MISSING AIRMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 10

MISSING AIRMEN.

NO TRACE REPORTED.

FEUDING TO BLENHEIM.

FLIGHT NOT COMPLETED

GRAVE ANXIETY FELT. STEAMERS TO SEARCH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Advices from Blenheim state that giave anxiety is being felt owing to tho nonarrival of tho Marlborough Aero Club's Moth machine, which left Parorangi, near Feilding, at 11.35 o'clock this morning. Tho machine was piloted by Captain Noel Chandler, tho club's instructor, and Mr. C. A. Macdonald, secretary of the club, was a passenger. Three aeroplanes which left of an hour earlier met a severe storm in Cook Strait, and had difficulty in getting through. Captain Burrell, who left aquarter of an hour afterwards, ran into tho storm seven miles south of Palmerston North, and was forced to return. Tho postmaster at Blenheim arranged that- all offices on tho west coast of the North Island should report if they had any news, but so far no information has been received. Rough Conditions in Straits. Tho captain of the ferry steamer Tamaliine, which left Wellington at three o'clock this afternoon, was asked to keep a look-out, but he reported that it was impossible to seo more than a-quarter of ai milo in the Straits. Fivo machines left Hastings this morning for Blenheim, after participating in tho air pageant. Messrs. Hall, Mercer and Captain Findlay arrived at JJbNiheim at mid-day, having called at Feilding. Captain Findlay and Mr. Mercer left Feilding at 11.20 a.m., and Captain. Chandler and Mr. Burrell about 11.30 o'clock. Mr. Burrell returned to Feilding and Captain Chandler and his companion, Ml'. C. A. Macdonald, proceeded alone. Messrs. Mercer, Hall and Captain Findlay reported that conditions over the Strait were very bad from The Brothers onward, and they had to fly as low as 70ft. from the water at times.

Very heavy rain was falling at Wellington and Blenheim early this morning, which means that the weather in Cook Strait is probably of the worst. Fears for tho safety of the missing airmen increased as the night wore 011. Prime Minister's Decision. Tho I'rimo Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, stated at 11.45 p.m. that ho had been asked by Mr. Dix, president of the Marlborough Aero Club, to arrange for a search to be made for tho airmen, who, it is believed, may have been forced to make a descent in Cook Strait. The Prime Minister said he had accordingly provided for two steamers to leave Wellington to-mor-row morning. One will search up the coast as far as North Beach, and the other will search in the direction of Queen Charlotte Sound and Cloudy Bay on the South Island shore of tho Strait.

It was reported to-night that Captain Findlav would undertake a search over Cook Strait and environs to-morrow, if tlio weather cleared sufficiently to make a flight practicable. A wireless message was received in Wellington from the steamer Ulimaroa tonight to the effect that she was encountering very heavy weather on the last stage of her voyage from Sydney. The captain does not expect to reach port until Wednesday, a day behind schedule.

Captain N. E. Chandler saw extensive active service as a pilot during the war. Upon the cessation of hostilities lie maintained his interest in aerial questions as they related to civil flying, and he. was n well-known member of the Air Force Reserve, keeping up his flying work Liy attending refresher courses at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch. On the formation of the Marlborough Aero Club, interest in which was largely created by the visit of the transtasman fliers, Captain Chandler was appointed instructor to the club at. a salary of £SOO. He is recognised as an able pilot, and lie was responsible for much useful work in fostering the " air sense " throughout the Dominion. and especially in the South Island. M\ C. A. McDonald is a Blenheim journalist, and a keen supporter of the Aero Club, of which ho is secretary.