LOST BEARINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21938, 23 October 1934, Page 9

LOST BEARINGS

AMERICAN PILOTS ALLAHABAD MISSED SEARCH FOR AERODROME THREE WORRYING HOURS By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received October 22, 7.5 p.m.) ALLAHABAD, Oct. 22 Colonel Eoscoe Turner and Mr. G. Pangborn, American competitors in the Boeing Transport aeroplane, were reported to have been signalling that they had lost their bearings and had only 10 minutes' petrol left. Their whereabouts were said to be unknown. However, the machine landed at Allahabad early this morning. The pilots were dazed* and deaf, but declared their intention of proceeding as soon as possible. They discovered that they still possessed" 100 gallons of petrol, although the gauge erroneously showed nearly empty tanks. . Colonel Turner said they had a close shave through missing Allahabad. A strong wind-drift carried them 200 miles to the southward beyond the aerodrome and■ they spent three hours dodging about. „ . , . , The airmen were really worried just before they picked up the aerodrome s beacon light. „ , . The latest news of the airmen from Rangoon is that they have been seen at Victoria Point, flying to Singapore. SAVED BY WIRELESS drama before dawn DIRECTIONS FROM THE LAND (Received October 22, 9.25 p.m.) ALLAHABAD, Oct. 22 How wireless saved the lives of Colonel Turner and Mr. Pangborn is shown from their struggle during the darkest hours before dawn. Captain Eden, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation, and Squadron-Leader Deburgh, wireless chief of the Koval Air Force in India, from the control tower in Allahabad Aerodrome picked up the distress signals. They attempted to guide the lost airmen back to safety and finally succeeded in doing so. All wireless communications with other stations were cut off and a running conversation of questions and answers on both sides gradually resulted in the discovery of the approximate location of the American aeroplane in a south-easterly direction. This enabled the pilot to direct the machine northward until the Ganges was struck. Later, ate Allahabad grew closer, a message was sent to the fliers to look out tnere for beacons 60 miles away. The fliers also were warned to look out for one being switched off and the other flashed. This helped them to identify the aerodrome and to land.