MISSING AIRMAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22631, 24 July 1935, Page 10

MISSING AIRMAN

AN INTENSIVE SEARCH HAMPERED BY BAD WEATHER (Pee United Press Association) . DANNEVIRKE. July 23. The search for the missing airman, Hamish Armstrong, was continued throughout to-day without result. All sorts of rumours were current of the plane having been located in various places, but all the reports lacked foundation.

The airmen had a very busy day. They scoured a wide area without making discoveries. An investigation of a report of smoke having been seen in a gully 20 miles due west of Norsewood drew a blank, the planes on returning reporting having seen nothing. Poor visibility hampered the pilots, particularly in the afternoon when rain came on, and there was snow on the higher levels.

A radio message from a search party near Taihape stated that it had moved to Utiku. The settlers were organised between Rangawahia and Mangahine awaiting satisfactory weather., A party from the Ashley-Clinton area advised by radio that it had established a base from which the searchers had set out and if anything were found a runner would be despatched to the base, which would get into communication with the centre of the operations at Takapau. Flying-officer Buckeridge investigated what he thought might be a fuselage a few miles north where smoke had been seen. He reported that the object would be cither a waterfall or a patch of snow. Most of the plaues returned to Hastings and other places about 4 o’clock. To-morrow at least seven machines will take off as soon as the conditions permit. It is intended to operate chiefly over the area from the Wakararas to the ranges west of Norsewood, and all the area between the Kaimanawas and the Kaiwakas not covered Thoroughly to-day owing to the bad weather, and to concentrate on the Wakararas. There is no suggestion of abandoning the search either by air or foot. SEARCH IN THE RANGES TWELVE PLANES ASSIST. V ——— (Per United Press Association) WAIPUKURAU, July 23. Twelve planes continued the search for the missing airman, Hamish Armstrong, but no news of a hopeful nature from the Takapau base has been received. It is likely that greater attention will be given to the other side of the Ruahine Range to-morrow. Foot parties actively worked till late along the ranges with bases at Takapau and Wakarara. A report that a pilot, Mr lan Keith,’ had seen wreckage this afternoon was not considered to have real foundation, the opinion being that a patch of snow had been seen in a gully about 17 miles from Takapau. The weather was very cold and cloudy today.