KOOKABURRA TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 13

KOOKABURRA TRAGEDY.

[LAND PARTY ON SPOT.

HO SIGN OF HITCHCOCK.

'AIRMEN COMMUNICATE.

KOTES AND SHEET CODES.

SOUTHERN CROSS REPAIRS. 33y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received April 30, 9.33 p.m.) /„ SYDNEY. April 30. land P-T'ty which left Wave Hill tm April 23 reached the spot in tho desert in tho Northern Territory to-day whore Lieutenant Keith Anderson (and presumably his mechanic, Mr. R. S. Hitchcock) died after tho stranding of the aeroplane Kookaburra.

As the Royal Air Force pilots who had 'been guiding the party from tho air had to return to their base no report was obtained. I'lying-Officer Ryan and other Air Force p.<-iators flew out to the locality again today to try to obtain news. They communicated with the land party by dronprtig notes from their aeroplanes. Replies were made from the ground by Lieutenant Eaton by means of calico sheets spread to represent code letters. There is no trace of Mr. Hitchcock. The shortage of water and the difficult .nature of the country were the reasons for toe delay in the land expedition's progress. All the members of tho party are in good health. The Southern Cross and the air linpr Canberra are now being completely overhuulbd, repaired and reconditioned.