EGMONT AIR CRASH.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12750, 14 September 1934, Page 6

EGMONT AIR CRASH.

SEARCH FOR FLIERS COMMENCED ’PLANES HELP BUSHMEN. Electric Telegraph.—Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. An extensive search, for the missing ’plane iu the mountain bush began at daylight this morning, when 80 fully equipped Alpine Club members and bushmen and two ’planes commenced an extensive search over the area where the plane is- believed to have crashed. The locality is known to contain some of the densest bush on Egmont's slopes and the task of the searchers will be ail arduous one. Sixty searchers gather at New Plymouth at 3 o’clock this morning fully equipped with food and medical supplies. They included two doctors and were taken by cars to the edge of the bush and as dawn broke began their strenuous tramp towards the camp of the trappers who had heard the ’plane crash. Meanwhile the party had been joined by settlers and bushmen who acted as guides. The camp was reached by 6 o’clock, ancl after a base had been made an intensive search of the bush began it being decided not to split nj) into small parties but to patrol closely the area believed to contain the piane. Meanwhile planes piloted by Flying-Of-ficer Keith and (’apt. Gibons reached the reserve by daw u and began an air search At first the visibility was good but after the first hour the clouds settled down and low flying was necessary and some daring flying* was seen as the planes flew low investigating every gully and go-rge. They made west to east flights, over a. large area thoroughly examining the bush. The use of smoke bombs was arranged between the searchers in the bush, headquarters- at Ivaimiro. the neareso settlement outside the bush and with the planes. An ambulance was also ready for any emergency at Kauriiro. The first two hours’ .search was resell ties s and parties settled down to the arduous task. Unless the wrecked plane is observed from the air it is expected the search will prove very long and difficult.

SECOND EDITION