LAST MESSAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22935, 13 January 1938, Page 13

LAST MESSAGE

AN ENGINE DEFECT MACHINE TURNS BACK SUDDENNESS OF MISHAP - SILENCE OF THE KADIO By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received January 12, 7.-13 p.m.) NEW YORK, Jan. 12 Pan American Airways announced that the Samoan Clipper, bound from Pago Pago to Auckland, was missing this morning,'after sending a wireless message that she was turning back wing to an oil leak. She had a crew of seven on board, including Captain Musick, but. no passengers. The last radio contact was made with the machine at 8.37 a.m.

It was reported later that ihe machine had been sighted on the ocean T4 miles due west of Apia. Western Samoa. This report was afterward proved to be erroneous, having originated from a private radio operator who had only seen an aeroplane unloading petrol in the harbour at Apia. A subsequent message from Pago Pago stated: It is believed that the Clipper was forced down about 30 miles from Tutuila Island.

A seaplane from the U.S.S. Avocet learched fruitlessly for hours along the Clipper's route west of Pago Pago. She will continue the search until darkness falls. . - It is,believed that-the Clipper was oil the north side of lutuila Island when her last message was sent out. Aviation officials believe that the mishft'i was so sudden that the _flyingbout's radio operator had 110 time to Bend a message. Also it is believed to be unlikely that the Clipper descended on land or near the shore, because natives would have reported her. It is learned that there were two radio sets on the Clipper. Therefore it is significant that nothing has been transmitted even from the emergency set, which Captain Musick, if he had landed safely, would have utilised immediately. ; AERIAL HAULED IN ■! CLIPPER'S RADIO REPORT According to advice received at the Pan' American Airways' radio station at Auckland from Pago Pago, the Clipper toot oft at 4.37 a.m., and the last report from her was received at 6.50 a.m. She then reported that she was returning to Pago Pago, and that she was going to dump fuel. It was explained that they would have to haul in the trailing aerial while dumping the fuel, and. therefore they would not bp Communicating by radio for a whilo. That was the last message received. § "OBJECT" SEEN RESEMBLING CLIPPER LAUNCH CAPTAIN'S STORY IDENTITY NOT CONFIRMED IflV TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] 'ft WELLINGTON, Wednesday lhe Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department said midnight that a report had been received from Apia, Samoa, from the captain of a launch that had arrived iroin "down . f o?st" that lie had sighted a large object resembling the Samoan Clipper. P l| t had taken no notice of it, not know-. !"8 at the time it was missing. There Jad boon no corroboration of the •®port,. but an endeavour was being wade to divert search ships in that direction. ISLAND OF TUTUILA PAGO PAGO STATION . -The administrative centre of American Pago f Pago, is on ono of the '"arbour's in the South Seas and is ki®, B 'to of a United Stntes naval . oypThe seaport is on the island of Is "0 "»iles east of Apia, and the TnP-t' ' s .' a "d in the American group, is about 25 miles long and llljltf® B ' from about two to six miles broken mountain range runs S iL^ e ,V J U) '° length of the island the main villages are scattered •; level land near the west and coasts and on the southern slopes.