THE AIR TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 11

THE AIR TRAGEDY

HITCHCOCK’S FATE STILL DOUBTFUL. HOLES DUG FOR WATER. A MEMORIAL SUGGESTED. (United Press Association, j (By Electric Telegrr —Copyright.) SYDNEY, April 24. FlighULieutenant Eaton’s packhorse party has left Wave Hill with the object of interring the remains of the aviators at the spot of the forced landing. Flightlieutenant Eaton will fly the Kookaburra back to Wave Hill if possible. The aeroplanes which visited the area again confirmed the opinion that the mound near the Kookaburra was a roughly-made grave. . However, in view of the message from the Southern Cross that no trace.was seen of Hitchcock when it flew • over- Mr Anderson’s plane. Air Force officials are inclined to believe that the mound might come from a hole which the men dug in their search for water. Several other holes which were dug show the desperate efforts that the airmen made to find water; also a number of wheel tracks on the ground which indicate that the airmen tried to take off. The Southern Cross, the Canberra, and the Atlanta will leave Newcastle Waters to-day for their respective homes, having been released from the search, and Air Force machines will take over the responsibility of an aerial reconnaissance over the Kookaburra from to-day. The Prime Minister said that the Federal Government was considering the advisability of asking the Air Accidents' Board to investigate the circumstances of the forced landing of the Kookaburra. Mr Bruce added that it would be fitting to erect a memorial near the scene of the tragedy to perpetuate the sacrifice of Anderson and Hitchcock. INQUIRY TO BE HELD. LANDINGS OF SOUTHERN CROSS AND KOOKABURRA. SYDNEY, April 24. (Received April 25, at 5.5 p.m.) Concerning the forced landings of the Southern Cross and the Kookaburra the Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Bruce)' has anounced that an inquiry will be held. The tribunal has not yet been decided upon, but it will not be the Air Accident Board, » The investigation will be of wide scope and will probably result in recommendations for aircraft in line with sea law. _ Mr Bruce also States that instructions -have been given to bring the bodies of Mr Anderson and Mr Hitchcock, if possible, to the nearest settlement in order that they may be taken wherever their relatives desire. “AT DUTY’S CALL.” AN ERRAND OF MERCY. LONDON, April 23. The Times, commenting on the Kookaburra tragedy, says: “Mr Anderson and Mr Hitchcock must have suffered more, bodily and mentally, than the Southern Cross crew;. The thing to be remembered of both is that of their own free will they risked the perils of flight over the inhospitable- desert regions, in 'which they • came to grief. Like Amundsen, Guilbaud, and their companions who perished while searching for the survivors of' the Italia, Mr Anderson and Mr Hitchcock set out at duty’s call on an errand of mercy whence they came not back. They lost their lives in an endeavour to _ save others from a like fate. Australia, could not wish for them a nobler epitaph.”—Times Cable. THE SOUTHERN CROSS. EXPECTED AT SYDNEY TO-DAY. SYDNEY, April 25. (Received April 20, at 1.11 a.m.) Amalgamated Wireless reports that the Southern Cross left Alice Springs at 8 o’clock this morning and landed at 3 p.m. at 800100 Downs. It will reach Sydney to-morrow r morning. • The Canberra was delayed by engine trouble, but arrived at Charleville this evening. Pilot Brain and his radioman, Mr Stevens, who flew from Brisbane to Sydney in the Atlanta, arrived to-night. /LOST WHILE SEARCHING. NOTABLE INSTANCES. When an aeroplane or an'airship is reported lost its crew is quite frequently found without harm to the individuals, bftt just as frequently some other person pays the penalty of the search. There have been several notable instances of this during the past year or two. For instance, when the German flyers were lost in crossing the Atlantic *a famous American airman in Floyd Bennett lost his life as a result of contracting pneumonia when taking part in the search over the snowfields of Northern Canada. A still more impressive instance was the loss of Captain Roald Amundsen when searching for General Nobile’s, lost airship Italia. Now we have an instance nearer home in the loss of Keith Anderson and his mechanic Robert Hitchcock in the aeroplane Kookaburra. Up to the tune when Mr Anderson took the Kookaburra into the air to look for the lost Southern Cross and her crew of four, ho had more than 2000 flyinrr hours to his credit in many kinds of aeroplanes. About 000 hours had been . spent in Bristol Tourers, and other types which he had piloted included the Moths and the three-engined Fokkers, similar to- the Southern Cross. Last September ■ Mr Anderson and his mechanic com- , menced a flight to England from Sydney, starting from the Mascot Aerodrome m a Bristol Tourer coupe biplane, his idea being to beat Mr Bert Hinkler’s record flight between England and Australia, but they did not get out of the Commonwealth. The aeroplane came to grief near Darwin, and in the end the engine ■ was given to a publican who had befriended them in part payment for their board. The flyers returned to Sydney.