make a fresh start 011 their flight to England.

In an interview at Narramine Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm expressed their delight that the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, has ordered a full inquiry to be held into the circumstances attached to the forced landings of the Southern Cross and Kookaburra. The air liner Canberra arrived at the Mascot aerodrome, Sydney, to-day, having returned from the search for the Southern Cross and Kookaburra. 'J.lie pilot, Captain Les Holdcn, and his companions looked well, but had felt the cold severely.

Referring to the Southern Cross, Captain lloldcn said lie believed most of the searching airmen flew too high. Thus, while their field of vision was widened, objects on the ground became indistinct.

Air-Pilot J. L. Brain, of the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services, arrived at Brisbane yesterday in the aeroplane Atlanta, after a trip of 4hrs. lOmin. He thus beat by lOmin. tho late Lieutenant Anderson's SydneyBrisbane record.