FOUND IN BUSH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 11

FOUND IN BUSH

MISSING AEROPLANE TWO OF CREW SAFE COLLEAGUE DROPS FOOD By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 522. 10.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 22 The Royal Australian Air .Force survey aeroplane which had been missing since April 13 in the Northern Territory was located at 2.30 p.m. to-day from the air by one of the searchers. The machine, on board which were Flight-Lieutenant Hely "and Aircraftsmen Sherwood and Walkington, had crashed in timber country 40 miles from the nearest water hole. Lieutenant Hely and Mr. Walkington were seen leaping round, apparently fit, possibly being anxious to indicate that they were not injured. Mr. Sherwood was not seen, but it is hoped that he is somewhere in the vicinity.

A message conveying the news was. received by the Air Board, Melbourne, from Flight-Lieutenant- Simms, , who added: "I dropped food and water and to-morrow I will proceed by truck to pick up the men." An earlier report stated that a broad arrow marked on the ground at Delamere station, in the Northern Territory, was seen from an aeroplane engaged in the search for the three lost fliers.

The discovery raised hopes that the three men might yet be found alive, though an intensive search of that locality proved fruitless. Three more aeroplanes left Sydney to-day to join in the search.

The aeroplane referred to in the cablegram, a twin-engined Dragon Rapide, with its crew of three, all from Richmond aerodrome, New South. Wales, had been missing since Monday week. Lieutenant Hely and his companions were on their way, to Port Hedland, Western Australia, to carry out photographic survey work. They carried emergency rations sufficient to sustain them for four days. The aeroplane was not equipped with wireless.