MISSING FLIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23780, 7 October 1940, Page 9

MISSING FLIERS

AIR SEARCH ABANDONED FRESH CLUE REPORTED FIRE IN HEART OF BUSH With the scene of the search by land parties now moving further inland to the south side of Mount Messenger, no trace has yet been found of the Air Force Airspeed Oxford monoplane which disappeared on Monday while flying from Hobsonville to Ohakea. Although hopes are still held by the Mokau police that the three members of the crew oi' the aeroplane may be found, it was announced by Air Headquarters. Wellington, yesterday that the air search was abandoned at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The three missing men are FlyingOfficer H. N. Major and Flight-Ser-geant S. B. Smith, of Auckland, and Corporal R. B. Smith, of Wellington. Their machine was last seen on the Taranaki coast between Mokau and New Plymouth. Since Tuesday an extensive, but unsuccessful, search has been carried out by machines of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and by ground parties from Mokau and Wait a nr. A small fire seen on Saturday morning in the heart of the bush between Whangamomona and Mokau has given fresh hope to the searchers from Mokau, whence three parties set out again yesterday. Seventeen men, including two officers from the Lands and Survey Office in New Plymouth who know the country well, took part in the search.

One of the parties, led by the police constable, penetrated into the back country toward Whangamomona, where two boys reported having seen a small wisp of smoke seven or eight miles further up in the bush. As this is hitherto unsearclied country, it is intended to await the result of a visit by the two boys to the area of tlie fire before deciding on further operations.